Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-10
WORkMEN FOUND RELICS.
Restoration of Independence Hall
Leads to Discoveries.
From the Philadelphia Times


The walls OF Independence Hall are CIV
ing up secrets well hidden for almos: GEN.
tury. They would have been longer hidden
but for the work now in progress, which,
when completed will have restored the his-
toric old building to its original condition
Now the interior is a mass of debris.
Chief among the discoveries was one made
last Tuesday-the finding of rusted war rel
les and mildewed parchments in hole in
the eastern wall of Independence chamber
Ut came about in this way: A workman
was busIly engaged in knocking loose the
bricks and mortar adjoining the east wall.
He was working almost on level VIII the
second hoor-just a few inches below it
when a blow of his hammer Ioosened sew
eral bricks clinging to the wall. The next
moment they fell, exposing a square open
ing sixteen inches in dimensions.
Curious. he ran his hand into the opening
Grasped something hard, and brought 1t to
the light. 1t proved to be nue.. trusted
chdln-Shot. quite like the Pattern formerly
much used in ship cannon for the purpose
OF tearing away the ratings. He called his
supericrs, who at once realized the import
ancc of the discovery. one after another
an ancient apparently loaded canister
round cannon ball. a curious fintlock. sew
ordl widowed papers and a coin were
brought to view and carefully removed to
the office. There the relics were closely ex-
amined.
In opening the pamphlets it was found
that they were city records, the dates of
which were barely discsrnible, and ranging
from liiS TO 1ISI. The names OF the city
officials at that time could just be deciphsr-
ed through the thick damp of age. The
coin, also much mildewed, bore the date of
1St2.
Immediately there was much speculation
as TO how the relics came in the wall.
which had been put up in ISL when the
original arcades were torn out. Many were
Of a mind TO weave around them bi; OF
the romantic. Charles s. keyser, the his
tOrIan. however, is authority for the state
ment that the relics came there through
the boyish FRANKS of some youths, and thus
fancy is chained.
Almost as interesting was the discovery
made yesterday afternoon. when the work
men began tearing away on the interior of
the same wall. at the place where the two
lire places and the arcadeS are to lie re-
stored
y fireplace was known to exist on the
south side of what was supposed until yes
terday 10 be The original panel and wood
work in the wallis center. 1t had been sup
posed, however, that the fireplace had the
same dimensions the one just above
the second floor. But such is hot the case,
for when the hammers laid bare the scot
severed back of the fireplace and the Gu
rlOuS heat fide adjoining il was made APP
parent that the fireplace is really much
larger than AT : rst supposed, thereby prov
ing that the anel and woodwork is not
did until yesterday, cover the old fireplace.
Interesting little facts have been noticed
IN the judicial room. too.
First, when the floor was torn up there
was found in the mortar rusted toma-
hawk, which has been added to the other
relics.
Here. too. the walls again figured. High
up on the west wall, the tops being almost
level with the ceiling. were laid bare
Two window frames, securely embedded.
They mad been walled in in 1913. Thus an
other little change in the plans. And once
mo-c on the east wall have been laid bare
the outlines of three large arches, leading
into the hall, necesSitating another slight
change.
Such are the discoveries to date, and
those having the work in charge declare
that. Notwithstanding the little !nconven-
fences caused thereby, all are Interesting
indeed. Nor viii the authorities be aston
ished if more finds are made.