Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1844-10-17

Correspondence ofthe Baltimore Snn1
WESTERN LETTER ON ANTI
QUIT les
LANCASTER, Ohio, August 2S ls4l
MesSrs. Abel d Co:--Some of the In.
dian tribes of North and South America
have traditions respecting the early settle
men, oithis country by pure ,ehite people.
This would intimate emigration from The
Northern part Of Europe, through Great
Britain, rather than that by Behring'S Straits
from Western Asia, the color OF the inhabi.
tants of the latter being much, and in some
cases altogether, like that of the Indians
themselves, while the inhabitants of North
ern Europe, according TO early history, had
long been noted for whiteness of skin, and
just such long, fair, slken hair as is discov-
ere d on American Mummies.
The Indians universally disclaim our
ancient works and monuments. which we
attribute to the aborigines. and alege that
these works were erected by white peo-
pie.
Mr.. Thomas Bodley was informed by In.
dams different tribes northwest Of the O.
hio, that they had understood from their
aid men, and that it had been a tradition a.
mong their several nations, that Kentucky
had been settled by whites, and that they
had been exterminated in war. They were
Of opinion tina, the old Notifications, now to
be seen in Kentucky and Ohio, were the
productions of those white inhabitants -
Wappockanitta, or Shawnee Chief. when
near hundred and twenty years old, and
living on the Angaze river, confirmed the
above tradition. An old Indian in CONVERSE
ton with Colonel James F Moore, eff Ken.
lucky, informed him that the Western coun
try, and particularly Kentucky. had once
been inhabited bv white people, but that
they were cxermina,cd by the Indians
that the last battle was fought at the Fails
Of Ohio. and the Indians succeeded in
| driving the aborigines into small island
below the Rapids, where the whole ofttem
were cut TO pieces. He SAID it was an un
doubted fact handed down by tradition, ant
tina, the Colonel would have ocular proc
when the waters of the Ohio became low
This was found 10 be correct upon exami
ming Sandy Island, when the waters of III,
river had fallen as multitude of human
bones were discovered The same Indiar
expressed his astonishment that white PEG
pie could live in country once the scene o.
blood The Indian Chief, called Tobacco
told General Clarke, of Louisville, that III,
battle of Sandy Island decided finally tn
fall ofKentucky with its ancient inhabitants
Gen Clarke says that keatucke, in tn
language of the Indians signifies SHE Ri
rer of Blood" In addition to the proof o
a great battle near the Falls of Ohio, it i
said that there was at Gainesville grea
burying ground, two or three hundred
yards in length. This is likewise confirm
ed BY Major John Harrison, who receive,
the tradition from an Indian woman of grea
age. Colonel Joseph Davies, when at 81
Louis, in 1900, saw the remains OF an an
cient tribe of the Sacks, who expresses
some establishment that any person shoul'
live in Kentucky They said the countr
had been the scene of much blood, and wa
filled with the names of its butchered inhab
tants. He stated also that the people win
inhabited this country were white, and pcs
sessed such arts ms were unknown to the In
dams. Colonel Mckee, who commands
on the Kenawha when Cornsialk was inhu
manly murdered, had frequently converse
with that Chief respecting the people VIII
had constructed the ancient forts He sta
ted that it was a current, and assured trad
tion that Ohio and Kentucky had once bee
settled by white people, who were possesse
Of arts which the Indians did not know
that after sanguinary confess they were e,
terminated Colonel Mckee inquired VIII
the Indians had not learned these arts Of tn
white people. He replied indefinitely, II
la,inc that the Great Spirit bod once give
, the Indians a book which taught them a
these arts. bu, that they had lost it, and ha
never since rcgained a knowledge OF then
Colonel Nc Kee inquired PARTICULAR
whether he knew what people ii was VIII
mlde s. many mounds On the Ohio and oil
, or places lie declared that he did NJ
. know. and remarked that they were M
, made bv his nation; or any he had been Al
? qnain,ed with. Col Mckee then aske
b him II he could tel who made these ol
fo-'s which 1isnl,vad 81 much skill in for,
fvinr1 H. answered that he did not know
10, said thu n story had been handed dow
from "a rery lang ago people" that lheT
: had been nation Of white people Inhab
? ting the country. who msde the mounds Al
= forts. He also said. that some Indians. wh
- had travelled very fir ives, or north-we'
! had found nation Of people. who lived
: Indians generally do, although of din
rent complexion. About fly Yeas sc