Year: 1871

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
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
and precious gems reposing somewhere
within. Lights were procured and hold
ing 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 a little. Cropping
their way along cautiously, and casting
many fearful glances around them as
though they expected every moment to
encounter 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 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 won
derful work. The floor beneath was
hard and perfectly smooth, while by the
dim light of the candles they could see
that the walls were embellished with a
multitude of uncouth characters and
figures, intended to represent birds, trees,
flowers, and other natural objects, all carv-
ed in solid limestone. On the south wall
appeared representation of the sun, and
ip,rrnaliatalx-
man clad in loose flowing robe, in the
act of stepping out of boat, and holding
in his hand dove. The roof of the cham
Der was embellished with stars, serpents,
and chariots, the outlines of all being re-
vealed plain and distinct In the center
of the apartment was large fiat slab, and
upon removing this a large vault was re-
vealed below, which was filled with the
skeletons of some unknown race, all of
them being in a sitting or standing posture
and almost perfectly preserved, even to
the smaller bones. 1t was noticed that all
had originally been inferred with their
faces to the southwest. By the side of each
skeleton stood 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
and 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
widespread custom among many barbaric
nations. Heads of arrows, 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 semi-cirele, the largest be-
ing placed in the center. This skeleton,
by actual measurement stood seven feet
eight 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
small pearl ornament. This person had
evidently been the chief of the tribe, and
was consequently buried with unusual hon.
ors. By the side of the cranium were two
ear ornaments of shell, while numerous
minute bone and copper beads covered the
floor of the vault Vestiges of a 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 evil
dences are accumulating that those mines





deluge.


After making a thorough examination
of the chamber of heath and its 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
mystery. 1t is another leaf looking to 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
museums 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.


The Independence Qowa) Bulletin
records the heroic conduct of a lady teach
er of that place, Miss Maggie Cooper. The
school building in which she was teach
| ing is provided with ventilating flues, con-
nected with the rooms by registers. These
registers are of cast iron, weighing about
forty pounds each, and are let into the wall
about thirteen feet from the floor. The
other afternoon, as two little boys we're
working at the blackboard, directly under
the register, in Miss Cooper's room, the
lady happened to cast her eye in the
direction of the ceiling, and saw to her
CONSERVATION that the heavy iron register
was ou the very point of falling on the
heads of the unconscious children. TAX
ing in the situation at a glance, she saw
that the little ones could not be removed
in time to avoid the impending danger, but,
determined to save their lives at any sacri-
fee, she rushed to the spot, and extending
her arms above the heads of the little
boys, received the whole weight of the
falling iron, and, by the utmost exercise of
her strength, diverted it from the line of
its descent to the floor, where it fell close
by the side of the imperilled children.
There is not the least doubt that, but for
the heroic action of Miss Cooper, the lives
of one or both of the boys would have
been sacrificed. Miss Cooper received a
severe cut in the hand, and for day or
two her arm was so benumbed by the con-
cussion as to be entirely useless.


A CORRESPONDENT of the New York
| Tribune relates remarkable instance of
perseverance and success under unusual
| deprivation of natural faculties. Two sons
of wealthy American gentleman, both
dumb, and one deaf also, were sent to Eu.
rope for their education, and have sue
ceeded wonderfully. The elder, who is
wholly deaf, passed through the rigid and
extended scholastic curriculum of Heidel-
berg, acquiring ease and elegance in Ger
man and French, and perfect understand
ing of Greek, Latin and Hebrew, enabling
him to pass an oral examination in these
tongues with marked ability, and to re-
celve, at the age of %, the unusual honor of
Doctor of Philosophy, in addition to the
usual degree of Master of Arts. The
younger brother, though deprived of
speech and hearing, has also achieved an
equally remarkable success. He is now
engaged in painting the ruins of the AL
hambra, in Spain ;the work, when finished,
to be placed on exhibition in this city.
| ACCORDING to the statistics recently
| yuhlichad thare are 4 1A1 Q06 farm horses