The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-04-04
TIE REMAINS OF A GIANT.
"A REMARKABLE DTSCOTERY NE1R
MIYSVIILE, KENTUCKY.

MA0SNlIl4Et N.Y. Multl D's-AI tN'tNh-
ingly interesting discovery was made few days
ngo by party Of young men willie ont hunting
near the town OF Augusta. some fourteen or hf
teen miles from tins city While beating about
for game upon the lands Of :. X Ncach, a we'll
known farmer OF the neghborhood, In dense
thicket Of young elns, upon the side OF one OF
tho hills, their dogs suddenly disappeared
through an opening some threo or -FOUR feet IN
diameter, which proved upon exam ination to
be the entrance To cavern that promises 10
rival In macninccnce and grandeur the world
renowned Mammoth Cave Of Southern Ken
lucky.
The mouth Of this cavern appears 10 have
been covered with "a large, Nat rock that slip
ped away from the opening, together with
large mass Of earth, and this accidentally indica-
ted the existence Of the cave. This stone, which
evidently answered for front door to a dwell
ling Of some Of the mysterious people who lived
and had their being ia the Ohio valley anterior
to the advent Of the modern Indian, was nearly
overgrOwn with moss, and measured i've feet or
more one way and little less than four feet
the other. Underneath the moss has been
traced hieroglyphcal inscription, which II Is
not improba able to suppose may have been made
for the purpose Of signifying to the passer-
by, As our modern door plates do, the names Of
the jewellers inside.
The characters occurring most frequently in
this symbsl writing are a circle divided by a
perpendicular line. representation Of dou-
Die lodge, and irregular, wavy lines, supposed to
indicate water Some Of our local antquarians
have deciphered the circular figure to signify
unity or the union Of two branches Of the same
family. The idea appears to be strensthened by
the rude drawing OF the united lodges. From
this iuterpretat On, 1t Il inferred that two
miles, possibly connected by ties Of cOnsan-
Pulnity, lived together In this prehistoric dwell
ling. The lines that are supposed to represent
water are similar to those given by MIR. school
funds Itisnut unlik civ that the ngufe NAV have
some association with the Onto river. which is
distant from the spot not more than half mile.
INTERIOR OF THE CAVERN.
The Young men, who stumbled, as II were, up
on a knowledge Of the existence Of this un-
dcreround wonder were too much startled and
awe-stricken to attempt at that time the ex-
.plor4ttou Of the unknown regions, to the brink
Of which accident had led them, But on the
following morning they procured supply Of
candles, ropes, and other artl les used in cave
explorations, and headed by nm intrepid young
fellow named stephen wyatt, repaired to the en-
trance and began the descent At the be. In
iine the avenue Of entrance dropped perpendlc-
ularly four feet, when it slo ed gradually at an
from four t. w.ive feet, for distance estira.
ted at about one hundred yards, terminating
etrupty IN chamber about eighty feet square
and thirty feet or more in height.
me appesI nee OF this room Is desciioei A.
being peculiarly grand and impressive. I'm
mense s,alacttes drooped from the ceiling,
eni gill, ened 10 the hrht Of the candles ] Ike
with clean, white nd. such n Is found upon
the sea shore, to the Dc. th Of ten or twelve
inches. The young men, who had never wit
messed such sight A. the interior OF this cavern
presented, weie list IN wonder and Hmazement,
more bold han Tie rest ursed furthet explor =
ton, which the others ro.urtantlv consented.
An cXamln4tisn OF the chamber REVEALED IN.
ct that there WAS no mode Of continuing the
journey. except through small upeuirg near
tie hpor tnat reg iircd the psrty O. proceed on
tlolt h tnds ana khcc4.
d stauee q q lundred feet or more .wo- &C.
cnmpli7hei ~ ms wa WI 3D. tie lende. wrs
VICE o,,rloH kils q pa OF Stvslau nckue,-. lie
wa. go shocked hs The discovery NJ his danger
that lie 81 iis ,-cuce OF mind. and would
heiz.i t,y on. Of ma cDI,f'i,irns s1t Ir,,yn
IA. % III a - nc "a tam rod -, II
,ot Wet. Insisted WI d man4ess "pon p.rteaaE
the jnurne a. f.r ts 10 could lie accompllshS
with safety. y strong 20 was then fastened 10
proJcc ing Greg. -nl one hyone the young men
dropped int The pit. which proved to 70 about
cOunteted a SLOPE OF incline, com DOsed q "a con-
fused mass i rooi.rock, down which they
!han hundred Zee; IN height, ued with s.a-
lactites, 81 ldt mics. and tie c4riJu. formations
that have r.niere 50 attractive the great cave
OF Edmcnson county.
A GIANT SKELETON.
In the centre Of this room there doomed up
out OF the darkness an immense square,
noss-c yered hunch Of loose stones, care
iai,y i"d cne UPON the o,hsr' atter the
sect ~ country. There couli be no doubt
thit this lmument or c.Irn was the result OF
human Dor, expended probably thousands Of
years ago. The top Of tni' sarcophasus, for
such IL provel 10 be, was covered by slabs OF
face. 1ncy were carefully removed, disclosing
a 81 ere ult that had leenp 'astered wi II mud
trees or bushes. H. the centre of the vault, In a
sitting uostlle. was found the skeleton u a
By the dry S q" tue eve As s theTt
was no arnc1r nee OF IN upon the bones, it
open air, ccnuGpd II the Il -h, and afterward
removed T. the cave fur burial The bones were
ken C. refully out OF the vault, laiI upon the
,or, and by the rough mea,urement the youns
men were able to make found to be thoae Of a
man over eight feet SIX II chcs IN height. The
ekull measured nearly twelve ne hes In the
thortcst diameter, ~ had on the leit side an
tndeLtaiion, evidently made by severe blow
IA Tue Niult ~ the SIDE OF the skeleton was
f1und an implemrnt OF copper four iect three
in hes H. length, that weighs four pounds, aud
eppebt- to have been intended iQr weapon Of
defence. IL IL roughly III ldc and was pro- ~
I ssI1ned IRON srd 59i nss foynsf OF 'Ge Lax
noInt' a"d las somewhat tie sppes3ranse Of
q corHtiun T. made upon the handle by irregul II
lines runuing entirely around It.
L. close proximity t. this Interesting relic was
found what Wa al nrst taken - oe rude bowl
OF the same metal but II has since been decided
that Il /. helmet or hn 4 cove ing. \ stone *
OF elegant workmanship, seven iint arrow
point'. stone liie carved T. represent a frog
piece Of tuek'Ain tour Inches square and
stained ref, "a uali of b hdas woven from Nexe-
were Cd. +" ud.
~ AurrIGiNAL WATER COOLER.
Tn ttci l- now In my own plascs.ion and is
made ir"ni clty tvnpeIel with skill and / yer.
similar In dcsi.D TO tie p ttery occasion. lis
una IN Tennessee, ArAInsa.. ana sol.e If [, 4
oihtr southern state ana known among anti
QuhihhS hS lhb MtNhC BulluflS water lOlrr.'
ihe erecimen In my possession weighs one
una ana ten ounces, aud holds exactly tive
and half pnts.
Most ~ the specimens described above were
brought out Of the cave by the young men ca
their return TO daylight and removed o. the
hoiel at Augusta, where they contiuue To at
tract crowds OF the curluusR Inclined. They
will ultimately be sent TO one Of the scicntiH,
institutions OF tue country, probably 10 the
bmithsOutn.
TIE country in the nelghhorhood Of this won
derlul cavern IL fun Of excitement, hundreds OF
people Hooking to the ply ce, though few venture
teypud the entrance. The owner Of this land
Mr.. Neach. Is very jubilaut aud has declined,
nm told, large offers for the place. further
exploration Will be made shortly under scientific
h.~plce-, when more complete account Of the
u-cOvcry viii he given.