A Western Wonder For Wiseacres

A few days sinco, whilo the worknien were engaged in oxcavating for tho cellar of the new residence to bo erectud by Major J. C. Bocht, corner of Ramsey and W'ilkin streets, tliey unearthed or exposed a " whftt is it 'i " tliat has and is attracting groat aUention from our scientific avans and lovers of the marvellous goi'urally. For a better andergtanding of the wonder brouglit to light, it should be stated thnt tho excavation is being made through a rocky substratüm, limuar to tliat which cun now bu Heen in the exCftvation on the corner of Washtenaw and Seventh streeta, ond which underlies tho wholo upper poriou of tho city. At the time the disovery was madu the workmen wuro down early three feet in the rock, when upon 'emoving a solid slab of stone about four nches in thickness and nearly three feet quare, a hole walled with red-colored jiick, leading into the bowels of the arth was exposed. There was but ono oufse of brick, the ends lapping, leaving cavity or hole about six mohet square, 'he workmen immediately called the atontion of a gentleman standing by, who, fter a brief cxamination, with som othrs who had been draws to the pot, proeeded to make a thorough exploration. .t first small stones were dropped in, but othing was gained by this, the stones iving forth nu mud indic.'iting bottom. ''ailing in this, a olothes lino was seeured, nd tying a hammer to one end it was et down into the hole. Down, down, 'ent the hammer, until finally the ropo ackened, showing that bottom or un ob;ruction of some kind had been reachod. 'ha slack of the ropo was then taken up nd the rope marked at the mouth of the avity, when it was pulled up and measred, showing a depth of fifty feet. On n exaiuination of the hainmer nothing was found adhering to it showing moisure or anything to give an idea of what ie obstruetion was. Again the hammer was lowered into the cavity, roaching tho une depth as before, when it was drawn p quickly some eight feet and suddenly ropped. When it carne in contací with ie obstruetion, a faint hollow sound ould bc heard attlu; mouth of the cavity, eeming to indícate that the passage at aat depth was lueroly clogged uj, and nat the real bottom had not been reaohd. The experiment was repeated several imes, but with no other rcsult. Tho lammer was then drawu up and a lightd candle attaehud to the rope and slowy lowered into the hok'. By this means ; was diseovered that the brick work ex:ended downward about ten feet, and that 'rom that point the cavity was formed ut of tho sand rock, circular in forin, aparently about eight inches in diameter, ut beyond this nothing could be discovred. tëince that time the placo has been isited by erowds, among them were lany members of the Historical Society, nd the Aeadcmy of Natural Sciences. Of ourse speculation is rife as to the object 'or which tho excavation was made, how he rock formation carne over the mouth, he means by which the bricks wtro jlaced in their position, when it was dono indby whom, nearly as many theories béng advanced as there have been visitors n the ground. The fact we have given, nd when some of our " wise men " study ut and doei 'e on the ways and whoroores, we will-give those iffurnished us.