New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-09

erosion OF its bank by the Capon River during
food together with all the arrow heads, scrapets.
modern era. II should be remembercd, however.
that this so.called modern epoch extends from our
own time backward through the countess ages snnS
separate us from the end OF the pleistocene Upon
the SUBMITS OF many hills IN TINS region, as wen
as in others. tumu were found which there was
no reason for regarding as very old, and upon tne
whole. the section Of country examined. while II
undoubtedly contained monuments which might
theoretically be arranged in series embracing
long periods of time, did not so far as my oeser-
walton went. certainly present any rehcs OF an
era beyond the present one.
When to the course OF human history thus
present expedition it will be seen that the arch
aeoGical series from the mound downward is
thus far quite. complete along the line of country
western bank of Invite Creek about three miles
north Of the hamlet Of Edom There is no doubt.
from the character Of the testimony given by two
persons who had lived within sight of it all their
lives, that seventy years ago it was at least twelve
feet high of its apex. At present the elevation
is ninety feet long and fifty wide in its greatest
diameter. with height of about five feet in the
centre Formerly the surface was covered by
dense clump of hazel bushes, and thicl1ly grown
with grass So long as this state of things con
tnued, the tumulus, standing as H. does much
above the stream, would have shed the rainfall
for an indefinite period without any perceptibe
ddiminutlon in its proportions BY washing Finally.
however. the proprietor of the land began to
plough around its base and as this operation was
continued year after year. the mound rapidly
dwinded. and at length made it possible to drive
the burrows over its top Large quantities of
human bones were cXhumed In this manner. to-
gcther with stone weapons and implements of all
kinds. Great numbers OF the latter were shown
me by persons in the ncighborhood, but they were
of the ordinary ncOlithc type such as may be seen
in any collection My excavations consisted in
sinking a shaft, or rather. digging out large
space in the centre. where fragments OF skeletons
and teeth lay thickly scattered upon the surface.
The bones Those of both sexes and all ages were
heapcd together in an indiscriminate pile, and al
though the earth was dry, they were. for The
most part. almost completely disorganized. No
stone implements of any kind were brought to
light. and in the crania saved and brought to
Washington there is nothing to remark unless it
be the extreme contraction of the front head, in
comparison with the development Of its poserior
portion. We reached the lowest layer of denosits
in this tumuus. Further excavation showed that
nothing lay deeper than the remains spoken OF.
They had been deposited in an Enclosure OF water
worn stones taken from the neighboring creek
and set around these relics of the dead in single
line.
Local tradition has provided this spot with a
story which was probably suggested by Kerchevals
mention Of the destruction Of the Scnedos tribe
effect that long ago two Indian nations extended
along the opposite banks Of Linvillc Creek who.
at different times broke out into active hostiities
with one another. On one occasion while peace
prevailed. the corn crop of those on the west side
failed utterly and they in great distress for
vegetable food In this emergency deputation
time being. allies, for the purpose of PURCHASING
supply Of seed corn. This they consented to LET
them have. and In fact delivered but they boiled
il first and Of course It never came up. Such
treachery naturally filled the souls Of the de-
fraudcd with Indignation. and straightway they
mustered their warriors and came over and
mastered these cheats, man, woman and child
This legend only merits attention from the fact
that it assigns the origin Of the tumulus to Indian
Nothing, however. that. is known of
savage warfare on this continent justiicS such an
mi (lttr ehNriU inng uIIif RI m
part that relates to murder. but to suppose that
they ever took the trouble TO heap hundreds Of
tons of earth over the bodies OF their victims IS
prepostcrous II Is equally unlikely that this
work was performed at any one time by the sur
vivOrs Of portion of some tribe that had been
decimatcd. Tie northern neutrality-suspicious.
paly the Dclawares-and the southern Catawbas
fought each other up and down the Shenandoah
Valley for an unknown period OF time. but the
construction in question seems without doubt 70
be an SeG Wnse 1 S If
skelctonized their frames were Drought one by
one and deposited. that the burial mound
reached its large size gradually.
The series of monuments referred to. although
rather In Typographical than chronological
order. introduces us TO an era more ancient than
that in which any Of them had their" origin cX
cept. perhaps, tie flint quarry of the Capon
Lake road. Descending into Mountain Valley and
looking cast between Green's and Round HILL
which are situated the caverns of Linville. In
the former location lay the mastodon's remains
deposited in the spot already described. rs
general character Is such as to discourage the
opinion that il at any time overgrown by
the surrounding forest We went down to the
slate bed and found traces indicating that such
condition Of things had existed. and yet man
working at a little distance from my position ~
the time brought me some charcoal which he had
discovered on the rock itself. and directly be-
meath one Of the long bones OF the eNtrcnltcS.
The surrounding clay was discolored by the same
substance which had been difused by water and
the specimen seen was considerably cnmmnnted
III.
said there were not apparently any trees there
to be struck by lightning or otherwise naturally
ignitcd. and the only alternative is to regard it
as trace OF The presence OF man. Until the
superintendent soil is removed and examined
shovelful by shovclfnl. no one can know what
the that was partially examined contains. but
it is too closely connected with the caves where
human implements were brought to light for any
one to decide beforehand against the possibility Of
their existence In this place also An eyamna.
ton. such has been spoken of would be both
difficult and expensive, still there Is no doubt
that it might he made. During the removal Of
the surface and subjacent clay, the water could
extent. from the spot where excavation wns going
on. by secondary drains. 1t would find its way
through them to the main trench. because the dip
Of the slate which forms the floor of the depression
is from south to north. Whenever the soil was
cut through completely, it would, however. rise
again at once, and there is little doubt that all
the cavities recently made have been by this time
reillcd. as the sides of the cuts must naturally
wash down and impede the outflow.
The first thing that Rocllhill and myself heard
OF upon arriving at Rinville Station last winter
were the caverns have called by this title, I've.
cause they are Immediately contiguous TO the
little village named after the old hunter and
trappcr who before the middle Of the last cen.
fury penetrated these regions previously unknown
TO white men. He found Il most beautiful country
rich in game. and having provided himself with
sufficient supply Of pctrics. went back to dispose
of them and have grand froic at Fort Loudoun.
now Winchester. Ii appears that under the in
splraton of corn whsley he became so eloquent
upon the subject OF his hunters paradise that
one .Jost Hite together with few friends. pro-
cured large grants OF land here from the Govern.
mcnt, and came with them and several sons in-law
TO introduce civilization into these parts The caves
have local name, which, however. is scarcely
ever used hut regret to say that it has escaped
my memory.
As one passes out of the village toward the
northeast fbp eve is CAUGHT by line of wooded