PRE-HISTORIC REMAINS FOUND AT ST. LOUIS.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 14, Issue 711, 23 August 1869, Page 4

PRE-HISTORIC REMAINS FOUND AT ST. LOUIS.

.(From the Republican.)

It is generally known in this country, 1 and in scientific circles in Europe, that ' the gigantic undertaking of bridging the Mississippi river at this point has been already begun, and that for more than a year, when the state of the river would permit, the sound of the ponderous machinery has ceased not day or night ? but the work of excavation has been going on until the solid rock has been reached for the foundation of the piers upon the western shore. One of the piers is already above low water mark—a triumph of mechanical skill. The blocks of stone of which it is built are as huge as those of the Pyramids, and yet, by the application of original principles of mechanical and engineering skill, these gigantic blocks are moved as easily as the common foundation stones of our dwellings. The outer pier is not begun, the excavations therefore not being quite completed. At this point the wonders begin, the end of which is not yet. What effect the discovery of this tunnel under the river may have upon the location of the bridge the board of engineers will soon determine. About 4.30 p.m. on Jan. 17 the workmen engaged in blasting the rocks in the bottom of the excavation for the foundation of this pier discharged an extraordinary large blast of powder, when immediately after the report a strange phenomenon presented itself. Instead of having to wait the usual time for the smoke to clear away, they saw it ascend rapidly in a column, as though issuing from the smoke-stack of one of our steamers. This soon cleared, and it was found that a steady current of air with a strange damp odour was issuing from the cavernous excavation, showing that an opening had been made into some unknown subterranean passage. Upon descending to the bottom, the usual mud and water had disappeared through a dark, deep opening in the rock about ten feet in diameter, made by the last discharge of powder. Ropes, ladders, and torches, were immediately procured and careful explorations begun. We cannot now enter into detailed descriptions, but having been invited to accompany the board of engineers with a delegation from the Academy of Science and Historical Society, we must reserve a full exposition of the wonderful discovery until we shall have made a more careful survey. Suffice it for the present to say it is certain that the tunnel passes entirely under the river to the Illinois shore, and whether it is only the work of some ancient race who once inhabited this land, whose interesting remains are strewn so thickly up and down the great valley, or whether it is partly nature and partly artificial, remains to be seen. In any case it is none the less stupendous. The main passage we should judge to be about twenty feet high by fifteen broad, and systematically arched overhead ; part of the way by cutting through solid rock and substantial masonry. The bottom seemed to be much worn, as it by carriage wheels of some sort. There are many lateral passages, which, of course, we had no time to enter. These are about eight feet high and six wide. In the main passage we saw no tools or implements of workmanship, but on entering one of the lateral passages we soon emerged into a larger chamber supported by leaning pillars of solid rock when the chamber was excavated. Around the walls of tliichamber there were what seemed to be niches closed with closely-fitting slabs, each slab covered with inscriptions in Runic cuniform characters, which to our eyes bore a marvellous resemblance to those upon the slab in the Mercantile Library, which was brought from the mines of Nineveh. Between the niches were projecting pilasters, with draped Abyssinian or Egyptian heads, which presented a most impressive and awe-inspiring effect as they were illuminated by the torchlight. Those sweet, sad faces looked down upon us from the ancient ages, like the souls of the departed. One of the passages opening on the north side seemed to follow the course of the river, and it is believed extends to the great mound now being removed by the N >rth Mis souri Railroad, which was the theme of much interesting remark at the last meeting of the Historical Society. To those who have not seen the mounds;

'laround St. Louis, it may be necessary to say that the mound, known as th» Big mound, is about one mile above the bridge now being built. The mound known as Monck's Mound, is on the other side, of the river, and i> but one of a continuous chain oJ mounds extending from the river to the bluffs, a distance of nine miles. If is conjectured that the tunnel under the river and the mounds are intimately connected, and that there was in ancient times an opening through the mounds from this subterranean highway. Of course every scientific man is in a perfect fever of excitement at these grand discoveries, which seem so full of promise to archa3ological and ethnological inquirers after truth. It will be remembered by our citizens that, some few months since, an exam ination of Monck's Mound was made under the auspices of some Eastern scientific society • and during the excavations there were frequent exhala tions of disagreeable gases and odors. Yet we will not speculate, but wait in almost breathless suspense for future developments. As we returned from our hasty examination, passing through its pilastered halls above described, we observed a descending opening, about seven feet high by three feet wide. Following this in its windings about fifty yards, we came to a flight ol forty-one steps, which, we found ourselves in another chamber of wonders—oval in shape, about seven feet long, twenty feet high, and three feet wide. The walls of this last chamber were sculptured in rnagnifi cent bas-relief and Runic inscriptions. Professor Bacchio, the learned Sanscrit of the University, who was with us, has taken upon himself the task oi translating the inscription. Of the meaning of some of the words, and the colossal sculptures, he also speaks very confidently. One of the magnificent groups he is certain is intended to re present Ahasuerus crowning Queen Esther. This remarkable discovery, following so quickly the one at Rock Island, will awaken the intensest interest throughout the world.