The Indiana State sentinel., 1879-09-10
A WONDERFUL DISCOVERY.
The Walls Adorned With vividly Colorsd
Drawings Of Mem and Animals.
Unknown Animals = Huge Tusked and
Trunked Beasts, Etc, Etc.

Especial Correspondence Of the Sentinell
VIScESNEs, Ind, Sept. Con yesterday
an old gentleman by the name Of Shas-
serre, living about eight miles southeast
OF here, in that section known as Chin
ney Pierre Hills (the name was derived
from an ancient pier or pillar of stone-now
partly destroyed-about Is feet high, shaped
ike chimney and having q sunken square
in the base as though designed for q
fireplace, supposed by many to be
a relic of those wonderful prehistoric
people. the mound builders) came to this
city, and detailed their wonderful discovery
OF cavern cut in the solid rock of bluff,
which, il anything like represented, will take
its place among the most remarkable and
wonderful of archaeological discoveries
The Times prints the following account of
the discovery, and description OF the won
der which is all the Information at hand at
this writing:
AS we learn the story, Mr.. shasserre started
out early this morning to seek a sheep which
had strayed away from = flock he was penning
for the purpose Of shearing. Following along
foot of the immense bald table Of rock, known
from the first settlement Of the country
a sheep apparently from behind a great stand
ing splinter torn from the mass, probably by a
thunesrbolt, and detached until a broad fs-
had become entangled in this fissure, he
sought to slip around the fragment next to the
precipitons bluh when he lost his hold, and
fell some Is feet, alighting temporarily on the
edge OF q smooth, nat stone, concealed in q
dense mass of underground. Judge of his
alarm as he found this platform under his feet
down, down In the depths of the earth.
The shock OF the fall was such as to deprive
him of all power to catch aud save himself. In
a few seconds he found himself in a vestibule
cut out of the eolid rock, and the walls of
which were adorned with most yividly coored
drawings Of men and animals. The ceiling,
which was dome-shaped. and about ii feet
q gantsized man placing faggotS in a figure
designed to represent the sun.
The sides bore, in black and brown colors,
delineations OF animals he says he never sa W
even pictured-huge tusked and trunked
| beasts like elephants, with masses of shaggy
| hair falling about their heads and shoulders;
great cats, he says, striped like tigers, and
| with tusks hanging over their lips like wal.
ruses. In the midst of this throng of wild
beasts, upon a yellow background, is define
| ated the form OF a man, seated in some kind
description, an ancient Roman chariot. The
| whole OF these paintings bear Inscriptions
| which, of course, Mr.. Shasserre could moi
| read. On one facade of this pre- historic tenn
fowls, curious and gorgeous-score after score
| OF them, says Mr.. Shasserre, none Of which
| could he recognize as now common in this
| country. The colors he describes as peculiarly
and charmipgly bright.
The surrounding country isIErich witt
relics of this curious and unknown race, ant
throughout the county are many evidences
of the advanced condition of civilization
| which they had attained. There is nothipl
improbable about the finding of the wonder
full cavern above described. Your CORES
pondent will visit the place and make
careful examination, when further detail
| will be given to the Sentinel.