Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-09-01

Cd her to have pity on her innocence
and youth; but all in vain. The Indian
priests coolly proceeded with their hor.
rible ceremonies! She was tied on the
top of the copper rock with green withes.
The terrible superstition of the In
dian priests in relation to the sacrifices
of the copper monster prevailed. The
great spirit and the Nanitou demanded
The sacrifice. The fire was gradually
applied to the youthful body, with torch
es made of wood which her owa hands
had gathered for The warriors. When
exhausted with cries, grief and pain, the
Great Chief shot an arrow into her heart
which was followed by the spears of his
followers, until her body became torn
and shapelcss mass of human flesh, and
the blood poured down in streams. AZ.
ter the blood ceased to flow the high priest
approached the body Of the victim. and
tore out her heart amid the acclama,ions
Of the whole tribe. invoked the blessing
of the bloody Manitou, and began to de-
your the flesh of the dead! The man.
gled remains were then left to be destroy
ed by wild beasts. The weapons OF
war were then sprinkied with the blood
of the dead, and all returned to the cab
ins cheered with the assurance of glo-
rious victory over the enemy in the next
contest. aal-....- ag. #s .a w
Such is the history Of the copper rock
alta period long before j: was removed
from its native home. Henry, a trader,
who soon after the conquest of Canada
by the English, set out on trading voy-
age to Fort Mackinaw, and was present
at the massacree Of the whole garrison,
says that on his way back TO Machilima-
cinac he encamped at the mouth of the
Ontonsgon river, and was led by Indian
guides TO this great sacrificial rock. He
says that it was pure copper, and so sof.
that with an axe he cu, off piece that
weighed hundred pounds. On viewing
the surface of the rock he conjectured
that i. had rolled from the side OF lofty
hill which rises at its back. In more
modern times Ii. r. Schoolcraft. who
accompanied Gen. Cass in his travels
on the Lake, visited this great block Of
native copper. In the year ls4l, a per-
son by the name of Eidred purchased of
the head chief of the Ontonagon tribe
!, this copper rock for $50. In 1914 he
prepared at Detroi, a portable iron rail-
way and car. with tackle. capsian end
blocks, and with the assistance of twen-
ty men he succeeded in removing il to
the shore of the lake. where it was TAX
en- possession of by Gen. Cunningham
as the property of the United States
Cunningham agreed that Eldred should
be paid for his time and expense in re-
moving it to Detroit. and when the gov
ernment should remove j, to Washing
ton, he should act as ageut, and he COM
pensated for his services. The Govern
ment, in lS45, brought it TO Washington,
where il now lies. The objec, Eldred
had in view was 10 exhibit the rock in
this country and then in Europe, as the
greatest natural curiosity, and the mos.
remarkable mineral specimen in the
world Congress ordered that he should
be paid the sum of 1851 90 to reim-
burse him for The labor and expense he
had incurred. Such is the authentic
history of the copper rock lying between
the War & Navy Departments at Wash
lngton.