The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-11-19
THE WONDER OF THE AGE.

THE WONDER oF THE AGE.
For some time we have been confidently
looking forward to n startling announcement
from the parties who have been engaged in
making excavations in the Indian mounds
near Chillcothe Ohio. and at last this an
nouncement has come. II was too much to
expect that 50 uncommon an opportunity
would be permitted 10 go by without beng
turned 10 the fullest account
Two men of some scientific knowledge.
Professors hIorehead and Cresson were COM
inissionei several months ago by the directors
OF the Chicago Worlds Exhibition to 20 down
to Ohio and pry into the secret contents OK
those mysterious mounds which have sur
/ yived as the only monuments Of the extra
ordinary race which once inhabited all that
region Of country. What the Worlds Fair
/ directors we're anxious TO secure was some
thing that would aston.sh the multitudes Of
eullible people who will yiait the Fair during
its progress. something invested with pecu-
liarly weird and uncanny associations because
rescued from the dark shadows Of the pasta
relic that will appeal 10 the sense Of awe and
superstition by calling back those ghostlv
ages in which the Imagination of Rider
Hagsard delights
There were no temples Of Karnak IN
America 10 be robbed Of their cyclopean
statues or tombs Of Ghizeh 10 be rifed of their
mummies, no ruined Assyrian palaces. no
Druidical shrines, no Pompeian villas. no
Celtic cairns. There was but one
thing in reach Of the Chicago directors, and
that was the Indian mound With the prompt
ness and decision that distinguish the Yves.
tern mind. the two scientists whom we have
named were dispatched to tho site Of the
monuments of the defunct Ohio mound
builders with instructions 10 unearth a curl
osity that would set the whole fair agog and
carry envy and CONSERVATION into the souls |
Of the Europeans to be present who have
been accustomed to cater 10 the love Of the |
wonderful in the hearts Of their compatriots. |
Professors Morehead and Cresson took the |
cue with the utmosC readiness. For several
months they have been digging into the
mounds situated on the Hopewell farm near
Chilicothe with all the frantic energy of a
dog that Is trying to get at an old haro in a
hole. Spade, pickaxe and hoe, hoe, pickaxe
and SPADE have been going incessantly-
mound after mound was leyeled with the
plain but the Great Curiosity still eluded
their search. The scientists were not 10 be
With coats thrown of meta
speaking. and their eyeglasses glued
as it were. upon tho earth before them. they
continued TO dig and to dig as if their reputa-
ton depended upon their discovering the
strange object which tho directors of the
Worlds Fair were determined 70 obtain.
At last their unwearied efforts have been
rewarded, and the wonder Of the age has been
ound. In excayating the largest Of the
mounds. which. remarkable TO say. was left 10
DO the last instead Of being the first TO be
examined. there has been exhumed the massive
keleton of a man encased in copper armor.
The head was covered by an Oyal-shaped COP
'er cape The Jaws bad copper holdings. and
he arms were clothed in copper: copper
'lates enyeloped the chest and stomach. On
ach side of the head on protrudng sticks ,
we're placed wooden antlers ornamented with 3
opper In other words the whole figure is
f an order that will carry exutation into the i
carts Of the Chicago directors. as much so C
ld@ed as if it had been originally designedby /
hem and secretly inserted like another !
media statue in the mound where it was i
ound. d
The scientists themselves are apparently |,
verjoyed by the discovery which they have n
iade and pronounce the figure 10 10 six t
undred years old. If we remember rightly .
us was the age attributed to the Oneida +.
atue. Probably If Professors Morehead
i'd Cresson examine the copper ornaments s.
'ry closely they will find the trade mark of ~
Chicago firm indented in it in some obscure
art. Their labors are now closed. they have h
'rformed the commission which was given &C
em with as much success as if the latter 70
I'd been carefully provided for them before to
nd. They will soon remove the fnure 70 OF
licago, and all Of our American citizens. o 81
Zen the Fair opens viii have an oppor- pa
nifty Of studying the Indian cor Anarchist ID
eleton inits prehistoric Cor modern Chicago "a
It of armor.