The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-05
PREHISTORIC IMAGE FOUND.
Remarkable Discovery in y Cavsrn Net
TouNwanda. n. W.

Remarkable Discovery In u Cavern Near
T~ounwanda. n. W.
Tonawanda. N. Y. March BIN a
cavern a few miles south OF this city
has been found a giant image Of pre-
historic origin. The strange looking
IDOL il of solid rock, and II has aroused
an unusual mount Of interest in scien-
tihc circle. The stone god Is the
property of Palmer Cummings OF Ak
on. n IL Is now in the library and
reading room of the Cummings summer
cottage. For many centuries The
strange object OF worship was con-
cealed from the world. and II was only
by the merest chance hat the opening
10 the underground chamber was re-
vealed to Uriah Cummings N a num-
Der of workmen.
While mining limestone in a part of
the estate that had received but little
attention in past years. the laborers
the entrance to the cavern
in which the stone god was found. The
underground chamber is of immense
size. and IL appears to have been at one
time a meeting place for a race OF men
Of prehistoric existence. The mound
builders may rave inhabited the east
ern section Of h continent This would
probably explain the origin OF the un-
foreground cavern and its strange oc-
cupant. The o god was found at
one end of the cavern. lying fiat on it's
face. and broken into two pieces at the
bust. When IL was removed from it's
resting place the lower part of the body
crumbled to pieces. and was allowed to
remain where found. The shoulders
and head of the strange image also be-
gan to crumble, but they are sufficient
ly well preserved to retain their SYM
metry of outline. A large hole In the
left side OF the face shows the effects
Of oxidixation during the centuries In
which the stone god was shut out from
the light I'm the underground chamber.
From the dimensions of the head and
shoulders Of the stone god II may be
inferred that IL stood 10 feet tall when
intact. The exact measurements OF
the parts that are preserved are as fol-
lows: Girth of head. 20 inches: length
OF face, 10 inches; width OF face. IL
inches: circumference of neck. 23 inch
es: breadth of shoulders. 20 inches;
weight of cad and shoulders at the
present time. 1893 pounds.
One peculiar feature of the image Is
that the rock from which IL Is made
is not found In this vicinity. The terri
tory roundabout the cavern abounds In
calcareous formations. but he stone
from which the image was carved must
have been transported from another
section OF the country. The remain
Of the stone god are of a peculiar mud
color. The head is bullet shaped and
the eyes are deep set and piercing.
The lower part OF the face is very
broad and the part OF the head wh.sh is
below the eyes and ears IL many times
larger than the back n top Of the
Uranium. This feature would. IL In be-
lieved. indicate that the race which at
one time inhabited this part of the occi-
dent was composed of men who were
giants physically. but dwarfs mentally.
In making this inference II Is assumed
that the stone image was patterned
after the physical idea OF the age in
which IL was made
Most interesting of all Is the fact that
one side of the giants face IL wreathed
in smiles. while the other side In cold
and stern. The left side OF the head Is
terrible to look upon. and the left eye
may be well called the evil eye. II IN
piercing ms sharp in outline and sends
a cold chill up the back OF the specta-
otr. Time and exposure have had no
effect on the upper part OF the face.
The forehead is as perfect to-day as IL
was centuries ago. and IL seems that
the oxidation OF the body began at the
lower extremities and worked gradually
upward.