The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1885-02-13
DISCOVERY OF GREAT STATUES.
Interesting Information Received by
the Navy OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

Interesting Information Received by
the Navy OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
TO be made.
Washington Cor. Philadelphia Times.
The success which has attended
archaeological researches within the
past few decades has thrown much
light upon the traditional accounts Of
the gorgeous civilizations of the ancient
world The explorations of Layard
and Botta among the ruins of Ninevah,
the writings of Rawlinson and Hincks
upon the sacred hieroglyphics of the
priests of Egypt and the cuneiform
characters of the Persians and Assy-
rians had drawn toward the plains of
Asia Minor the attention of the anti
quarians of Europe when the living
generation of men was thrilled by the
discovery of the trilingual inscriptions
of the famous Rosetta stone, which
gave to the modern world the key to
the mysteries of ancient life and lore.
The more recent labors of Schlieman.
upon the shores of the Heliespont,
among the buried ruins of ancient
Troas, and the revelations of the Runic
characters of the ancient Norsemen,
have intensified this search after the
records of lost peoples and their his
tory. In cur own hemisphere the
study of the tablets and temples of
Mexico, Yucatan, and Guatemala, and
the more recent discoveries of cliff
sculptures in the United States, have
emphasized the accepted belief of an
identity of civilization among the peo-
pies who left the record of their exis-
tence and their arts in the monuments
and palaces on the banks of the Nile
and the Euphrates and the table lands
of Mexico and Central America and the
plains of North America.
The rich treasures of ancient nations
are about to gain fresh accessons from
source in itself even more mysterious
than the sculptured stones of Egypt,
Asia Minor, or Central America. An
official communication received at the
navy department announces the discov-
cry on Rapanni or Easter island, ON the
charts in longitude 10 west and lati-
tude p south, buried in the depths of the
vast wilderness of waters of the South
Pacific, of coloss IL statues and images
rudely carved in stone. This remarka-
BILE find of archaeological remains on
small island hundreds of miles away
from any continent puzzles the learned
scientists of the Smithsonian institution
and the National museum. Professor
Baird says on the subject: 'In the pres
ent advanced state of chronological
science these monuments are of the
highest Importance. They will throw
light on the somewhat mysterious man.
ner in which this island received it's
population"
The discoveries of these remarkable
remains of a prehistoric and an adj
vanced people in part of the world
synonymous with cannabalism and saw
age life were the officers of the German
gun-boat Hyena, while on a trip from
Valparaiso to the Samoan islands. The
commander of this vessel. while thus
cruising in the South Pacific, subse-
quently received orders from his gov
eminent to visit Easter island. and to
secure these specimens. The accounts
received by our government indicate
that the vessel remained at the island
but few days, but during that time
the German officers made a considera-
BILE collection and copious notes. The
results of their preliminary labors have
been embraced in pamphlet, which is
reported at the Smithsonian institution |
to contain large amount of valuable |
The German government,
it is understood, are making prepata-
tons to send an expedition to Easter
island without a moments delay, with
a corps of scientists and engineers to
sketch the island, survey the ground,
and to make plans and sections of the
prehistoric buildings and ruins.
Our government has also taken steps
to secure some of these valuable re-
collections representing
The prehistoric and known races of this
hemisphere. Instructions have already
been sent to Admeral Uphsrr, in com
nand of the South Pacific squadron, to
lend one of his vessels on cruise in
he direction of Easter Island and to
make such explorations, collections and
eports as he may think important in
interests of his government. 1t is I'M
lerstood that the government of France
) also turning its attention to this is
and with view to the establishment
I protectorate.
1t is reported in the account given By
he German vessel that the island,
'hich is small, is strewn with large :
tone images and sculptured tablets. ,
he Smithsonian has offered 81 each
n prehistoric skulls with the lower
wv. The few people, of Polynesian ex-
action, who inhabit the island, know
othing about the sculptured remains
'und in their midst, and even tradition
ives no account of a people living there
hen their ancestors arrived. The 4
udy of these remains will add another
aluable page to chronological research.
he establishment of a connecting link q
stween these remains and those of
merica, Asia Minor, and Egypt would
deed add to the mysteries of the pre-
storic world.