Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-11-13
KING solomoNs MINES OUTCOME
A Story from Florida which Il Probably
Trua An,r nf ua.ruard,.

A Story from Florida which Il Probably
ms True Any of Haggard's.
A party OF well known Atlanta gentlemen,
Messrs. W. p. Carter, Alfred Nixon, H. B.
Wrenn and Frederick Maxwell, returned
from hunting and fishing trip TO the Ever
glades OF Florida, told a wonderful story
about discovery made by them in the
depths OF this vast swamp, which will, no
doubt, go far toward dispelling the mystery
which has hitherto 50 closely enveloped the
primeval inhabitants Of this continent-the
mound builders
The party had been out for about two
weeks and had not been very successful, game
being comparatively scarce. Learning from
the natives that they would find better sport
by going deeper into the recesses of this
trackless swamp, although warned at the time
OF the danger of doing 30, owing TO the diff
Guilty OF threading ones way through its
tangled mazes, they decided TO penetrate the
famous Everglades. Securing a light boat
manned by two negroes. with provisions 70
last them for a fortnight, they started down
one Of the sluggish streams leading toward
the heart OF the swamp. Toward the end OF
the fourth day, during which time shooting
and fishing had been n good deal better. they
were surprised 10 find themselves Issue from
tho tangled Jungle and float out ON a large
beautiful lake.
In the center OF this sheet OF water was an
lrregulsrly shaped island, probably a half
mile In length and almost the same In width,
standing considerably above the level Of the
surrounding marshes. and comparatively
bare OF vegetation. On this island was a cir
cular mound about 100 feet high, covered
with various kinds Of trees. The hunters at
once landed with the purpose of exploring
what they at once surmised 20 be a relic OF
the ancient mound builders They soon dis
covered that the trees were OF q species they
had never seen before, the wood being OF a
remarkably close fiber ard hardness, and
when, after considerable time and labor, the
two negroes succeeded in Telling one Of the
smallest, the rings showed Il 20 be almost
1900 years old
Mr. Carter, the FIRST 10 arrive at the sum
init OF the eminence, discovered a shaft sunk
into the bowels OF the mound. No rope being
ohtainable, grape vine was substituted, and
Nlr. Carter began his descent into the dark
ness Of the opening. After having been low
cred a short distance, feeling at the same time
In the sides with n stick, he perceived a sud
den widening Of the shaft, and, striking
match, found a corridor extending on both
sides rs far as no could see by the feeble light.
Telling his friends Of his hnd he daringly en-
tered the gallery, where ho was quickly joined
by Mr. Maxwell, and the two started out TO
explore the mysteries Of the mound.
They had proceeded but few yards when
the gallery suddenly enlarged and disclosed
10 them n chamber about Is feet high and 20
feet square. Here n strange sight met their
eyes. In rows around tho room were queerly
shaped collins, made OF the wood Of the trees
which grew ON the mound, and covered with
unintelligible characters Grouped around
each coffin were gold pots and utensils Of
great value, also Inscribed with hieroglyph-
les. In the middle OF the room was a minia-
ture mound, and IN this were found pots,
images and various bric-a-brac Searching
further, they found several similar chambers,
some empty and some filed with all manner
Of strange and curious articles.
Returning TO the shaft and descending fur
Their another corridor was found connecting
with more rooms than the first one, but on
reaching the bottom the explorers discovered
a third gallery leading into a chamber, the
splendor and magnincence OF which fairly
took away their breath. While the walls OF
the rooms on the other levels were OF earth,
the walls OF this were OF beaten silver, the
ceiling OF a kind OF unknown blue metal,
thickly strown with diamonds TO represent
stars, and the floor Of brass.
On one side OF the room were thirteen gold
thrones, exquisitely carved, on which sat as
many mummies, these, no doubt, being the
DECREASED kings OF this people. Opposite each
throne was a marble statue, probably repre-
senting the king IL faced. In the center OF
the chamber was a mound similar TO those In
the other rooms In which were found ooro-
nets, scepters and other insignia Of royalty.
Securing as many trophies as they could well
take care Of, the party set out on their return
10 civilization Cor Chicago Inter Ocean.