The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-25
BUILT BY UNKNOWN HANDS.
Mississippi's Great Wall a Puzzle to
Acknowledgements
From the New Orleans Pieayune)

| From the New Orleans Picayunc)
| One vi the scientific puzzles of the State
of Mississippi is the "Brandywiine Stone
Wall" 1t has long been problem that
| is yet unsolved. Some time ago Thomas
Watson, of Hazelhurst, sent Governor
| Longlno pencil drawing of an immense
pile of stone in the southeastern portion
of Claiborne county. suggesting that the
stone might be utilized in building the
new capitol. In letter which accom-
panied the drawing Mr.. Watson stated
that these stones, piled high on each 9TH
er. cover an area four miles square. Each
stone is feet long, feet wide, and 2
feet thick, and they are Joined together
with an excellent quality of cement. No
man knows how they came there. They
may have been there for thousands of
years. The builders, the jackson News
thinks, were some prehistoric race-it
could not be otherwise. This structure is
supposed to be continuation Of the great
Chinese wall" which seems to begin
below Raymond in the southern part of
Kinds county, and which is traceable
through Copah. 1t is broad enough to ac
commodate two or three wagons abreast
and is one of the wonders of the world.
Mention of this remarkable exhibit"
says the "Hazelton Courier" has elected
no little comment-in fact, has brought
of the United States Pententiary At Leav-
enworth. Kan, and also letter TO DR..
T. B. Birdsong from another distinguished
source, it being known that the latter
some years ago investigated the matter.
Mr.. Watson. however," says the "Cour-
ier,' has given the subject more patient
thought and gone over the ground more
thoroughly than anyone else. and 10 him
the Courier is indebted for the follow
ing interesting facts: M
He calls it the 'Brandywine Stone
WALL and says this wonderful and mas
sive structure or parts Of structure of
masonry done in stone. which has with
stood the rayages of time for perhaps
many thousands of years, still stands an
enduring relic of a prehistoric civiiiza-
ton and knowledge of the art of building
not inferior In many respects to the pres
ent day. These stone buildings lie, for
the most part, buried in the earth in the
southeastern part of Claiborne county,
and lying against the Copiah county line,
ON the slopes overlooking the valley of
the Brandywine Creek from the west side.
These walls run from northeast to
southwest. They are built Of white Or
greyish white stone of immense size,
weighing from two to three tons, meas
uring from six to eight feet in length,
and three feet wide by two feet thick.
These blocks. or slabs, are laid in very
fine quality of cement and as perfectly
as brick work. The joints are perfect and
very close.
AT one place the top OF the wall is
exposed by the earth bci3g washed away
to width of sixty feet; this exposure has
the appearance of a brick hearth. At an
other place the stone has been quarried
for domestic use to a depth of three lay
ers of slabs, which is six feet. width
of twentyfour feet, or eight blocks. and
length of twenty-five blocks. or $50
feet. The length of this wall as indicated
by the groupings is about 1000 feet. At
another place, about 500 yards away from
the place just mentioned. is a wall jut
ting from under a slope for distance of
nearly 1000 feet. This stonewrok is ex-
posed in great many places over an area
OF four square miles.
THE sides and angles of tao blacks of
stones are so perfect that they resemble
pressed brick. The tops of these walls are
perfectly horizontal and without regard to
the unevenness of the earth's surface The
seams between the tiers are perfectly hori-
zontal In position, and these blocks are
smoothly dressed on the edges and ends,
while the broad surfaces are rough, showing
a broken surface brought down to level
plane, but not dressed. They are held so
toSStH'i ny tue cement tDdt IL Is
With great difficulty that they are broken
up.
"A personal inspection OF these great
structures as they lie partly buried in the
earth would relieve the minds of the most
skeptical of all doubt OF it not being the
work of the hands of man.
I'm all that is above mentioned in con-
nection with numerous cavings-in of the
earth's crust. which represent the exist
nf dor md
dence is found to bear out the theory of
the existence of great buried city in that |
locality.
The information above given is vouched |
for by other parties who have visited the |
scene in recent years and bears out the |
theory advanced by Mr. Watson. Truly, |
there is work for the scientist here