The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-05-12
LOST TRIBE OF ISRAEL?
Peculiar Race of People Living Un-
derground in Central America.
Chicago Chronicle.

Chicago Chronicle.
Col. J. c. Tucker. former United
States minister at Martinique. relates
a strange story G; race OF people
living in an underground city in Cen
trail America. Col. Tucker some time
ago received information about race
who live in cities Cit ont or the rocks
in the mountains in Central America,
in an out-oi-the-way place. very diff
cult to reach. and which no stranger
had visited before him and returned
alive. He decided to investigate
After reaching a certain point COL
Tucker had to travel 300 miles
through wild jungles carrying his
provisions on a pack mule and en-
during many hardships on the way.
As he neared the hidden city his every
movement was watched and reported
to the high priest OF the tribe dwell
ing there, but no harm was offered
him. When he shot a pair Of lions
in the Jungle. which had been killing
the natives, he did an act that turned
out to be the very thing that gave
him their friendship and protection.
He was welcomed by the high
priest. who spoke good English. and
was shown through their wonderful
city, hewn out of solid granite rocks
in the mountain side. To the unini-
tiated' the surface OF the mountain
gave no clew to the city concealed
within it. 1t was entered by secret
passages. cunningly concealed by
natures handiwork. and which led
to large, commodious rooms. hand
somely furnished. mostly in old ma
hogany. Passages led TO hundreds
of other rooms and 10 large hall,
in which the strange people met and
held meetings. while smaller open
1,Iet ior ventilation went upward.
ending among the rocks and jungles
above. so arranged that the rain could
not enter.
The tradition among these curious
people was that they originally came
from a country lar away. and that
their mission was TO outwit their
enemies, which. in the beginning.
pursued them. At all entrances there
were side rooms. from which, at a
moments notice. deadly gases could
be let loose upon any hostile invaders
who might enter, and which would
kill them instantly, while by sliding
doors of stone the gas would be kept
from entering the city.
The light OF the sun, moon or stars,
never enters their underground city,
except by certain openings, by
which they study the mysteries OF the
night skies. but they use electricity
for lighting purposes, a science they
have learned by keeping in touch with
the outer world through their young
men.
The colonel says he was an attend
ant at their meetings and was sur
prised to find they were going
through the Masonic rituals. which
he. being mason OF high degree, un-
derstood. This was an inheritance
of theirs from their ancestors OF the
unknown past.
Col. Tucker has written many chap
tiers about these people and their
city. He has done SO because he
wishes to preserve the knowledge. He
freely shows them to his friends. and
has as yet made no effort to publish
them. The proprietor OF 4 we'll
known eastern magazine who visited
the city OF Mexico. and who was
given the privilege OF reading the
manuscripts. with the proviso thar
he would not publish their contents,
offered COL Tucker first $1,000 and
then doubled that amount if the col
onel will pilot him to the city in the
rocks. And he MAJ yet do so.
Col. Tucker believes that these peo-
pie are part OF the lost tribe OF
Israel He has many old parchments
thev gave him. which he has been