The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1891-05-02
A GORILLA in INDIANA.
Perhaps This is Darwin's Long-Sough
Missing Link Between Man and Ape.

Perhaps This is Darwin's Long-sought
Missing Link Between Man and Ape.
Vernon is one of the oldest towns in
Indiana, says the Cincinnati Enquirer,
and is surrounded by rock-ribbed hills
whose rugeedness render them quite
romantic.
Tears ago subterranean cavern was
reported to have been discovered by
man residing near here, named Barnes,
in which he claimed to have explored
short distance and discovered large,
tall form, somewhat resembling the
human form, but appearing to be naked
and covered with a tuft or growth OF
hair. Barnes wss SO frightened that he
fled from the presence of the being,
whatever it was, and was so rldlculed
when he told his story that he carried
with him to the grave, a few years later,
the secret of the location of this cave.
This story has now been revived by a
startling discovery, made recently by
Alexander Shepherd, real-estate
dealer, who was showing farm to
prospective purchaser. Going up a
deep ravine, whose bed is covered with
stone for long distance, they accident
ally discovered small entrance, or
hole, behind large stone, that appar-
emily led into the ground underneath
large hill. Procuring lantern, they
entered the opening with some difficult
ty, and soon found themselves inside a
large and lofty cavern, the rooms gilt
tering with stalagmites and stalactites
like other cayerns of It's character
abounding in Southern. Indiana.
After vending their weary way
through numerous apartments, each
more elaborate and beautiful than the
one first gone through with, they
stopped to gaze on the magnificent
spectacle that greeted them on every
hand; but suddenly their awe-in-
spired admiration turned to horror and
their hair stood Oh end, as they discov-
cred only few feet from them the
huge form of what seemed to them to
be a gorilla, or some human-shaped be-
ing resembling wild man, naked, and
covered with apparently coat of griz-
ely brown hair. After gazing on the
intruders for moment it gave low,
cultural sound, and went ambling OFT
into the deep, lmpenetrable darkness
of the cavern. 1t appeared to be over Is
feet in height.
After this strange being disappeared,
the explorers turned to the right and
discovered what appeared to be a store
room. which was found to contain piles
of potatoes, corn and wheat and bones
of fowls and in another room adjoining
this one. were found numerous bones
dry with age.
For long time almost nightly,
strange noises have been heard in the
locality of the deep wood surrounding
this Subterranean cavern, and all at
tempts to fathom the mystery proved
failure. No one could ever see the
source of the noise, and dogs refused to
follow It's trail. Farmers in the locality
were losing their products almost night
", and no one knew where they went.
II seemed, that in making its nightly
incllrsions. it always followed the stony
pathway of the stream leading to the
cavern, and thus accounted for their
failure to trace it to its hiding place.
Years ago there was a wild man, or a
similar object to this being, who inhab-
tied Trimble County, Ky, and later
Jefferson County, Ind. adjoining this
tJennys) County, and for some years
now no trace of him has been known.
This being is believed TO be the same
one by some.
The discovery has created a great
neighborhood excitement, and a large
party has been organized TO explore
the labyrsnths of this mysterious cav
ern and fathom the mystery of its oc
cupant.