Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-07-06
The SacrificiaI Rock.

ments will be seen wonderful piece O.
native copper, weighing about fve TONS
The history of this wonderful copper is sin
gular and curious. 1t was brought from
the river Ontonagor, near Lake Superior
1t was known over two hundred years ago
The Indian priests described it to the Jes
uits who visited that part of the country
and who wished to be conducted to it
But an ancient superstition concerning the
rock prevented the Indians from pointing il
out to the white man. They thought thai
when the white man had seen this rock
the country would fall into their hands, and
the Indians woulda all be destroyed. They
had belief that the Manitou resided in
this rock, and they used it as a place Of
sacrifice. They believed that this Manitou
had been to their ancestors as their Medi-
tator, when they could stand in need Of
some favor. To render the spirit more pro.
pitious to them they smoked the calumel
over this rock. And on important and sol
emn occasions, they imagined the rock
spoke to them in a voice Of thunder, and
demanded human sacrifice from among
the enemies of the Indians. Father Char
levoix, Chatholic priest, gives descrlp-
ton of one of fthese sacrifices, which outra-
ges even cruelty itself. A young female
had been taken prisoner during war ex-
cursion, and the Great Spirit ordered her
to be inundated. She was a maiden OF
fifteen years of age, and was induced to
believe by her captors that she would soon
become the bride of the son OF the Head
Chief of the Tribe. Every attention was
paid to her: her neck, arms and ancles
were crowded with bracelets of silver and
copper. The time appointed for the mar
riage was the end of winter, and she felt
reioiced as the season of her happiness ap-
preached. The day fixed for the sacrifice
finally dawned, and she passed through all
the preparatory ceremonies of marriage,
was dressed in gay attire, and covered with
all the ornaments that the settlement could
command, when she was placed in the midst
of circle of warriors, dressed in war suits,
who seemed to escort her from motives OF
Difference. Besides their usual arms, each
one carried pieces of wood, which the pre-
ceeding day she had gathered, believing
that it was to be used for the purpose OF
elevating her to high rank. The poor
maiden, advanced to the alter with raptu-
rous feelings OF Joy and timidity natural to
the bosom of young female. The Mani
tou was invoked that the great spirit might
prosper the enterprise music and dancing
were performed and the deceitful delusion
was kept up in the mind of the maiden to
the last moment But when she reached
the rock, and saw nothing but fires, torches
and instruments of torture, her eyes were
opened, her fate was revealed, and she be-
came aware of her horrible destiny, as she
had often heard of the mysterious sacrifices
at the Copper Rock. What must have been
her feeling how great her surprise how
terrible the change, when she became a.
ware of their intentions Who could de-
scribe the terrible horror and intense agony
of the moment Tears of blood flowed
down her cheeks; her cries resounded
through the forest-but neither tears nor
entreaties prevailed. She lmplored the
stern warriors who surrounded her to have
pity on her innocence and youth ); but all
in vain. The Indian priests coolly pro-
ceeded with their horrid and barbarous cer-
emones She was tied on. the top of the
sacrifcial Copper Rock, with green withes.
The terrible superstitions of the Indian
priests in relation to the sacrifices of the
copper monster prevailed. The Great Spir-
it and the Manitou demanded the fair sac
rifce. The fire was gradually applied to
her youthful body, with torches made of
wood her own hands had gathered for the
warriors. When exhausted with cries,
grief and pain, the great chief shot an ar
row into her heart, which was followed by
the spears of his followers, until her body
became torn and shapeless mass of human
flesh, and the blood poured down in streams.
When the blood had ceased to flow, the
high priest approached the body of the VIC
tim and tore out her. heart, and amid the
acclamations Of the whole tribe, invoked
the blessing of the bloody Mantou, and be-
gan to devour the flesh of the dead The
mangled remains were then left to be de-
stroyed by wild beasts. The weapons OF
war we're then sprinkled with the blood Of
the dead, and all returned to the cabins
cheered with the assurance of glorious
victory over their enemy in the next con-
test.
Such Is the history of this curious cop
per rock; at, period long before it was re-
moved from its native home. Henry tra-
der, who, soon after the conquest Of Cana
da by the English, set out on trading
voyage to Fort Mackanaw, and was present
at the massacre of the whole garrison, says
that on his way back to Mchilimacinac he
encambed at the mouth of the Ontonagon
river, and was led by Indian guides to this
great sacrifcial rock. He says that it was
pure copper, and SO soft that with an axe
he cut off piece weighing hundred
pounds. On viewing the surface of the
rock, he conjectured that it had rolled from
the side of lofty hill which rises at its
back. In more modern times, Henry R.
Schoolcraft. who accompanied General Cass
IN his travels on the lake, visited this great
block Of native copper In the year 1S41,
person named Eldred purchased from the
head chief of the Ontonagon tribe this cop
per rock, for the sum of $3.50. In 1874,
he prepared at Detroit portable iron rail-
way and car, with tackle, capstan and blocks
and with the assistance Of twerty men he
succeeded in removing it TO the shore of
the lake, where it was claimed by General
Cunning ham as the property OF the United
States. Cunningham agreed that Eldred
should be paid for his time and expense in
removing it to Detroit, and when govern
ment should remove it to Washington che
should act as agent, and be compensated
for his services. Government In 1S43,
brought 1t to Washington, where it now
lies. The object Eldred had in view was
to exhibit the rock in this country and then