The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1880-02-12
WONDERFUL CAVERNS.
PR REMAINS RE.
GENTLY FOUND IN MISSURI
~ 81 uafisss AND OHIO. aglrf.ni +:
Bronze Weapons, Carvings, Or
unl namentaI Columns and
,u Ltu4.5 Mummies.
A MISSOURI CAVE vEMpLE.

A correspondent describes a cave
recently explored in Monroe county,
Missouri. It is in lime stone ridge
at the head waters of Salt River, which
empties into the Mississippi, This
ridge is known in the locality as the
"Narrows," and its rocky bluffs, rising
to the height of 200 feet, presents a
bold and picturesque scene. 1t has
long had local fame on account of
the many Indian curiosities found
there. Indian mounds are numerous
on the rocky ledge, and Indian skulls,
arrow heads, flint hammers, and iron
and stone hatchets have been found in
considerable numbers. A recent dis
coyery there caused a correspondent
to visit Mr.. Waldron, the owner of
the land, and this accountlis given of
an explanation s .ys4..s 81
Without much difficulty found Mr..
Waldron, the discoyerer of the tenn
pie, on whose land it is situated. He
proposed, as it was late, that I should
remain with him during the highland
walk over and see the temple in the
morning. L assented,. and after sup
per Mr.. Waldron brought out some
articles that he had found in the tenn
pie for my inspection. They were a
bronze hatchet or hammer, having an
eye and heavy knob on the hammer
portion; rude bronze lance or ar
row head more than six inches in
length q piece of deer or elk horn,
about nine inches in length, from
which small branches were given off,
and an elliptical piece of bronze, on
which was cut in q rude manner an
of the sun and some alpha
betical characters closely resembling
the Pheniclan. ..,s-figss,.f
The next morning, with Mr.. Wald.
ron and his two sons, 1 set out to Wis
it the temple. Our way lay through
q low bottom covered with a dense
growth of timber. We soon found
ourselves before the cleft in the rock,
and after lighting torch we entered.
The arch is ellipticaI, and for graceful
ness of curve and beauty of finish, is
not excelled by any of the works OF
the present day. Each stone is of the
finest granite, polished as smooth as
glass, and they sent back reflections OF
our torches, like polished steel. The
springer rests on an entablature, w hich
is placed on the capital Of a beautiful
column, also hewn from the granite
The keystone of the arch projects
from the inferior stones, and SCENE to
have been finished with the view OF
placing an inscription thereon, but
this was never done. Passing under
the arch we found ourselves in room
hewn out of solid limestone, 35 feel
wide, so feet long, 80 feet high, and
vaulted to the center, the ceiling be.
ing 45 feet from the floor in the mid
die Of the room. At intervals of ter
feet are graceful, slender columns o
granite, with square base fantastically
carved in imitation of some unknown
plant. The shafts, like the shaft sup
porting the arch, are surmounted by q
capital. Upon this rests heavy en-
tablature of magnetism limestone
which is closely fitted under the roof
and gives the columns the appearance
of supporting the ceiling. The acous
tic properties of the temple are re
markable. A whisper can be heart
from one end of the room to the other
There are twelve columns in the tenn
| pie, six on each side. Between tn
columns on each side of the temple
and on each side of the arch or en-
trance to the temple, are set into tn
wall blocks of polished gray and blac
granite; but there is no inscription o
any of them. No sculpture of an
kind, except the plants mentione
tabove, has been discovered At Ith
Western portion of the room lis
dais, or raised platform of polishe