Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-11-08
a STRANGE DISCOVERY
In the Wild Mountainous Country
ofkcDOwsII.
The Hidden Tomb Of an Indian Warrior
Discovered---Ths Body Vanishes
Like a Dream at the
Touch Of Light
and Air.



Social obrspordears Of lhe SsHdoy Rs0isser.
PERRYsvILLE, W. Va, November g.
Walter Forester, of Baltimore, and VII
Eggleston, of Philadelphia, two amateur
sporumen of some repute, made discoy.
ery Yesterday while out hunting, hat will
undoubtedly excite the interest OF the
Arch, ologists of the American Continent
They started out ss usual, early yesterday
morning, with dogs and guns, and hunted
no till noon with poor success. They then
halted to partake Of cold luncheon. The
spot chose for their repast, was at the foot
Of a dark rsvine, situated half way up the
mountain slope. Mr.. Forester, impelled
by curiosity, started up the gully TO ex-
piore it. Owing to the precipitous ma
turs of the ground, he was compelled TO
leave gun and dogs behind, and swing him
self up and over the miniature preciplces,
By the trailing Wild grape vines and tough
underground. After half hours toilsome
climb, he reached q large csyernous sper-
ture of perhaps one hundred feet in length,
the bottom consisting Of rock, smoothly
laid, as to suggest the work of man. The
underground and timber clothed the sides
of the rayine, srching over at the top 80
thickly, as to almost exclude the suns rayr,
aud giving dark, forbidding, aspect to
the scene. forester, who was for mo
ment aEed By the desolste grandeur OF
the scene, had his attention suddenly at
tracted by the rustliug Of boughs, In the
top of lofty pine tree which lowered over
hrs head. CHANGING upward, he discovered
70 his horror, crouched in dead bough,
the huge cat.like head, and brown body OF
a panther. Fearing from its menacing
attitude, that it meditsted an attack, he
hastily drew large revolver, which he
emp.ied at the brute, At the first shot,
the panther gave a trightful yell, aud
spriuRipg from tree 10 tree, speedily disap,
peared among the brush at the head OF
the gully. Eggleston, who heard the shots
fred by Forester, followed by the yell Of
the panther, hurried to his friends assist
snce, and much to his relief found that he
had escaded uuhurt One OF the hunts
men, while glsncing up the side OF the
rocks, noticed q creyIte about twenty feet
above his head. The aperture which WGS
large enough to admit man, crawling on
his hsnCs and knees, was badly choked
I'D with rubbish and large powders. Act,
ing on o sudden impulse the men decided
to explore the recessss of the cave. Climb
ing to the entrance, they rolled away the
loose rock and logs, and soon cleared
enough of the debris, to enable them to
enter o winding narrow passage, CT sui
6cient height for them to walk upright.
Oeing to the intense darkness, they were
obliged 10 return TO the mouth Of the cave
and secure torches. These they lighted
and then reentered the cave. The pas
sage way which turned and twisted in
many directions, suddenly emerged In q
large csvernous apartment of perhaps
twenty BY thrift feet. The room was
paved and walled with blue limestone,
which lit up brilliantly under the influence
of the CHANGING torch-hght. A slight ex'
animation of pile Of brush In one cor
ner, together with shreds of hair rubbed
off here and there, among the rocks, show
ed that the cave had had recent occupant
who might return at any moment to resent
their Intrusion. A hasty examination Of
their weapons ressured the sportsmen, and
they decided that if the proprietor returned
he would meet with warm reception. AS
| the men were on the point OF leaving the
cave, q curious stucco work, IN one end OF
the apartment attracted their attention
| II had been formed of fat obloDg stones
laid with such nicely as to form a perfec
wall. A careful examination Of the work
led them at once TO believe that 1t had
been done By the hand of man. Forester
who carried in addition 10 his equip
meuts, q light ak, wsRt TO worE
with a will, on the wall After o quarter
of an hours violent exertion, 8 huge rocE
| in the center of the wall gave way, falling
into the interior, and clearing an aperture
of perhaps two feet in diameter. a torch
thrust through the newly opened passage
disclosed vision that at once sstonlshec
snd disusyed the man. Stretched upor
. divan Of skins, was the life size figure o
q colossal Indian warrior; sttired IL
girdls and head6ress OF eagle. feathers enc
oeads, with his hands resting on knife enc
battle axe. The coloripg, and general sp
pearsnce of the chieftain wsS so exiremei,
natural, IS to lead the spectators to thinl
him but asleep. For q moment this visiol
fingered, then wayered and disappeared
leaving no traces of the gorgeou
picture of the dead ehieftian, save {
quantity Of 6asi and few moldy bones
The wonderful nature of the experience
almost lead the cool but noW-excited hun
ters, to doubt the evidences other own sen
ses and toimagine the whole experience bu
q dream. As tapgsble refutation of thi
theory, there were number Of flint arroV
heads, to gether with 3 knife and head Q
Ratchet CON posed of an alloy StroDgl
resembling bronze. In addition to thes
war trophies, the cave contained numbe
of curiosly shaped asgons or caps, of tn
same peculiar metal, and several fragment
of earthenware. Just beneath the spo
where the vision had lain, was touUd
stone bearing number of curious hierc
Vlyphics. The gentlemen gathered thei
treasures together and started to leave tn
cave. As they entered the passage wsy
they were SppSiIeo W Seo wv hNAuS ESai
Of FIRE peering at them through the dsrl
ness Forrestsr's gun lsapsd to his shou
der, and Q second later two thunderou
reports dssdened the ears of the hunters
intermingled with horrible scream, follow
cd en- instant later by an animal Struggin
in the throes of death. Ap exsninstio
of the cave, showed IN enormous psnths
measuring ak feet one inch in length
stretched upon the ground. Your reporte
saw the gentlemen shortly after they al
rived at the village, and vas Shons the eT
dsncs of the hunters proves and told tb
story of their discoveries Forester state
: that he could not explain the vanishing Q
the ehieftaiu, except on the theory, tbs
the dryness OF the rock tomb, had prevent
the remains nom dscaSing. and that
va CT the sudden rushing in OF light an
, air that had caused The 6is;nteyrstion {
the particles. The trophies were ais
shone the reporter, who took especial not
of their formation and finish. The knii
b'ade and handle are Of the same piec
, and about nine inches in length. Ii
- k.oad aod c,ll - kha oar,a. I'D no