Year: 1871

For months past the papers of the
Northwest have been filed with mar
yelous accounts of the discovery here
and there of various relics, supposed to
have been manufactured by people
who had passed away and left behind
no written history. These relics, con
sisting of skeletons, household uten-
sils, arms, agricultural implements,
pieces of pottery, etc, have in the
main been preserved with religious
care by the heads of the various scien-
tific institutions, TO which they have
been consigned, but as yet no satisfae-
tory or even plausible hypothesis has
been advanced concerning their origin
This is problem before which the
stoutest professors quail and acknowI-
edge their weakness, and it is therefore
probable that the great mystery will
never be solved.


0n Saturday last discovery fully as
wonderful as any yet reported in the
Nerthspest WEES ,,Irvttv by the workmen
on the Dubuque & Minnesota railroad,
near the base of one the tall, frowning
bluffs overlooking the river, short
distance above Eagle Point At the
foot of this bluff a squad of workmen
were engaged in eXcavating in the loose
stratified limestone rock for the rail
road track, and while digging away
with pick, spade and crowbar in the
side of the bank. they suddenly found
their further progress arrested by q
large smooth square stone, on the outer
surface of which was inscribed num-
ber of strange characters and devices,
which none of the unIettered workmen
of course could make out. Under the
instruction of the foreman, and
by the united exertion of num-
Der 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 bluffs in horizontal
direction, the air rushing out with such
force that q lighted taper held in the
mouth of the opening was extinguished
in an instant. Inspired by the thoughts
of hidden treasure, and thinking 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
aud precious gems reposing somewhere
within. Lights were procured and
holding candle in each hand five men,
headed by the foreman set out to ex-
plore the subterranean passage, which
was about four feet wide and high
enough to permit a man to walk by
bending over a little. Cropping their
way along cautiously, and casting many
f rful giances around them as though


~ expected every moment to encoun-
-er some dreadful spectre, 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. Removing this, they found a
fight Of stone steps leading downward
distance of ten feet, and descending
these, the party found themselves in
what appeared to be 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 wonderful work.
The floor beneath was hard and per-
fectly smooth, while by the dim
light of the candles they could see
that the walls were embellished
with a multitude of uncouth charac-
ters, intended to represent flowers,
birds, trees, and other natural objects,
all carved in solid limestone. On the
south wall appeared a representation of
the sun, and Immediately below this
was the figure Of man clad in q loose
flowing robe, in the act of stepping out
OF a boat, and holding in his hand q
dove The roof of the chamber was
embellished with stars, serpents and
chariots, the outlines of all being re-
vealed plainly and distinctly. In the
centre Of the apartment was large fiat
slab, and upon removing this large
vault was revealed below, which was
filed with the skeletons OF some un,
known race, all of them being in a sit
ting or standing posture, and almost
perfectly preserved, even to the small
er 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 species
of yellow colored earth One of the
vases was examined, and at the base
found to contain some animal bones
and dark particles of animal matter.
which had evidently been placed in the
sepulchre to support the departed to
the spirit land, a funeral rite in obedi-
ence to wide spread custom among
many barbaric nations Heads of ar
rows, stone hatchets, and pieces of
shells perforated with holes, were found
scattered about the vault in profusion
The skeletons were arranged in the form
of a semi-circle, the largest being placed
in the center. This skeleton, by actual
measurement, stood feet inches high
The teeth were white and glistened
like ivory, while in the palm of
one of the Outstretched hands, securely
locked in the articulated bones, reposed
a small pearl ornament. This person
had evidently been the chief of the
tribe, and was consequently buried with
unusual honors By the side Of the
Uranium were two ear ornaments Of shell
while numerous minute bone and cop
per beads, covered the floor Of the vault.
VeStiges Of a fibrous clcth were also
discovered near the lower extremities
OF each skeleton, but SO thin and palpa-
bic that it crumbled away at the slight
est touch. No ornaments of gold or
silver were found, but various imple-
ments in copper were scattered thichly
about which had evidently been procur-
ed from the mines of Lake Superior, as
the evidences are accumulating that
these mines were worked at date long
prior to the deluge.


After making thorough examination
of the chamber of death and it's ghostly
occupants, 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 a mystery. It is another
leaf looking to the long ages of the past,
another evidence OF the fact that of this
world and its founders we know but
very little.


We understand that measures are on
foot to remove the skeletons of all the
most important articles to the hall OF
the Iowa Institute of Sciences and Art
1t is to be hoped that they will remain
here and not be suffered to depart OF
enrich the museums of eastern cities.
Meanwhile some of our learned savants