The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-08-13
THBoAvB OF BUDDAHATOHIE.
The Long Lost Ark of the Covenant in Pu-
lask.
The Citizen the First Paper in Tennessee to
Record the Certainty of Its Dis
oOVerY.

The readers of the CIT IzEN will
read with alacrity an article that
appeared in the Nashville American
last Friday which we copy below,
headed "The Cave of Buddahatch
ie," in which a most incredible tale
of finding of a small box and three
petrified human bodies IN a cave in
Marion county, Ala, was told. The
discovery was so wonderfully
strange and the supposed contents
of the box 30 marvellous that while
it impressed the more thoughtful
with the. possibility of its truthful
ness, there is little credence given
it by the average reader, doubtless
from the fact that the people and
the press have been so frequently
imposed upon by unmitigated liars
and unprincipled writer's in man.
ner which is shameful and outrage
Gus. 1t is the privilege of the CIT
IzEN to give to its readers further
evidence in regard to this miracu-
lous discoverytand to corrOborate
as herein given the truthfulness of
the story as published in the Amer
lean. We give first the American 5
article:
TUPELo, Miss, Aug. 4, 1S85.-In
coming to Hamilton, the shire-town
of Marion county, Ala, the other
day, 1 was reliably informed and
greatly interested in a wonderful
discovery recently made by one of
the citizens of the county, Mr.. j..
w. MADDEN. A few days since,
while out hunting, Mr.. Hadden saw
in cluster of bushes a snow-white
fawn which he stealthily approach
ed, hoping to capture prize. The
fawn almost allowed him to pick it
up, when it suddenly ran off a short
distance and again stopped. Had
den again approached, when the
fawn again retreated. This course
was pursued by Hadden and the
fawn until they reached high bluff
overlooking Buddenhatchie river,
some four miles east of Pearce's
mills, when the fawn suddenly dis
appeared over the edge of the bluff.
Upon comming up, MADDEN peered
over the bluff, when to his astonish-
ment he saw the fawn standing on a
narrow bench, hundreds of feet be-
low, near the root of large spruce
pine recently blown APP. After
much difficulty he succeeded in
reaching the spot where the fawn
was last seen, but the fawn was not
within range of his vision. Upon
looking around he discovered that
the pine in being uprooted disclos-
ed to view. circular orifice in the
bluff some three feet in diameter.
Prompted by curiosity and a desire
to catch the fawn, he provided him
self with a torch and entered the
cavern and made a discovery which
will not only immortalize himself
and be a source Of fabulous wealth,
but will be of immense value and
interest to the scientific men and
biblical scholars of the world.
Stretched out at full length upon
the caves rocky floor lay the petri-
fed bodies of three human beings
two males and one female-an OBJ
long box of curious and antique de-
sign, two feet long, eighteen inches
wide and sixteen inches deep, be-
sides many other Curiosities of
smaller dimensions. Surprised and
terror stricken, Hadden withdrew
from the cavern and returned to his
home. The next day Hadden re-
turned with a trusted friend to the
scene of his discoveries and remOv-
ed the petrified bodies and other ar
ticles from the cave. The box, also
petrifed, was carefully removed
from It's resting place and broken
and found to contain q small earth
en- jar, a large roll of parchment and
brass rod. Now, the mystery is,
to what race OF people did these
bodies belong and how came them
there2 The parchment manuscripts
are undoubtedly written in the He
brew language. Many theories
have been advanced by our people,
but the most plausible one that l
have heard is that. the bodies are Of
Hebrew origin, that the box is the
long lost ark OF the covenant, the
rod the veritable Aaron's, the jar
the pot of mamma, and the parch-
ment manuscripts the seven lost
books OF the Old Testament.
The scene of this wonderful dis
covery is one of sublime and pictur-
esque grandeur. Hundreds Of feet
above huge masses of rock lift their
hoary heads high in the air, while
far beneath are the limpid waters of
Buddahatchie on their way to the
gulf, "gurgling kisses to the pcb-
bled shore" Mr.. Hadden has care
fully boxed his treasures and will
start Immediately for Washington,
DC, where he will deposit them in
the Smithsonian Institution.
Now, Mr.. Editor, this wonderful
discovery is no "Joe Mulhatton
yarn" but can be fully suhstanti-
ated by calling on or addressing the
following parties of Hamilton. Ala
j. c. Hamilton, judge probate
court; Maj. Jas. H. Cast, editor
Marion County Herald, and Col.
James Pearce on whose plantation
the wonderful discovery was made
}. w. S.
On last Sunday afternoon little
before dark, a CITIZEN representa-
tive learned that Mr.. j. W. Hadden
of Marion county, Ala, was in Pu-
laski, and determined to see him
and ascertain II there was any truth
in the published statement Of his
wonderful discovery. Calling at
the residence of one of our citizens
the reporter was in the presence of
Mr.. Hadden who seemed to be a
well bred, intelligent gentleman.
After the usual civilities and in re-
ply to a question Mr. Hadden said, |
Eyes, it is true I've made a wonder
full find and l believe I have the |
long lost ark of the covenant in my |
To convince you, as l !
know you don't believe me, I'll