Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-01-23
For "Loudon Free Press"
INDIAN REMAINS.


In the many excavations that are made in
rock and earth, for the purpose of building the
numerous railroads that are checkering our
land throughout its length and breadth, push
ing alike through populous city and primeval
forest, under towering mountains, and over fear
full chasms-now pursuing their way through
some peaceful hamlet, then climbing the hill
side, winding around it like belt of steel-di-
wing into the bowels of the earth and.crossing
mighty rivers, as though man was bidding def
ance in his onward progress, to the obstacles
nature has placed in his way-there is large
field for the operations of the Geologist and
Naturalist, and much that would interest the
lover Of the curious, and those that look for ira
ces of the past,
Their way is often through beds of ore, bring
ing to light perhaps rich minerals-though the
ancient and long forsaken bed of some stream,
now flowing miles away, bringing to the kn6Wl-
edge of man, ancient ruins, Notifications, &C.
bones of the Mastadon, and other animals long
since extinct, giving unmistakable evidence of
an autedeluvian race of men and animals, of
which we find no Historical account, and which
are of distinct race, and species from any now
known upon the face of the globe There Is
nothing, however that can afford better sub
iect for profound meditation, than the bringing
to light Indian remains, skeletons, implements of
war &c. You see before you the grinning scull
and whitened bones, the Temains of one that
n,auy ,-eurs ago, roarnea free and uErestrained,
a wild untutored savage-who chased the deer
through the patLless forest, padded the light
canoe over the waters of a neighboring river,
long ere the white man saw it; one who trod the
war path in pursuit of his equally savage foe,
or perhaps still later liz the history of our coun-
try, raised the savage war-hoop over the de-
lenseess cabin of some early settler, Slaughter
ing, and scalping old and young without mercy.
Upon the opposite side OF the river from the
city of Loudon, where the large embankment is
in progress OF erection, is an ancient Indian
burying ground. The railroad passes directly
over it, and as the size of the embankment has
rendered it necessary to make large excavations
upon each side ioc the purpose Ct obtaining
earth for the fill, much of the buryiug ground
has been dug up, and many skeletons have been
| found. A portion Of them have seen, and in
conversation with the contractor of the work,
Mr.. COFFIN, day or two since, he informed
me that upwards of tlco hundred had already
been found, and they are stilbfndng them eve
ry day. Stone hatchets, pistols, arrow heads,
pipes, rude earthern pots &C., have been found,
| r. IL.
Mr. COFFIN. Most of the skeletons were Of
large size, and all of them apparently full
grown. One of gigantic proportions, had an
opening in the scull, that Judging from its size,
appearance, and position, evidently the eff
fects of crushing blow of tomah hawk or war
club, when its possessor was in a retiring posi-
ton. This, and the manner in which they are
buried, being all to appearance tumbled in pro-
miscuouSly, and in heaps, and the fact of none,
but full grown skeletons being found, renders it
not improbable, that it was once scene of a
furious battle between two r ival tribe S.
From the appearance of the bones, they be-
- '-v~yvd, tut The large ones, the
probability is that it is of very ancient date. rs
Indian remains are usually found in high state
of preservation. The workman ara now dip.
ging into the base of large mound from the
top OF which two large skeletons have been
dug, and they may find in its centre more curl.
osities and perhaps something that NAV throw
more light upon its history.
Sad, melancholy yet not altogether unpleas.
ant, reflections crown upon us, as we gaze upon
the last resting place of the Red man. Although
the barbarites, and atrocities, that characteriz.
ed the American Indian, have placed him, Der.
haps, beyond the pale of our sympathies, We,
we can but admire the courage and bravery.
with which he fought for the domains of his IA
theirs, and regret that their racee went down "a
it did. Impulsve, vindictive, and taught to
believe that the Great Spirit gave them their
hunting grounds, they fought for them against
the Pale Face until their rapidly decreasing
numbers were finally exterminated and one
tribe after another became extinct or the last
remnants of them joined some other more pow
ertul tribe, which in turn were DESTROYED, or
moved westward beyond the borders of civiliza-
ton, and at the present day, scarce vestaqe
remains of the once powerful nations, that peo-
pied this, our happy land. H.
Loudoa, Tenn, Jan. Eth, 1851.