The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-02-04
Followed Indian From Whom
He Purchased Relics.
HIS STORY IS A STRANGE ONE.
He. Believes He Has Discovered The Tomb
Of Aboriginal RulsIs-HIs Description Of
the Cav,Ta and lis Contents.

Buffalo. Feb. 4.-Stephen J. Eyler. who
resides near Gowanda. Cattaraugus
County. Is in this city with strange
story.
Gowanda is near the Cattaraugus reser-
walton of the Seneca Indians. Eyler re-
Gently moved there from the east and
became interested I'm the history
and traditions OF the red men.
Eyler claims to have made a discovery
which may throw new light upon the pre-
historic period OF this section and Will en-
rich the worlds collection of Indian rel
ics.
Eyler began purchasing such ancient
Indian curiosities as he could find soon
after his arrival in the vicinity OF the res
ervation. but for time found but little
of interest or value. as relic hunters have
been active for long time and have left
little behind.
A few weeks ago. however. Mr.. Eyler
says he was approached by an Indian
who gave the name of Twentycanoes.
who offered TO bring him ancient arrows
and hatchets for a reasonable price.
ACCEPTED THE OFFER.
His offer was accepted and the imple-
ments were brought. Some of them. the
Indian said, were OF a very an
cient pattern, and when Eyler questioned
the Indian as TO where he obtained them
ne said: Me find UNI" That was all the
information he would vouchsafe.
a few days later he came with some
more truck. This time IL was pipes and
pottery. The stuff was genuine and valu-
able and trade was soon made. A few
days later he again appeared. and his col
lection was even more unique than at his
former visits. Mr. Eyler again question
ed him, but could extract no information.
He bought what the Indian had.
Eyler determined To prosecute a search
for the source OF supply OF the Indian.
and therefore prepared TO do a little de-
tective work. He found out where Twen-
tycanoes lived. and in a day or two called
at his cabin.
II have come. to see IL you have any
more Indian relics to sell me-" said Ey-
Ter, when he found his. man.
Me git um In a day or two, said
Twentycanoes. Bring UNI up 10 your
house."
Bring dish and arrows" said Eyler,
and the Indian promised to do so.
WATCHED THE INDIAN.
but as soon as he was out Of sight of the
shanty he made detour and came UP
into a thicket back OF the cabin. Here
ne kept watch until IL got dark.
About III o'clock the Indian came out.
and after looking cautiously up and down
the road. he started along the highway In
the direction OF Cattaraugus Greek. Ey-
ler followed al q safe distance.
The Indian led him nearly three miles
along the road and then he left the high
way and went directly TO the bank OF the
creek at a point where. the stream flows
through a deep cut ia lne rocks. About
fifty feet from the brink Of the bluff the
Indian paused by high pile OF boulders.
Overturning one of these, huge nat
stone, the Indian disappeared.
Eyler waited and watched from the Sc
ciusion of a thicket near until he reap
peared He had in his hand the stun he
had promised TO bring the next day.
Laying the stuff down he replaced the
stone and departed in the direction from
which he had come.
Eyler presently approached the rock
pile. He found the fiat stone about all he
could handle, but managed TO swing II
aside. and there beheld "a hole leading
down into the earth. He crept downward
OF the passage thirty feet below. Here
he found himself at the entrance of q
natural cavern, but his matches being
exhausted he dared not enter for fear OF
getting lost.
EXPLORED THE CAVE.
The following night he returned TO the
spot accompanied by his sixteen-year-oid
son, whom he left TO watch while he sx-
plored the cave.
Mr.. Eyler tells wonderful story of his
findings. The cave was double one, the
first apartment being about 10 feet square
and about Il feet from floor to roof
About all OF interest TO be seen was the
picture writing upon the walls. great
deal of artistic skill was displayed. SAYS
Mr. Eyler, and the representation OF ami
mails and other objects were remarkably
true TO nature.
AT one side OF the room was a large
passage which led 20 another and larger
chamber The latter was fully 100 feet in
length. and an average width OF 30 or
20 feet Here. ranged along one side OF
the chamber were, by actual count. TWEEN
Is nine munmiaed figures of Indians I'm a
fair state OF preservation. Each mummy
was in sitting posture. and all were
forms OF adults. Along the opposite wall
were numerous heaps of bones, evidently
the remains OF bodies placed there at a
much later period and by race that
knew not the art OF embalming.
About each heap OF NOR