Year: 1871

Democrat, was chosen Speaker. Governor


Bradley was sworn in.


A Cave Of Skeletons Unearthed Near


Q Eagle Point, Iowa.


For months past the papers of the


Northwest have been filled with marvellous


accounts of the discovery here and there oi


various relics, supposed to have been man


ufactured by a people who have passed


away and left behind no written history


These relics, consistingof skeletons, house


hold utensils, arms, agricultural imple-


ments, pieces of pottery, &c, have in the


main been preserved with religious care


by the heads of the various scientific in.


stitutions to which they have been consign-


ed, but as yet no satisfactory or even plausi-


bic hypothesis has been advanced concern


ing their origin. This is q problem


before which the stoutest professors quail


and acknowledge their weakness, and it


is therefore probable that the great mys-


terry will never be solved.


On Saturday last a discovery full as


wonderful as any yet reported in the


Northwest was made by the workmen on


the Dubuque & Minnesota Railroad, near


the base of one of the tall, frowning


bluffs overlooking the river, a short dis


tance above Eagle Point At the foot of


this bluff squad of workmen were en-


gagged in excavating in the loose stratefied


limestone rock for the railroad track, and


while digging away with pick, spade and


crowbar, in the side of the bank, they sud
denly found their further progress arrested


by large smooth square stone on the outer
surface of which was inscribed anumber of
strange characters and devices, which none
of the unlettered workmen of course could
make out Under the instruction of the
foreman, and by the united eXertion of a
number of men, the stone was removed,
when, TO their great astonishment, there
succeeded violent rush of cold air from
large square opening, which extended into
the bluff in horizontal direction, the air
rushing out with such force that lighted
taper held in the mouth of the opening
was extinguished in an instant Inspired
by the thoughts of hidden treasure, and
that perhaps a cache of some of
the early explorers had been unearthed, it
was resolved to explore the mystery at
once, and bring out the strong chests
and precious gems reposing somewhere
within. Lights were procured and hold
ing a candle in each hand, five men, headed
by the foreman, set out to explore the sub
terranean passage, which was about four
feet wide, and high enough to permit man
to walk by bending over little. Cropping
their way along cautiously, and casting
many fearful glances around them as
though they expected every moment to
some dreadful specter, the party
proceeded along the tunnel, which ex-
tended directly into the heart of the bluff
about fifty feet, when they found their way
impeded by another large stone Re
moving this, they found flight of steps
leading downward a distance of ten feet,
and descending these, the party found
themselves in what appeared to be
a huge chamber, cut out of the
solid rock, about twenty five feet square,
and twenty feet high. For moment the
men stood lost in admiration at this won
1erful work. The floor beneath was
hard and perfectly smooth, while by the
lin light of the candles they could see
that the walls were embellished with
multitude of uncouth characters and
figures, intended to represent birds, trees,
lowers, and other natural objects, all cary
I'd in solid limestone. On the south wall
a representation of the sun, and
below this was the figure of
nan clad in loose flowing robe, in the
lct of stepping out of a boat, and holding
N his hand a dove. The roof of the cham
Der was embellished with stars, serpents,
md chariots, the outlines of all being re-
vealed plain and distinct. In the center
Of the apartment was a large flat slab, and
upon removing this large vault was re-
Vealed below, which was filled with the
skeletons of some unknown race, all of
hem being in sitting or standing posture
md almost perfectly preserved, even to
he smaller bones. 1t was noticed that all
had originally been inferred with their
faces to the southwest. BY the side of each
skeleton stood a small vase of the most
perfect form and finish, each being filled
with a species of yellow colored earth.
One of the vases was. examined, and at the
base found to contain some animal bones
md dark particles of animal mat
ter, which had evidently been placed in the
sepulchre to support the departed to the
spirit land, a funeral rite in obedience to
custom among many barbaric
nations Heads of arrows, stone hatchets,
md pieces of shells perforated with holes,
were found scattered about the vault in
profusion. The skeletons were arranged


in the form of a semicirele, the largest be-
ing placed in the center. This skeleton,
by actual measurement, stood seven feet
and glistened like ivory, while in the palm
Of one of the outstretched hands, securely
locked in the articulated bones, reposed
small pearl ornament. This person had
evidently been the chief of the tribe, and
was consequently buried with unusual hon
DIS. By the side of the Uranium were two
% 81,
minute bone and copper beads covered the
1oor of the vault Vestiges of fibIous
cloth were also discovered near the lower
extremities of each skeleton, but so thin
and impalpable that it crumbled away at
the slightest touch. No ornaments of
gold or silver were found, but various i'm
plements in copper were scattered about,
which had evidently been procured from
the mines of Lake Superior, as the evi-
1ences are accumulating that those mines
were worked at a date long prior to the
1eluge.


After making thorough examination
Of the chamber of heath and its ghostly
the men came out, closing the
entrance behind them. To what race the
skeletons belong, by whose hands their
tomb was constructed, must ever remain
mystery 1t is another leaf looking 10 the
long ages of the past, another evidence of
the fact that of this world and its found
ers we know but very little.


We understand that measures are on
foot to remove the skeletons and all of the
most important articles to the hall of the
Iowa Institute of Science and Art 1t is
to be hoped that they will remain here and
not be suffered TO depart to enrich the
OF Eastern cities. Meanwhile
some of our learned savants would do well
to investigate the cave and its surroundings,
and establish, if possible, the identity of
the skeletons-whether Indian, Mexican,
or Mound Digger 1t will prove an inter-
esting research. Dubuque Times.


IT is known that in early life Sam Hous-
ton abandoned just-wedded wife and the
Governorship of Tennessee, and for many
years lived in voluntary exile among the
In1iano Tha paacon ~ tho fra0l haq I'm af