Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-02-07
Two Secret Vaults Are Found
In the State House at
Des Moines
BOTH OF THEM ARE WALLED UP
Secretary. Dawson of the Executive
Council Discovered Them and Elk.
element is Rife Regarding What
They contain-They Will Be Opened
soon-curiosity is Aroused.

4 Dies MOfneS, Feb. I.-HalGtueS of tn,
state house were unspeakably thrilled
and astounded yesterday afternoon b,
/ the discovery of two secret vaults in tn.
car itol, the existence Of which has hith.
erto been unknown.
The vaults are Immediately south o.
the offices now occupied by the secre-
/ tary of the executive council. They are
walled up and their contents are UNI
known. but it has been conclusivels
shown that they exist. The discovery
of their presence was made by Score.
| tary A. III. Dawson. and speculation is
rife and riotous as to why they exist
and what may lie concealed within their
| walls.
! Between the south wall of the offices
of the secretary of the council and the
main east and west hall in the basement
OF the state house there is considerable
space. The south part Of this space is
occupied by the vault of the document
room and by another small room lead
| ing off from the rotunda. CHANGING to
notice the wide extent of distance be-
tween his Office and he east and west
hall, Secretary Dawson came to the
conclusion there must be enclosed
rooms for vaults in between. Having
come to this conclusion, Mr.. Dawson
went to the south wall of his office and
found this wall when struck with a
hammer gave back Il hollow resonant
sound. a sort of awesome echo, that
reverberated thru the capitol In way
to make the, hair stand on the heads Oh
the frightened janitors and temporary
ly check the flow of conversation In the
pharmacy commissioners office. More
than ever satisfied that his intuition
was correct. Mr. Dawson hunted up
Superintendent James r. Chawshaw.
who is in charge OF the improvement.
work on the state house for the capitoi
Improvement commission. Mr. CraW-
shaw was superintendent OF construc-
ton on the capitol when 1t was pGllt
and had in his possession plans OF the
different floors, which showed peyonc
question that two enclosed vaults ex-
listed where Mr.. Dawson concluded tnes
ought to exist. The largest one OF them,
the eastern one, nearest the north ana
snnth corridor. was found to be feet
by feet and half. The one further
west was found to be about by .. MOI
only was this found to be true, but
it was clearly shown from the plans
that the larger enclosure is elther n
two story vault or that another Nault
exists directly above the larger one, ad-
Joining the supreme court room.
What is perplexing every one now IS
what is in the vaults, and why ,hey
were left. There were dark hints tina
would show the presence
of the skeletons of number OF the
missing politicians that have sunk from
sight in Iowa in the last quarter of
century. Some one suggested these
quarters might be the habitat of the
state house tanitor from whom Jud
welliyer, in the palmy days of the old
Leader, used to take mysterious coun-
sci. The conjecture was hazarded in
some quarters that investigation wouid
show slowed away herein some or the
missing fees the absence OF Which has
caused worriment to certain state func-
tionaries in times not century remote. |
The most grewsome story, however, was
one started from the state land office.
1t related to the days OF last winter.
when the legislature was in session.
There was a weird tale told then that
persons going from the capitol at late
hours had heard mysterious rappings
and meanings proceeding from unex-
plainable sources and sufficiently sep
ulchral to test the nerves of the strong
est The unanimous conclusion reached
by, the force in the land office after
comforting with the state binder, How
ard Tedford, was that If these vaults
We're probed into the mystery of the I
strange noises Of a year ago would be
solved.
One notwithstanding citizen ven-
tured the sarcastic remark that one of
these vaults would prove to be the
tomb of the railroad taxation legisla-
ton that came to such dark and un
timely end while the twenty ninth gem
eral assembly was in session
While there was the greatest variety
IF opinion as to what the secret vaults
might contain, it was unanimously
agreed that whatever was found therein
when the vaults We're opened should be
turned over to Curator Aldrich, to be
in the historical collection of
The state.
There is little question the vaults will
pc opened. AS soon as the council meets
again, the matter will be called to its
attention. There is a serious need for
more vault room in the offices of Secre-
AIRY Dawson, and the council will un-
loubtedly decide to cut an opening into
zach vault and put a door in each. The
council undoubtedly has the legal righs
o do this and the expense will be II