The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-12-11
A Wonderful Discovery Made In
Helena, Ark.


IFrsm the Helena Indepcndent.1
Our city officials. in carrying out the sug-
gestions of the Independent TO provide more
efficient means against the rayageS of lire,
have had gangs of laborers at work for some
days with a view of eXcayating and con-
structing cisterns at convenient points in the
streets for the use Of the Fire Department.
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 addl-
ton to this, the conclusion Of the blow had
given back hollow, reyerberating sound, as
though huge cavern or cave lay under.
meath. The workmen, who were a little SUI.
perstitious, at first refused to proceed with the
work, believing, US they expressed it, that
they were "neXt door to purgat0ry, sure"
At length, by some persuasion, they We're in
duced to proceed, and an iron plate
having the appearance of a modern skill
let-lid was soon uncovered, which, being
removed, disclosed to the astonished
view of the workmen n deep cavern,
dark as Erebus, and partially filled with
water. The extent Of this cavern could not
be conjectured 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 ut once that 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 undoubtedly
the work of q former civilization there can
be no question. The iron cap covering the
ori1ce proves that the chamber, cavern, or
whatever it may be termed,i is work OF
art; besides, the mouth of the cave has been
constructed of brick, which are in a 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 believed thorough investi-
cation will bring to light some important
facts in connection with former race in"
habitipg the present site of our enterprisipg
city. Some of our Imaginative citizens have
even expressed the belief that this concern
is connected with grand underground tun-
mel constructed beneath the bed Of the Mis-.
sissippi river, and that its other terminus
will be found ON the Mississippi shore, op-
posite this city, and that it may be part OF
the underground thoroughfare employed by
the aboltionists through which to rescue the
poor, prosecuted slaves before the war. By
some it is believed thatlhe water will furnish
an abundance Of eyeless fish, similar to those
found in the Mammoth Cave, and prepare
fions are going on to supply our markets
from this source. We shalt hazard no opin-
ion in this matter until after tull and thor
Ough examination has been made by scienti-
tic meu. For the present we can only say
that the iron capiwas found about seven or
eight feet below the surface of the street,
closing dark, deep, casernous.iooking place
that has not yet been explored. We await
further developments.