The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1905-05-11
nay % LOST ralsg or ,sRAGL.


DssulisS Racs - People Xvisg Unlss-
gyousd In csstraI AsssSea.
Colonel J. G. Tucker. former United
States minister At Martinique. relates
. strange story Of . race Of people iiv-
Ing In an underground city IN Cen
trai America. Colonel Tucker some
time ago received information about
race who live 10 cities cut out OF the
rocks In the mountains Of Central
America. In an out-of-ths-way place,
very difncuIt TO reach. and which no
stranger had visited before him and
returned alive. He decided TO investi-
gate. After reaching = certain point
Colonel Tucker hsd to travel 800 miles
through wild jungles. carrying bis pro-
visions on . pack mule and enduring
many hardships on , way. AZ be
nesred the hidden city bis every move
ment was watched and reported to the
high priest OF the tribs dwelling there.
but no harm was offered him. When
be shot Z pair OF lions In the jungies.
which had been killing IT., natives. be
did an act that turned out to be the
very thing that gave him their friend
ship and protection.
He was welcomed by the high prtsst.
who spoke good English. and was
shown through their wonderful city.
hewn out OF the solid granite rocks
In the mountain side. To the uniniat-
ed the surface Of the mountain gave
no clew TO the city concealed within
H. II was entered by secret passages
e-nningiy concealed by natures handi-
work. and which led 10 large. commo-
dious rooms. handsomely furnished.
mostly In old mahogany. Passages led
20 hundreds OF other rooms. and TO
. large hall. In which the strange peo-
pie met and held meetings. while small
Ter openings for ventilation went up
ward. ending among the rocks and
junsles above. so arranged ths' the
rain could not enter.
The tradition among these curious
people WINS that they originally came
from . country far away. and that
their mission was 10 outwit their enc
mics. which. IN the beginning. pursued
them. At all entrances thers were
side rooms. from which. at 4 moments
notice. deadly gas<s could be LET loose
upon any hostile Invaders who might
enter. and which would KIN them IN
while by sliding doors OF stone
The gas would be kept from entering
the city.
IA. ft.t.t - a.. x., ,.ro~ 80 ~t.~~
never enters their underground city. |
except through 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
INT al their meetings and was sur
prised 10 md they were going through
Masonic ritusls. which be. being a
Mason OF high degree. understood
This was an inheritance OF theirs from
heir ancestors OF the unknown past
Colonel Tucker has written many
.hspsers about these people and their
.ify. He has done 30 because he
wishes 10 preserve the knowledge. He
'rcciy shows them 10 his fr1ends and
,as a. yet msde no effort TO publish
hem. The proprietor OF q weii-known
magazine. who Visited the
-iiy OF Mexico. and who was given
he privilege Of reading the manu-
cr1psA with the proviso that he would
Iot publish their conscnts. offered ~ol-
mel Tucker nrst 1900 and then
|oubled that amount II the colonel
rouid pilot him to the city In the
ocks And be may yet do 90.
Colonel Tucker believes these people
re part OF the lost tribe OF Israel.
ic has many Old psrchments they
ave him which be has been unable
D ind anyone TO dccipher for him.
ut which he hopes 10 have read by
ONE one Of the great scholars OF the
Forid. when the mysteries they con-
hin in their time-stsincd hicroglyphics
IN be made plain. thus revealing to
he world perhaps the strongest story
ast ever linked the dim past with the