Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1841-03-06
From The Cincinnati Chronicle.


Geological Remains OF the West.
We have had the pleasure of conversation with
one of the mos, intelligent gentlemen of the West
upon some the most striking of the ancient remains
of Missouri and Wisconsin. Most Of wha, he in
formed us he had actually seen and examined for
himself with all the facts and history Of curious re-
mains either of men or animals in the West. We
thought it would not he unnterestng to discribe, in
brief terms, some of these remains especially as we
have been rather scep ca i'll respect 10 some of the
accounts.
ls,. The MIssouRIAS, or the vast and unknown
animal recently discovered in Missouri. This he
has seen examined-Ih man who discovered this
animal did it in consequence OF an ludiln tradition
which s1id that at that place there ocas buried a
great animal and whose remains they were anx-
ious to protect, and to keep the whites of. On
digging, the remains found as described. With
them were also found Indian arrow heads Of much
lager than the usual size and the remains of man
of extraordinary size. The animal is put together,
and of vast size. A band Of music is seated be-
tUeen his ribs and at height of ten twelve feet;
his length is twenty thirty feet, and he belongs
without doubt to the amphibious class III tusks
are of enormous size, and notwithstanding they are
curved in and partly broken, measure l5 feet from
tip to tip. The most singular part Of his formation
| is, tha, the joint of his hind leg turns oulwaids.
This creature is as much larger Than the mammoth,
| as the latter than an OK.
3D. 1t is also a fact that on one Of the highest
NILS &c Missouri are found great quantity of the
! Mammoth Bones or skeletons indicating that at
the deluge or other grent flood these animals
had rctreacd to the tops ofhe hills, and there perish
cl.
3d. The Peirifed Forest. or this we had some
doubts, bu, of the general fact there is no question
Over a considerable space of ground parts of the
trunks Of trees, and fragments of limbs are found
perfectly peliied.
4th. The city If A-telan, which a year or two
since was announced as existing en- one ofthe bran
ches Of Rock River in Wisconsin, is reality, ST
far as relates TO the extensive remains of ancien
works. Our informant examined this work thor
oughly. 1t consists of parapcis Of earth, like th'
Indian Forticlons of Ohio, with some thing
peculiar to itself covering 3 acres Of ground NJ
evidences Of higher civilization than that which ex
, isis in the Ohio works was found except it may b
some bricks burnt, in the ancient rude way. Thes
were found in certain projections from the para
pets. They were evid nifty brick. but made W Il
straw in the old mode, and rud. y formcJ. 1t
said, however, that the indians of the Rocky Noun
tains do now make brick.
Within two of the angles Of this work are foun,
two towers AMI mounds, intended, as our iniorman
believes, for wach-towcrs, and al burial Places
Through enc he dug, but found nothing. In II
other he found regular vault about the size of
common room, but much longer in one way tha
the other.-lIcre he found many bones OF huma
beings. ltwas evidently tomb. lie say that ii
r Indians of the far northwest say that they have
n the common Indian mound built, and that the pr
cess is, fist lustrious chief is buried, and tn
T. in mark Of their respect, Others they 60 by, d
% post some additional earth, anu that thus the noun,
i, grow TO their present size.
,e There is undoubtedly much evidence to sho
,e that mole civilized race once inhabited Nor
n. America; but in tracing out The links of that e'
ID dence there is one yet wanting. The ancient !
IN mains in the West have no, yet shown evidence
nc arts science superior to what the Indians of
D. day might not have had The existence, howev
lis of these remains aud even of the peope themsely
still involves an inscru,ab!e problem; problem I
lis on which we hope the foulth-coming wolk Of
to Stevens may show some light.