Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-05-06
Wonderful Discoveries.

Through the kindness of Mr.. X. Ii.
Whittier the Watchman has been favored
with Montana paper, containing an ac-
count of wonderful discoveries made in
cave in that territory By party of which
his brother, Mr.. A. A. Whittier, Of Black
Foot city, was a member.
The cave, known as King Solomon's
Cave, for some time has had more than
local reputation on account Of curiosities
which it was supposed to contain, and
this party, consisting of four persons,
finally concluded to make thorough in
vestigation of its mysteries. After pre-
pairing themselves with three days rations
aud the other necessary outfit, they en-
tered the cave at about nine o'clock in
the moruipg.-After going as far as the
cave had ever before been explored they
penetrated through an opening about four
hundred feet, when they suddenly emerg-
ed into magnificent chamber, about
thirty-fve feet high, ffty-iour feet in
width and eighty.six feet long. At first
sight it seemed as if this cave had been
cut out Of solid rock by human hands A
further Investigation, however, disclosed
the fact that it was natural cave. With
in this chamber were found an old-fash-
iored fireplace, and several pieces of
charcoal. Leaning against cne side OF
the chamber was a huge piece OF copper,
6fiy.scven inches in length, and thirty-six
inches wide, wrought in the shape Of a
shield. 1t had evidently been wrought by
hand. Within cavity in the wall was
found the petriffed body Of giant. This
petrifaction was found to be nine feet,
seven and one.half inches IN length, thir-
ty-eight inches across the brest, and two
feet in thickness. 1t was covered from
head TO foot with coating similar to that
found on roof and pillars of cave. and
was hard as limestone. A helmet of
brass or copper, of gigantic proportions,
was found upon his head, which the cor
rossive elements Of time had sealed
upon his brow, Near shis spcci.
men we're found two mammoth SPEAR
heads, eighteen inches in length, and six
inches in width at the widest point.
On the wall near the tomb were dis
covered the picture of three ships, and
some strange looking letters, apparently
executed with sharp pointed instrument.
There we're no letters resembling ours,
though the writing, if interpreted, would
doughtless give the history Of the giant
king Of the cave. A fac smile Of the
drawing Of the ships, a portion of the
writing on The wall, were transcribed by
the parties. The ships, have three masts,
the middle one being only two-thirds the
height of the outside masts. On the op-
posite side of the chamber was discovered
a huge fat stone, on the smooth surface
of which was another engraving OF a
largo man, with spear in hand, apparently
drawn to represent an explorer landing
and taking some country.
On removing this huge stone. pas.
sage.way was discovered, leading into a
smaller chamber, where the bones of men
at least nine feet in height were discover.
ed. as we'll as several skulls. Near the
centre Of the room was primitive quartz.
crusher, in the shape of huge stone,
followed out like mortar. Around this
were a number Of tools, large and small,
and one large sedge lay en- the edge Of
the mortar, just as the workman left ii
when he struck his last blow. At wha,
precise date that was, we leave it to other
and wiser heads than ours to determine
The tools all seemed to be made of cop.
per, though tempered until they were
nearly as hard as STEEL
Considerable quantities of rich quartz
specimens were pick ed, and about half a
ton of good. looking gold quartz lay in a
corner. 1t was opinion Of the explorers
that the quartz was taken from some part
Of the cave, probably further in the
mountains, when slide from the noun.
tain above the cave filled up its mouth,
and left these miners to their destruction,
as it is plain to be seen that the entrance
had formerly been mach bigger, and the
opening, now very small. has been formed
! by the slide gradually slipping into the
outer chamber, which is half full Of
mountain debris.
| Another doorway was found, leading
into the room supposed to contain the
money deposits Of the miners. but which
was not at that time explored.
4 The cave was pre-empted, and every
boue, tool and relic will be carefully pre-.
served, and is not improbable that some
new light will be shed upon the time and
manner in which the queer people found
their way to our land.