I just cannot resist a good underground story. This is old, back from 1885, but good stuff.
A transcription, since the original pdf is kind of warped, and not that easy to read.
MISSOURI'S BURIED CITY.
A STRANGE DISCOVERY IN A COAL MINE NEAR MOBERLY.
St. Louis, Mo., April 8 - The city of Moberly, Mo. is stirred up over the discovery of a wonderful buried city, which was discovered at the bottom of a coal shaft, 360 feet deep, which was being sunk near the city. A hard and thick stratum of lava arches in the buried city. the streets of which are regularly laid out and inclosed by walls of stone, which is cut and dressed in a fairly good, although rude, style of masonry. A hall 30 by 160 feet was discovered, wherein were stone benches and tools of all descriptions for mechanical service. Further search disclose statues and images made of a composition closely resembling bronze, lacking lustre. A stone fountain was found, situated in a wide court or street, and from it a stream of perfectly pure water was flowing, which was found to be strongly impregnated with lime. Lying beside the foundation were portions of the skeleton of a human being. The bones of the leg measured, the femur four and one-half feet, the tibia four feet and three inches, showing that when alive the figure was three times the size of an ordinary man, and possessed of a wonderful muscular power and quickness. The head bones had separated in two places, the sagittal and the caronal sutures having been destroyed. The implements found embrace bronze and flint knives, stone and granite hammers, metallic saws of rude workmanship, but proved metal, and others of similar character; they are not so highly polished, nor so accurately made as those now finished by our best mechanics, but they show skill and an evidence of an advanced civilization that are very wonderful. The facts above given are vouched for by Mr. David Coates, the Recorder of the city of Moberly and Mr. George Keating, city Marshal who were of the exploring party. A further extended search will be made in a day or two.
Via Wunderkabinett.
(The photo displayed above is a well-known hoax. Just so we’re clear)
I live in Moberly and would love to figure out where this is and go exploring!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there is anything to be found, since the story is so old, but if you do find something, don't hesitate to share!
ReplyDeleteI realize that the blog author is likely just covering his ass but the very idea that a "newspaper of record" like the New York Times could be fooled into publishing such a hoax (thus risking its own reputation) is the real absurdity. And, as if that's not enough, "hoax theory" proponents expect us to believe that such newspapers of record could have been fooled hundreds or even thousands of times into publishing articles regarding giants! See Jim Vieira's over 1500 giant-related articles posted on his Facebook blog.
ReplyDeleteThe Moberly story was a hoax. Read these stories (linked in my blog post) by a reporter from the area:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.andywhiteanthropology.com/blog/was-the-buried-city-under-moberly-missouri-an-april-fools-joke