The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-06-11
JUST
AN OLD
TIMER
Skeleton Found in a
Cave. by Professor
Gould
Said to be Prehistoric, but
Probably Related to Bret
Harte'S CalaVeraS
Specimen

Prof c. n. Gould, says a Norman.
Oklahoma, dispatch returned recent
ly from Southwestern Missouri. where
he has been engaged in an inspection
of a cave which promises to be Of
much archaeological value. Mr.. +. II.
Jacobs, an archaeologist OF Benton
vile, Ark. discovered the cave and
wrote TO Mr. w. J. Moorehead. curator
OF the archaeological department of
Phillips academy. Andover Mass.
Prof Moorehead sent for DR.. Chas.
Peabody of Cambridge. Mass, and DR..
Holmes of the bureau OF ethnology
at Washington and other specialists
in archaeology. He also sent for
Prof. Gould Of the university OF Okla
homa TO pass on the geological forme-
ton of the cave The cave is four
miles north OF the Arkansas line and
twelve east OF the Indian territory
line. For two weeks a force OF ten
men has been busy excavating and Il
will take another month TO complete
the work. The cave is 40 feet long. a
hole dug out Of solid rock. The bot
tom is covered with coat OF ashes
three feet deep. estimated in all at
some 5000 cubit feet. The only |
plausible theory in explanation Of this
peculiar formation is that the cave
was formerly inhabited by cave dwell
ers and the ashes are those left by the
fires they built.
Out OF the debris OF the ashes and
clay have ben dug four human skele-
tons, together with the bones OF ami
mails. The arms are unduly long and
the legs unduly short. which argues
that the skeletons belong 20 an anci.
ent period Flint instruments Of all
kinds. knives. spearheads, drills. as
well as bone and stone instruments,
are found in great abundance.
The surface OF the cave Is Of lime.
stone, worn perfectly smooth. prob
ably by long generations OF use by the
,ave dwellers. DR.. Peabody tells q
4 sheep fold at Mycene OF similar lime
stone worn smooth in a like manner
by long use by the sheep
Along the back wall OF the cave the
water pouring on the limestone has
'ormed huge stalactites. which Prof.
Gould says must have been in process
n formation for thousands OF years.
As these stalactites have formed
,bove the coat OF ashes in which the
human skeletons and other relics Of
lncient times have been found. the
ave must be one OF extreme age.
The most important discovery. Of !
'ourse. is that OF the human skele-
ons. Only four prehistoric skeletons
lave ever been found mp 10 the pres. !
mt time, three in Europe and one in {
America. The one found In America
vas dug ont a number Of years ago ,
n California. OF those found in Eu.
'ope, one was the Engis skull. near
sngis. Belgium The second. the T,
Thai skull. in Germany. The
hird. the ManofSpy skull. near the
Iillage OF Spy. These skulls were all
ound along the lower Rhine valley. {
They are all characterized by the low I
orehead, thick skull and other marks
II a degenerate race. Up TO the last
rear anthropologists have found no
positive proof OF the existence OF
race OF men on the Ameri-
'an continent Last year, It will be
a skull was reported 10
have been found near lansing. Kan
'as, and many theories were put forth
rs TO It's probable age and Importance
n solving the problem Of prehistoric
nan in America. From later evidence
I is probable. however. that this skull
vas not of ancient origin.
AS far as known. the discovery Of
hese four skeletons in southwestern
Missouri is the first positive discovery
II cave man in America. Their an.
iquity is yet TO be proven. The stalac-
ties, however. the S-foot coating OF
lshes and other evidences OF like
lind, seem 10 prove that the diseov-
Try is, indeed. an important one.
Prof Gould was the only geologist
present at the investigation OF the
ave, end as almost the whole ques-
ion Of antiquity must be settled by
! study OF the geological formation