Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-02-28
CAVE OF GIANTS.

scrlplion of a noted cave in Adams coun-
ty, Ohio, discovered many years ago.
Recent explorations 90 10 show that the
excavations were the work of a race OF
giants in pre- historic times, thousands
OF wears before Columbus discosered tho
New World. The entrance 10 tie cave
is located in what is known as the old
Smith farm. by well hole three feet in
diameter. At depth OF twenty-five
feet there is dry cavern with smooth,
even floor, roof and walls of trrestone.
Passing through corridor six fre, wide
there is another chcmher, and secoud
corridor connects with a third chamber.
TIE latter has lofty, archcd dome. and
the floor and roof are of limestone. The
water oozing through the roof has form
ed thousands of staliciiIes. There Is
fourth chamber, 10 gain access TO which
it is necessary 10 climb steep, wet
bank aud squeeze through narrow iis.
sure in the rock, which was originally
corridor Ike the others, but has brcn
contracted by some convulslou OF ma
ture. In one corner of this fourth chan;-
Der there is a yawning well, ten fee. in
diameter. AT the mouth ut this well
can be- heard the murmur ot an nndcr-
ground stream of water many hundred
feet below.
Beyond the fourth chamber there arc
others connected 10y narrow galleries.
With the exception of the third cham.
ber, all are OF the same width aud
height. though OF different lengths. Ev-
cry corner of the cave has been thor
oughly explored thousands Dt tlm"s,aud
the walls ot the limstone chambers are
covered with the names OF visitors. O"c
inscription, high upon the wall, reads:
"Von Brady, 1880" Recently party
Of explorers descended the wall by
means OF rope ladder. About fifty feet
down there was an entrance 10 another
cavern. The gallery is straight aud
fifty feet long, where II enters a large
room 220 feet long, ITO feet wide and
"A feet in height. The root, tiuor and
walls are smooth and even. La the cep-
ire Of this apartment there Is safcophL'
Gus. and mauscleum combined. The
mauseleum at lis base measures IS 10y
SIS feet. 1t Is OF simple, though beanil-
tiul design, and carved out ot solid rock.
lis base is panelrd on all side, these pan
els containing bas-relleis, which arc
supposed to represent the four seasons
10 mans life childhood, youth, man
hood and old age At the end of the
has relIeis are tablets full Of written
characters, in shape something like the
lIebriac, presumed 10 be memoriams OF
! the persons in whose honor the maus,-
| lenm was erected. The carving en- the
bas reliefs is of the most delicate de-
scrption, aud fully equal TO the Greclan
sculpture. In the centre rises coneh
twelve feet long and five wide. IL is
probably Of lite size, and measures nine
ieet tour inches in length. The limbs
are finely proportioned, IAN disposed IN an
| easy and graceful manner. The arms
are folded across the breast, and the lin.
gers clasps a bunch OF leaves resembling
oak, reproduced with such fidelity 10
nature that they look like petrifactions
Every vein aud sercartion oi the leaf is
perfect. The figure is partially nude,
q mantle or scarf crossing the breast aud
loins and falling graceful folds ou each
side. The face is oEe Of great strength
and beauty, and the featores OF n He
brew cast. The head is covered with n
winged cap or hemet. AT each corner
OF the couch is vase four feet nine
incnes high, covered with beautifully
carved flowers and leaves. Tn y are in
shape something like an alnphora, ex-
ccpt tha, the bottom is fiat aud the ham
| pies affixed TO the body OF the vase.
The neck is thirteen inches in length
and tapers gradually and gracefully.
I he vases are OF uniform size. although
the carved designs are different. They
measure in circumference forr feet i've
| inches.
The diameter of the neck is six inch
es. Suspended from the root, and di-
rectly over the head Of the reeumdent
figure. is a copper lamp Of unique de.
sign, elegantly chased ard kept 10 posi-
tion by rods Of the same metal. At
each corner of the mausoleum rises
pyranidal column, surmounted by caps
that are Enthusiastically Doric. On two
sides Of the room are tonbs Of humber
d-sign. They are side by side. of uni
form size and twenty in number. ten on
a side. The tops are covered with
slabs securely cemented. On the front
OF each is raised scroll, covered with
written characters. On the wall Of thu
room is painted twenty-five faces, Do
doubt portraits Ct the occupants OF tho
tombs. Eight of these faces, though
blurred, can be recognised as children,
e We Of youths, two Jf young men, nine
OF middle-aged men aud women, and
one, 10 the centre ofthe group, sn exact
copy of the recumbept figure in the
mausoleum. The colors used are red,
yellow and black, and have evidently
been mixed with oil. One Of The small
tombs was opened ard disclosed mnn,-
my nine ieet one irch in length. The
cloth covering the face was removed.
and the head crumbled 10 dust. Some
OF the hair stuck TO the cloth as il was
brought away. IL is black. curly, and
Of fine texture. the tomb also Con.
.ained spear head or batcbet, two
lances, three inauocks or hoes, spade.
cup, two plates aud small urn.
All Of these were Of copper, hardened
10 some peculiar manner that file will
scarcely make scratch, and cold cbisel
turDs up like lead when struck against
the metal A square package az the