San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-09-14
A Story from Florida Which Is Probably
as True as Any OF Haggard's.

as True Any of Haggard's.
A party of we'll known Atlanta gentlemen,
Messrs W. P. Carter, Alfred Nixon, II. B.
Wrenn and Frederick Maxwell, returned
from a hunting and fishing trip to the Ever
glades of Florida, told a wonderful story
about a discovery made by them in the
depths Of this vast swamp, which will, no
doubt, go far toward dispelling the mystery
which has hitherto so 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 So 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 to
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 good deal better, they
were surprised to find themselves issue from
the tangled jungle and float out on a large
beautiful lake.
In the center of this sheet of water was an
irregularly shaped islaad, 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 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 TO be a relic of
the ancient mound builders. They soon dis
covered that the trees were of species they
had never seen before, the wood being OF
remarkably close fiber and hardness, and
when, after considerable time and labor, the
two negroes succeeded in Telling one OF the
smallest, the rings showed it to be almost
1000 years old.
Mr.. Carter, the first to arrive at the sum-
nit of the eminence, discovered a shaft sunk
into the bowels of the mound. No rope being
obtainable, grape vine was substituted, and
Mr.. 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 a stick, he perceived a sud
den widening of the shaft and, striking a
match, found a corridor extending on both
sides as far as he could see by the feeble light
Telling his friends of his find. he daringly en-
tered the gallery, where he 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
TO them a chamber about - feet high and %
feet square. Here a strange sight met their
ewes. In rows around the room were queerly
shaped collins, made of the wood of the trees
which grew on the mound, and covered with
unintelliglble 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 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 filled 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 chamber, the
spIcndor and maguiiiceuce 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 4 kind of unknown blue metal
thickIy strown Win 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 mummes, these, no doubt, being the
deceased kings of this people. Opposite each
throne was a marble statue, probably repre-
senting the king it faced. In the center of
the chamber was a mound similar to those in
the other rooms, in which were found coro-
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
to civilization.-Co Chicago Inter Ocean.