New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1857-09-14
The ontonason N1anitou.
We copy the following from the Washington Unior


The copper rock, or boulder, which lies in the yard
between the War and Navy Departments in this city
has an extraordinary history. 1t was brought from
the banks of the river Ontonagon, near Lake Supe
ror and has, it is said been known over two hundred
years. The Jesuits who first visited that part of the
country heard of it from the Indian priests, who
however, refused to conduct the missionaries to the
spot where lay on account of superstitious belief
among the Indians that when the white man had
it the Indians would be destroyed, and the con-
troll of the country pass out of their possession They
called this rock Manitou, and believed that it had
been sent to their ancestors by the morning star to
be their mediator when they should stand in need OF
particular favor. In order to proptiae the spirit OF
the Manitou they accustomed to.cover the rock
with the smoke of the calumet They also imagined
thatit frequently spoke to them in voice OF thunder
and demanded human sacrifice; and, in accordance
with this belief they were accustomed, on important
occasions, to immediate at its shrine prisoner OF war
On one occasion, when an important and hazardous
expedition had been resolved upon, they sacrificed a
beautiful maiden fifteen years of age, who had been
taken prisoner in one Of their hostile excursions
among the neighboring tribes. The following tragic
account of this sacrifice by Father Charevoz one of
the esuts above spoken Of in letter to his superior
we could only be prevailed on to insert in our columns
by disposition to correct morbid notion that exists
with many that the American. Indians are naturally
yery superior race and to show the benefits resulting
to them and the country from Caucasian civilization
and Christian missions.
After having lodge appointed for her use attend
ants to meet every wish, and her neck, arms and
cles covered with bracelets Of silver and "copper" she
was led to believe that she to be the bride of the
son of the head chief The time appointed was the
end of winter, and she felt reoced as the time rolled
on, waiting for the season of her happiness. The
day fixed upon for the sacrifice having dawned, she
passed through all the preparatory ceremonies, and
was dressed in her best attire being covered with all
the ornaments the settlement could command, after
which she was placed in the midst Of circle Of war
rors dressed in their suits, who seemed to escort
L.
herfor the purpose OF showing her difference BESIDES
their usual arms, each one carried several pieces of
wood which he had received from the girl. She had
carried wood to the rock on the preceding day. which
she had helped gather in the forest. Believing she
was to be elevated to high rank, her ideas being of
the most pleasing character, the poor girl advanced
to the altar with rapturous feelings of joy and timid
ity which would naturally be raised in the bosom of
a young female Of her age. As the procession pro.
ceeded, which occupied some time, savage music ac-
companied them, and chants, invoking the nteryen-
ton of their Manitou, that the Great Spirit would
prosper their enterprises so that, being excited by
the music and dancing the deceittul deusion under
which she had been kept remained until the last
ment But as soon as they had reached the place of
sacrifice, where nothing was to be seen but fires,
torches and instruments of torture, her eyes were
opened her fate revealed to her. and she became
aware of the horrible destiny, as she had often heard
of the mysterious sacrifices of the Copper Rock What
must have been her feelings how great her surprise
how terrible the change when she no longer had any
doubt of their intentions. Who could describe the
terrible horror of the moment? Her cries resounded
through the Forest but neither tears nor entreaties
prevailed. She conured the stern warriors who sur
rounded her to have pity her youth and her inno-
cence but all in vain the Indian priests cooly pro-
ceeded with the horrid ceremonies
Nothing could prevail against their superstition
and the horrid demands of the copper monster,
which called for human sacrifice She was tied with
wths to the top of the rock The fire was gradually
applied to her with torches made of the wood which
she had with her own hands distributed to the war
rors When exhausted with her cries, and about ex-
pirng, her tormentors opened the circle that had
surrounded her, and the great chief shot an arrow
into her heart which followed by the spears and
arrows Of his followers and the blood poured down
the glstening sides of the rock in streams
Their weapons sprinkled with her blood to make
them nvncibe, and all retired to their cheered
and encouraged with the hope of glorious victory"
In the year 1911 Mr.. j. Eldred purchased this cop
per rock of the chief of the OntonagOn tribe for the
of hundred and fifty dollars with the inten
ton of exhibiting it as great natural and historical
curiosity in this country and in Europe. After a
great deal of trouble he succeeded, in 1874 in re-
moving it to the shore of Lake Superior, where it
was claimed by Cen Cunningham as the property of
the United States. 1t appears that in S43 the Sc
cretary of War had written to Gen. Cunningham to
take possession of the copper rock, and have it
shipped to the Sau thence to be taken board the
revenuecutter on Lake Erie. 1t was finally agreed
between Cunningham and Eldred that the latter
should remove the rock to Detroit and deliver it up
to the government officers, when he should be paid
for all his trouble. This was accordingly done, and
the celebrated copper rock of Ontonagon, the idol
Manitou, OF the Ontonagon Indians, finally removed
by government to this city, and deposited where il
now lies. Mr.. Eldred, by order of Congress, was
paid the sum of 1864 9S for his services.