The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-04-23
ME BOSTON.
DWARF AMERICANS.
Remains of Race of LiIiputians Unearthed
In Eastern Tennessee.

A Cumberland Gap, Tenn, dispatch 10
the St. Louis Globe-Democrat says: The
Smithsonian Institution has undertaken
a peculiar work in this locality. Those
people of the world who have paid lengthy
visits to that hilly country known as
East Tennessee have always been I'M
pressed with the sublimity and beauty
of the mountains, the simplicity and SUI
perstition of the inhabitants, and the
general air of sleepy righteousness sur
rounding everything. Ask one OF these
people where they would most expect 10
find a race of dwarfs or giants, and the
reply will be. 'In East Tennessee And
recent developments seem to bear them
ont. for i'm the last few years the remains
OF people less than three feet in height
have been discovered in this country.
On the eastern slope Of one of the peaks
of the Great Smoky mountains, where
the first rays of the morning sun strike,
Is an ancient burying- ground; and such
another burying-place could not be found,
though the world be searched, for not
one grave is more than three feet long.
The tombs are two feet beneath the sur
face. and are formed of cement and fiat
stones. and have defed the ravages or
time to cause them TO be destroyed. MOST
of those examined contain a vase. a
few beads. and human skeleton, which
was never more than thirty-six Inches
long and was that OF full-grown per-
son.
The natives have a beautiful legend OF
the place, and say none were Inferred
here except Indian children, while natu-
ralists claim the skulls TO have reached
their full growth.
But the most interesting account Is
that OF the red men who held that coun-
try when first settled by whites. They
claim that when they came 10 that Sec
ton OF country II was peopled by race
Of small, fierce men, with red mar that
these dwarfs waged long and bloody
war with the Indians. but were finally
ali killed: that this burylng-ground as
used long before they came into the coun-
trv asd that those killed in the war
were never buried.
In some parts Of the adjacent noun
tains high up on the cliffs, are to be
seen rude drawings Of combats between
fullv-grown men and number OF dwarfs.
ON account OF the superstitions OF the
East Tennesseeans. II is difficult TO reach
this pigrny cemetery and almost as much
as life is worth to attempt to dig into
the graves OF the "Leetle People"
In the mountainous district OF one OF
the Southern States. In a bead Of one OF
the great rivers. is situated a natural fort.
known to the surrounding inhabitants
as Indian Fort" Surrounded on three
sides by perpendicular cliffs. at the bot
tom OF which flows the river, wide and
deep. the only way OF approach is by as
cendirg a stiff declivity from the open
side. near the summit OF which is still 10
be seen traces OF an ancient embankment.
alncst obliterated by time. Within the
SPACE inclosed by the river and embark
hox stone
and flint implements of Indian warfare,
ard a few bronze axes. There are also
a number of tombs, formed Of large lat
stones, containing nothing but dust and
dirt at the present.
In the time of the early settlers the
native Indians had a tradition Of a great
battle having been fought at this place
years previous TO their own tine. In Whlch
an entire race was exterminated. Inc
legend is: The exterminated race, who
were called "worshippers Of the Sun.
had been gradually driven southwark.
from the far North, by the Indians. Be
fore reaching the Great River Ohe
Ohio) they separated into two DIVISIONS
one going to the southwest, the other
going directly south. What became or
the first part is not told in the legend.
After irnumerable battles the neeing
race made a final stand at Indian Fort,
a
which time the besieged subsisted on
provisions previously gathered. they were
conquered, and every man, woman. ana
child was killed. The legend says these
people came from the vicinity OF the
Great Lakes. and the few bronze imple-
ments discovered seem to give some truth
to that part OF the story.
II Is supposed that these people were
the ancestors OF the Mexican Aztecs. and
that that portion who escaped when the
tribe divided wandered toward the south
west and entered Mexico from the north.
At the time Of the conquest Of Mexico
by Cortez the Aztecs claimed that they
came from the north. and sun worship
was the national religion.
To investigate these relics Of departed
race the Smithsonian officials have sent
Professor Snow and q corps Of assistants
to the scene. They are making their
headquarters IN this city. They viii pro-
baby Be sugnged On this work for .
nontA-