Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1890-03-26

for nation.
As nearly as l can calculate we were
about thousand miles from where our
voyage began. and nothing had yet hap
pened TO disturb its monoiony. when we
began to find traces of ancient work and
workers. An angle in the wall was hewn
into n Titantic figure another point
there seemed to be regular windows,
AMI dwelling was purched far up in
tie gigantic dome.
Tie Indian told me more of the ira
ditions Of his race as we drifted past
these things. They were very great
men who lived here. They had many
things they knew more than tho white
men. They all are dead now. And
gathered from his chance remarks that
they had left secrets in their cave dwell
ings which would make him the biggest
Indian on the continent if he could dis
cover them.
Suddenly we found that the river was
flowing much faster and we failed TO
clieck our raft We went over water
fall, perhaps seventy feet high, and wero
thrown on a shelf Of rock at the side of
the river below. | was unhurt, but my
companion was so badly injured that ho
died in few hours. repaired the raft
after a fashion and continued the voy-
age. finding it impossible 10 contrivo
any way TO scale the sides of the water
fall and attempt TO return. All our
torches were lost and the attempt pro-
ceed further seemed but the last act Of
despair. A few hours later saw light
gleam over the river in very remark
able way, shining clear across, as itfrom
the headlight of locomotive high up Oh
the wall This aroused me somewhat
from my stupor and misery. ! sat up
on the raft and steered it close 10 the
c lge of the river TO see what wonderful
thing had happened
As came nearer saw that an irregu-
lar hole was in tie wall thousand feet
Above the water, and the light shonc
on. through ii. i. was cheerful thing
to look at. and hung to the granite and
shouted, but TO no effect. Then saw
broken place in the wall a little further
down, and let the raft drift along TO the
base of a broad th ugh much worn and
broken flight Of steps winding up tho
cllfT that brought me at last to the place
OF light. domcd hall over 'oked the
river. hewn out f the rock and having
in its center metal basin with jet Of
natural gas | have had to cut off n
part Of this metal basin since, but have
not harmed the inscriptions. There are
many gas Jets. but in the other cham
H.. I l,,. l,o,l T.. lfglf fbana
have lived here for mon ihs aud
have explored all the chambers Of the
place. There is no ESCAPE 80 far as can
see. The river twenty miles below,
plungcs down Naster descents and the
water gets so hot that should be boiled
alive if | iricd the voyage. have dis
covered log Of ropic wood like palm
ami q gcode in which ] can send mes
sage TO tie world Of sunlight Perhaps
this will get througi tho fires and float
to the surface somewhere. j am con-
WINGED that tlie river which brought me
here flows ON into tie Gulf Of Mexico
aud that sooner OF later my log will be
picked up Perhap. this river is really
the source Of of ihc Gulf Stream.
will now write down my discoveries,
no. in order. hut rs whole. Ny story
must lie Lriof. or this scant means OF
record will fail me.
This place seems to have b ell ap-
preached only by the river. 1t ltconsists Of
SIN large, domed l.slls. connected with a
seventh, in which the light burns. There
are bronze swords, spearheads and other
weapons stored in one chamber. There
have been costly fabrics. also. but they
have perished and only few fragments
are lett. In another hall are many treas
ures accumulated. j do not attempt 10
estimate the riches here. MonteZumas
lst treasure is said to have been eighty
million dollars, but believe the hidden
treasure house Of this forgotten race would
d - arr TO insignlhcance the riches OF
Aztecs and Peruyians put together. The
gold is in great bars. which cannot lift,
or would have Iied 20 make a golden
vc,sel to carry my story. The silver IS
in yet more huge blocks, perhaps five
feet square. Everything here is CYCLIC
pean. 4 granite cisesl, higher than my
head, is full to the brim with rings and
precious stores. What surprises Inc most
is that there are diamonds, pearls and
amber among them. What u widely ex
tended commerce this people must have
had before they descended to this sub
terranean river and hid their treasures
here.
One hall is especially the hall Of pic
tures and Of writing spend many
h urs there. l see the history Of this
race, their wars their heroes. their my
thoIogy. They are like the Egyptians IN
many things, but ;hey are not Egyptians,
nevertheless they have some OF the AIT
spirit, too. Perhaps they lived IN the
time before Atlantis was overwhelmed
perhaps they were an.ediluvians. One
thing is certain, they had poets, histori
ais. philosophers, in those days. ! wish
] could write down here tithe Of tho
W and wisdom that find on the gayly
rainted alls of these ancents Of 50 many
ages.
The most wonderful chamber Of all is
thc D n To the north. That is the cham
Der of death and silence. When first /
eu,erel this hall lighted all the gas jets.
Around the walls were high cases of
drawers, and on the front Of each was &
portrait examined them for hours be.
fore felt any desire to do more. Among
them observed very beautiful face
that Of young girl just entering woman
hood. This wonderful race possessed tho
highest artistic skill and delicacy Of ex-
preston. The face OF this girl, except
that the colors had faded, might have
been the admired masterpiece Of the
Paris Salon. felt a sudden interest in