The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1853-08-23
The SacrifIcial Roek

Between the War and Navy departments
will be seen wonderful piece Of copper,
weighing about FIVE tons. The history OF
this wonderful copper is singular and curious
1t was brought from the river Ontonagon'
near lake Superior. 1t was known over two
hundred years ago. The Indian priests oe.
scribed it to the Jesuits who visited that part
OF the country and who wished to be conooc-
ted to il. But an ancient superstition pre-
vented the Indians from pointing it Out 10 tue
white man. They thought that wnen .ne
white man had seen this rock, The country
would fall into their hands, and the inolsns >
would all be destroyed. They nao oehe,
that the Manitou resided in THIS rock, and
thew used il as . place Of sacrifice. They
believe that this Msnitos had been to their
.nces,ors as their Mediator, when they could
stand in need of some favor. To render the
s,;,;, more propitious % them they smoke the
Calumet over this rock. And on important
solemn occasions they imagined that the rock
snoke 10 them in q voice of thunder, md de-
manded human sacrifice from among the
enemies Of the Indians. Father Charlevoix,
a catholic priest, gives a description Of one of
these sacrifices, which outrages even cruelty
itself. A young female had been taken pris-
oner during the war excursion, and the Great
Spirit ordered her to be inundated. She was
maiden of fifteen years of age, and was in.
duced to believe by her captors that she would
soon become the bride of the son OF the Head
Chief of that ribe. Every attention was paid
to her; her neck, arms and ankles were
crowded with bracelets Of silver and copper.
The time appointed for the marriage was the
end of winter and she felt rejoiced as the sea-
son of her happiness approached. The day
fixed for the sacrifice finally dawned, and she
passed through all the preparatory ceremonies
of marriage, was dressed in gay attire, nd
covered with all the ornaments that the settle
ment 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 proceed
ing day she had gathered, believing that it
was to be used for the purpose Of elevating
her to high rank. The poor maiden advan.
ced to the rock with rapturous feelings ofjoy
and timidity natural to the bosom OF young
female. The Manitou was invoked that the
Great Spirit might prosper the enterprise;
music and dancing were performed, and the
decetful delusion was kept up in the minds Of
the maiden to the last moment. But when
she reat he'd the rock, and saw nothing but
free, torches and instruments of torture, her
eyes were opened, her fate was revealed, and
she became aware of her horrible destiny, as
she had often heard Of the mysterious sacri.
fees of the Copper Rock. What must have
been her feelings! how great her surprise!
how terrible the change, when she became
aware of their intentions. Who could des.
cribe The terrible horror and intense agony Of
the moment! Tears Of blood flowed down
her cheeks; her cries resouDded through the
forest-but neither tears nor ertreaties pre-
vailed. Size implored the stern warriors who
surrounded her to have pity on her innocence
and youth; but all in vain. The Indian
priests cool.y proceeded with their horrible
ce remonies! She was tied on the top of the
sacrifcial Copper Rock, with green withes.
The terrible superstition OF the Indian priests
in relation to the sacrifices of the copper
monster prevailed. The great spirit and the
Mantou demanded the sacrifice. The fire
was gradually applied to the 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 sho,
an arrow into her heart, which was follow ed
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 victim, and
tore out her heart and amid the acclamatons oil
the whole tribe, invoked the blessing Of the
bloody Manitou, and began to devour the
flesh Of the dead! The mangled remains
were than left to be destroyed by wild beasts
The weapons of war were then sprinkled with
the blood of the dead and they returned to thei
: cabins cheered with the assurance Of q Clio.
/. riOus victory over their enemy in the mex
contest.
Such is the history of this copper rock at
}, period long before it was removed from il
{ native home. Henry,a traveller who soor
v after the conquest Of Canada by tn,
:. English, set out on trading voyage to For
e Mackanaw, end was present at the massacr,
n Of the whole garrison, says that on his wa,
back to Michilimacinac he encamped at tn
,. mouth ofth Ontonagon river, and was led b.
Indian guides to this great sacr fcial rock
He said that it was pure copper, and so sol
that with an ak he cut off piece weighing
:. hundred pounds. On viewing the surface o
the rock he conjectured that it had rolled from
}. the side OF lofty hill which rises at its back
n In more moderate times Henry NJ. School
n craft, who accompanied Gen. Cass in hi
e travels on the lake, visited this great block O
Is native copper. In the year lS4l, perso
q named Eldred purchased of the head chief q
e the Ontonagon tribe this copper rock for tn
sum of $3.50. In 1874 he prepared at Detro
q portable iron railway and car, with tackle
capstan and blocks and with the assistance {
n twenty men he succeeded in removing it I
t, the shore OF the lake, where it was elaine
G by Gen. Cunningham as the property OF tn
IT United States. Cunningham agreed that +
DR. dred should be paid for his time and exPens
re in removing it to Detroit, and when govern
IL ment should remove it to Washington, 3
should act "a AGENT. and be compensated L