Year: 1876

"
himself at the brink of precipic
overlooking pit ofStygian blackness


lie was so shocked by the discover.


of his danger that he lost his presence


of mind and would have toppled owe


into the abyss, had he not been seizet


by one of his companions and drawr


back. The party were again tempted


to return, but Wyatt insisted will


firmness upon pursuing the journey a.


far as it could be accomplished will


safety. A strong rope was then fasten


ed TO projecting crag, and one by one


the young men dropped into the pit


which proved to be about twenty fee


in depth. At this point they encoun'


tered slope or incline, composed of 8
confused mass of roof-rock, down


which they scrambled 10 the bottom


where they found themselves in a
large vaulted chamber, more than a
hundred feet in height, filled with
stalactites, stalagmites, ,and the curious
formations that have rendered SO at.
tractive the great cave of Edmonson
County.


A GIANT SKELETON.


In the center of this room there
loomed up out of the darkness an i'm
mense square, mOss-cOvered bunch OF
loose stones, carefully laid one upon
the other, after the fashion Of the rock
fences in this section of the country.
There could be no doubt that this
, monument or cairn was the result OF
human labor, expended probably
thousands Of years ago. The top OF
this sarcophagus, for such it proved to
be, was covered by slabs of thin rock,
evidently transported from the sur
face. They were carefully removed,
disclosing square vault that had been
, plastered with mud mixed with small
pieces Of straw or twigs of trees or
bushes. In the center of the vault, in
q sitting posture, was found The skele-
ton of human figure, entire, and per-
fectly preserved by the dry atmosphere
vi thS LAS thCAO "1S uO nADPCdl>
ance of Aesh upon the bones, it is
probable the body had been prepared
in the open air, denuded of the flesh,
and afterward removed to the cave for
burial. The bones were taken care
fully out of the vault, laid upon the
floor, aud by the rough measurement
the young men were able TO make,
found to be those of man over eight
feet six inches in height. The skull
measured nearly twelve inches in the
shortest diameter, and had on the left
side an indentation, evidently made
by severe blow.


In the vault at the side of the skele-
ton was found an implement of cop
per, four feet three inches in length,
that weighs four pounds, and appears
to have been intended for a weapon of
defense. 1t is roughly made, and was
probably fashioned from the native
copper of the lake regions. The sword
is slightly bent, tapers to point, and
has somewhat the appearance of saw
upon its cutting edge. A rude effort
at decoration is made upon the handle
by irregular lines running entirely
around it.


In close proximity to this interest
ing relic was found what was at first
taken to be rude bowl of the same
metal, but it has sinco been decided
that it is a helmet or head-coyering.
A stone ak of elegant workmanship,
seven flint arrow-points, stone pipe
carved to represent frog. piece of
buckskiD four inches square and stain.
ed red, pair of sandals woven from
vegetable fiber, and a water vessel of
sun baked clay were also found.


AN ABORIGINAL wATER-CooLER.


The latter is now in nay own posses
sion, and is q very beautiful specimen.
1t appears to be made from clay tenn
pered with skill, and is very similar
in design to the pottery occasionally
found in Tennessee, Arkansas and
some of the other Southern States,
and known among antiquarians as the
"Mound- builders water-cooler." The
specimen in my possession weighs one
pound and ten ounces, and holds ex-
actly two and a half pints.


Most of the specimens described
above were brought out of the cave
by the two young men on their return
to daylight and removed to the hotel
at Augusta, where they continue to
attract crowds of the curiously inclin-
ed. They will ultimately be sent to
one of the scientific institutions of the
country, probably to the Smithsonian.


The country in the neighborhood of
this wonderful cavern is full of excite
ment, hundreds of people flocking to
the place, though few venture beyond
the entrance. The owner of this land,
Mr.. Veach, is very jubilant, and has
declined, am told, large offers for the
place. A further exploration will be
made shortly under scientific auspices,
when more complete account of the
discovery will be given.


TIE BOY OF THEsPERIOD.


'Mother,' said a promising boy, as
he came in whistling from school the
other day, sluug his satchel full of
books down on the stair-landing, and
elected howl of agony from his in
fant sister by giving her sly punch
in the ribs Mother, hear em saying
at school to-day that this Belknap
business is all stall ; is it?'


"A what, my son!' inquired the dot