﻿The Deercreek Mound. 



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valley for the black loam? The entire absence of washes on the outside 

 of this mound, notwithstanding the action of the elements for several cen- 

 turies at least, certifies the care taken in its construction, and suggests that 

 it may have been covered with sod as a last layer. 



The cone-shaped cavity at the base, which was perforated at its apex by 

 the shaft, was about ten feet high, and contained the remains of a wooden 

 vault, which had caved in from the top, falling on its contents and precipi- 

 tating the earth for some feet above. In consequence it was largely filled 

 with large lumps of broken clay. Hanging from the entire top of this 

 conical cavity, wherever the space between its top and the loose dirt be- 

 neath permitted, was a peculiar form of plant life. Its roots were attached 

 above, and it was pendant, small in size, long and hairlike, in some places 

 being a foot and a half long. The color, upon first examination, seemed a 

 brownish red, but upon closer observation, that was seen to come from the 

 fact that the plant was dead. A few strands of this, in a large bunch, 

 were found to present a peculiar, dull, bluish-white appearance, full of 

 water, and rounded into a hairlike stem, with a peculiar, irregular, bulb- 

 ous enlargement at the lower end, This plant seemed entirely destitute of 

 chlorophyll, and belongs to the group of fungi. It is a rather remarkable 

 fact that plant life should exist 25 feet from the surface of the ground, 

 with a very limited supply of moisture, and with the absolute exclusion of 

 light. It may be that in this plant we have the forerunner of that life 

 which will exist when this whole earth loses its heat, or fails to receive its 

 usual supply from the sun. This plant soon withered in sunlight, so that 

 no careful examination has ever been made of it. The dried tufts are very 

 brittle and difficult to preserve. A few fragments I am able to lay before 

 you to-night, and to it call the special attention of the botanists. In the 

 loose dirt on top of the vault, a flat piece of sandstone, octagonal in form, 

 was found. Unfortunately, however, it was struck by a pick, so that one edge 

 was broken off. This stone was very soft, and crumbled so much upon 

 handling that its first beauty is somewhat marred. Below, at the centre 

 of the base of this conical cavity, was the vault, into which the earth was 

 precipitated when the wooden top decayed and gave way. When entirely 

 cleared of dirt and debris, this vault measured : From east to west, eight 

 teet ; from north to south, five and one-half feet, and was four feet high. 

 This vault had posts set at each of the four corners, and was oblong in 

 shape. The measurements given are those taken from the outside to out- 

 side of the molds made by the original logs of which it was composed. The 

 molds made by these logs were wry perfect, and gave the size and charac- 

 ter of the timber of which they were originally composed. All of these were 



