The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1877-04-12
sTRANGE DIsrOvERIEs In
FLORIDA.

Wonderful and rich and valuable
archaeological discoveries at Troy, in
Greece and Italy and in Peru have
awakened unusual interest in the study
Of American as we'll as European,
Egyptian ard Asiatic antiquities.
Therefore the explorations made by a
special correspondent of the New York
Hc0H excite q deal of interest
Writing from a place near Monticello.
Florida, he says:
1.-THE party approached and found
an island, with It's shores well de
fined. and shaded by the most en-
ormous live oaks and magnolias
that they ever beheld. A heavy
atmosphere of dampness and gloom
brooded over it. Its shores were
closely protected by dense growth of
through with . shout of relief, and
gathering light wood in great pile,
built an enormous fire, by which they
warmed their chilled limbs. Night
was approaching, and as it was neces-
sary to hasten back to camp, only
hasty survey could be had of the
island.
They were astounded by the unex-
pected discovery. In a secluded nook
q singular, silent figure burst suddenly
on the view as they were threading
their way through the bushes.
''Look q here" exclaimed the fore
|
On looking ahead, there appeared q
human image, but it stood SO fixed and
inmovable that they soon realized that
it could not be living. The eyes of the
negroes protruded from their sockets
with superstitious alarm, but your cor
respondent approached the solitary
ing near, the faithful likeness to hu-
manity produced by the combined eff
fects of light and shadow was less dis
tinct, but it struck the explorers with
awe and wonder. 1t is rotund col
umn of stone set vertically in the
earth, but not attached to any neither
ledge of rock, as it might have been
had nature been its artisan, for it was
loose enough to be swayed by the APP
plication of force. The upper ex-
tremity is rudely fshioned into the
form of human head, in which there
are protuberances which resemble the
eyes, nose and ears. The figure
seems of majestic statue and mien
At its base, by delicately removing
some moss, few strange and
unfamiliar characters were disclosed.
They do not apparently resemble
any hisroglyphics of ancient OF
modern time known to the student of
language. They are still less allied to
the picture writing of the Aztecs. Near
the image lies a second column of
stone, but it is thrown to the ground.
II it was ever fashioned to q resem-
blsnce of the human form divine the
head has been broken off, as it was
nowhere to be found. The idol is 81
ponderous that it was found impossible
to overturn it, although repeated eff
forts were made.
On the supposition that it might
mark the grave of some Spanish ad-
venturer who had followed DeSoto
when he marched 10 Lake Miccasukic,
some Of the party dug in the earth
around it, but found nothing. The
negroes freely expressed the opinion
that here was buried treasure troYe,
once the booty of pirates from BARGE.
Iona. The Herald party remained on
the island all night. The next day il
was found that the island extended faI
southwark, and near the extremity
were several large Indian mounds. Ii
would be easy to conceive that they
were erected by prehistoric race,
which also offered worship to the stone
idol. In these wilds may be found a
rich archaeological research.