Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-11-28
WONDERFUL DISCOVERY MADE
IN HELENA.
Evidences Of Former Civilization On
eRrtbed by street Excavations.
Our City Probably Resting upon Ihe
Foundation of a Once POpuIOus
Town.

The Helena (Ark.) Independent, OF
Wednesday, says: "Our city officials,
in carrying out the suggestions of the
H1dependeRt to provide more efficient
means against the ravages of fire, have
had gangs of laborers at work for some
days, with view Of excavating and con-
structing cisterns at eonvenients points
in the streets, for the use of the fire de-
partment. Taking some little credit to
ourselves for the Inauguration of this
needed enterprise, we naturally take an
interest in the prosecution OF the work,
and this interest induced us to visit one
of the gangs yesterday, to observe their
progress. We found the party in very
excited state, from the fact that one of
the picks had just struck some
hard substance like iron, and in
addition to this, the conclusion Of the
blow had given back hollow reverber-
ating sound, as though huge cavern or
cave lay underneath. The workmen,
who were a little superstitious, at first
refused to proceed with the work, be-
lieving, as they expressed it, that they
were "next door to purgatory, sure"
At length, by some persuasion, they
were induced to proceed, and an iron
plate, having the appearance of mod
ern skillet lid was soon uncovered,
which being removed, disclosed to the
astonished view of the workmen deep
cavern, dark as Erebus and partially
filled with water. The extent OF this
cavern could not be coniectured, except
from the time required for the sounds at
the mouth to be echoed back from its
sides. The fact that water seemed to be
standing in it suggested the thought at
once that q reliable reservoir had been
discovered, suited to the wants OF the
city, provided the supply OF water could
be kept up. That this cavern is I'M
doubtedly the work of former ciyiliza-
ton, there can be no question. The iron
cap covering the oritice proves that the
chamber, cavern or whatever it may be
termed, is a work of art; besides the
mouth of the cave has been constructed
of brick, which are in very good state
of preservation and resemble our modern
brick in size and quality. No steps have
been taken, as yet, to explore the cavern,
or to determine its character. 1t is be-
iieved thorough investigation viii
bring to light some important facts in
connection with former race inhabit-
ing the present site of our enterprising
city, Some of our imaginative citizens
have even expressed the belief that this
cavern is connected with grand under
ground tunnel constructed beneath the
bed of the Mississippi river, and that its
other terminus will be found On&he Mis-
sissippi shore opposite this city, and that
itmay be part of the underground thor
oughfare employed by the sbOlitionists,
through which 10 rescue the poor, perse-
euted slaves, before the war. By some
it is believed that the water viii furnish
an abundance of eyeless fish, similar TO
those found in the Mammoth cave, and
preparations are going on to supply our
markets from this source. We shall
hazard no opinion in this matter until
after a full and thorough examination
has been made by scientific men. For
the present we can only say that the
iron cap was found about seven or eight
feet below the surface of the street,
closing dark, deep, csvernous looking
place, that has not yet been explored.
We await further developments"
THE benefitat the Theater tonight for