The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-04-17
RELICS OFTHE MOUND BUILDERS
what an Aged Yves. Virginian, ROW
California, Has 10 Say About The
"IUscFibed stone
ence OF the Register.


Folsom, CAL. March 80.
AS the event of finding the inscribed
stone that found in the mound at Grave
creek (Moundsville), by some is misrep
resented, in order TO give the truth, as
my memory is insufficient to give dates,
and have not the statement that have
heretofore made in reference to it, l will
give brief statement from recollection,
with care not to state anything but what
Is clear On my mind. 1t occurred, how
ever, in the summer of 1888. Some
twelve or fifteen years previous my
father Samuel TOminsoD, and my uncle
sunk rod in the centre OF the depres-
sion that was on the top OF the mound
in search OF 3 vault, believing it was
caused by the filing up Of a cavity below
Why they did not excavate then, l do
not know, excepting It was that my labor
ing capacities had not then appeared.
The search, however, strengthened their
belief. Being anxious to see the result OF
labor done perhaps one thousand years
ago, they mutually agreed to make the
search, my father and uncle Jesse Tom
linson, 10 furnish the means, and l To
superintend and do the work. In 1888
we commenced a horizontal tunnel at
the base of the mound. On arriving vt
the centre We found that the top OF the
vault had fallen to the floor, which wss
firm, smooth, level and dry. On the
floor and under mass OF uuhewn rock
were found the relics, mostly covered
with the dirt OF rotten tlmbers that Lad
been thrown across TO support the rocks.
My employment was TO remove the
rocks and carefully 10 gather the relics.
They consisted of two human skeletons.
One was surrounded with 6jO ivory
beads and an ivory ornament about SIX
inches long. Finding the cavity OF this
vault not 10 be sutfiCien. TO have caused
the conCaYlty on the top of the mound,
the vault being only 8Xl2 feet square sgd
feet deep, We then drilled hole up
ward about inches in diameter, from
the centre OF tue vault, IN search OF
another, which we found about 81 feet
above. We then went up the mound
distance OF 81 feet, where we commenced
another tnnnel and dug horizontally for
the centre, where we found the top OF the
vault had fallen in rs described OF the
lower vault, the floor being as described
OF the lower vault also, except It's IN
evenness, caused by the fall Of the lower
vault. It's dimensions were about the
same as the lower vault, which was 81
feet below On this floor, and under the
rocks, as described in the lower floor,
were found the relics, consisting Of one
humsn skeleton, which had been sur.
rounded by copper bracelets, plates oi
mica, beads, etc. The skeleton had been
placed upright against tina wall of the
vault, and had fallen towards the CEN
ire, which had settled about eighteen or
twenty inches, leaving the floor in q con-
cave form, and, as | supposed had drawn
the skeleton ABOUT that distance from lis
original position. In the direction OF the
feet Of the skeleton sEd near the wal,
sitter having removed s rock from its
ancient bed, was carefully removing
the dust, which was mostly of deCayed
umbers, when | uncovered the Inscribed
stone. The inscription being up. it took
attention. l examined it AMI found it
to be the work of the aLcien:s. l then
placed 1t with the other relics, and when
prepared for exhibition it was with them. |
Having made tho above statement at |
this remote period Of my life my age |
beng now 7O) | have confined myself 10 |
facts, according to recollection, and be-
lieving also, from the fact above stated, |
that the inscribed stone was placed in |
the vault with and at the time the sko.e- |
ton WAS, for l know that l was rot de- |
ceived in the antiquity OF The bed Of the |
rock, nor OF the dirt under which the in |
sCribed stone lay. As it has been the |
will OF the Sapreme Ruler Of events to |
prolong my lie nearly forty years after |
the event OF finding the stone, with sutIi- |
Clent vig0r of mind to make this correct |
statement OF the event, expect it will |
stand recorded-ss long, at least, as the |
OF those that sre too wise 10 |
believe the truth, and also those that |
have been made by the influence OF an
btlon. Some men, who profess to write |
history, may thing that their presump- |
tous tsbricatiOns vii. shine with a bril- |
liant lustre on the puthc horizon, but |
when an enlightened community have .
the truth instead, they and their wisely .
constructed taorications will sink into .
oblivion, whilst the truth will be read /
with interest and prevail untsrnished IN
the minds OF the masses