Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-11-12
The ontonagon Copper Rock.

The Ontonagon Copper Rock.
The copper rock, or boulder, which lies in
the yard between the War and Navy Depart
ments in this city, has an extraordinary history
1t was brought from the banks of The river On
tagon, near Lake Superior, and has it is said,
been known over Two hundred years. The
Jesuits who first vised that part Of the country
heard of !, from the Indian priests, who, howev-
or, refused TO conduct the missionaries 10 the
spot where it lay, on account of a superstitious
man had seen if the Indians would be destroyed,
and the control Of the country pass out of theil
possession. They called this rock Manitou, and
believed that il hadbeen sent to their ancestors
by the morning star, 10 be their mediator when
they should stand in need OF any particular fa-
vor. In order to propiiaie the spirit of the
Manltou they were accust toned to cover the
rock with the smoke of the calumet. They
also imagined that it frequently spoke TO them
/ 50 'N'NN VI huuuOiy dHu utuldUucu HUI
man sacrifice ; and in accordance with this be-
lief they were accustomed, on important ac.
caslons, to immediate at its shrine prisoner oil
war. On one occasi ism when an important and
hazardous expedition had been resolved upon
they sacrificed a beautiful maiden fifteen wears
of age, who had been taken prisoner in one Of
their hostile excursions among the neighborng
tribes. The following tragic account of this
sacrifice, by Father Charlevoix, one of the Jes
uts above spoken of, in a letter to his superior
we could only be prevailed on to insert in oul
columns by disposition to correct morbid no.
tion that exists with many, that the American
Indians are naturally very superior race, and
to show the benefits resulting to them and the
country from Caucasian civilization and Chris.
tian missions.
" Afler having lodge appointed for her use
attendants to meet every wish, and her neck
arms and ancles covered wiih bracelets of sill.
yer and copper, she was led to believe tha, she
was to be the bride of the son Of the head chief
The time appointed vas the end of winter, and
she felt rejoiced as the time rolled on, waiting
Tor the sf ason 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 cou d
command, after which she was placed in the
midst of a circle of warriors dressed in their
war suits, who seemed to escort her for 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 lhe pro.
ceding day. which she had helped to gather
In The forest Believing she was TO be
elevated to high rank, her ideas being of the
most pleasing character, the poor cir advanced
10 the altar with raptuous feelings of Joy and
'imidity which would naura lily be raised in tn
bosom of young female of her age. AS the
procession proceeded, which occupied some
time, savage music accompanied them, and
chants, invoking the intervention of their Man
'tou, that the Great Spirit would prosper their
enterprise; so that, being excited by the music
and dancing, the deceilfu delusion under VIII cb
she had been kept remained until the last mo-
menl. But as soon as they had reached the
place OF sacrifice, where nothing was to be seen
but fires, torches instruments of torture. he,
eyes were opened, her fate was revealed 10 her.
and she became aware of her horrible des,inv
as she had often heard of the mysterious sac
rifces of 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 in
tentions Who could describe the terrible hor-
ror of the moment Her cries resounded
through the forest, but neither tears nor en-.
treaties prevailed. She coniured the stern war
rlors who surrounded her 10 have pity on her
youth and her innocence but all in vain the
Indian priests cody proceeded with the horrid
ceremonies. Nothing could prevail agains,
their superstition and the horrid demands of the
copper monster, which called for human sac
rifce. She was tied with wthes to the Top Of
the rock The fire sas gradually applied to
her with torches made of the wood hich she
had with her own hands distributed to the wal.
rius. When exhausted with her cries, and
about expiring, her tormeniers opened the cir
Gle that had surrounded her, and the great CHIEF
shot an arrow into her heart, which was follow
ed by spears and arrows of his followers and
the blood poured down the clustering sides OIL
the rock in streams. Their weapons were
sprinkled with her blood TO make them invnci
BILE; and al.retired to thier cabins cheered aud
encouraged with the hope of glorious victory
In the year 1911 Mr.. EIdred purchased this
copper rock Of the Chief of the Ou,onagon tribe,
tor The sum $3.50, with the intention of exhib-
illng 1t as great natural and historical curios.
ity' In this country and Europe After great
deal oil trouble he succeeded. in 1874 in remov,
Ing to the shore of Lake Superior, where it
was claimed by Gen. Cunningham as the prop
erty OF the United States 1t appears that in
lo43 the Secretary Of War had written TO Gen,
Cunningham to take possession of the copper
rock and havei it shipped TO the Saul,, thence 10
be taken on board the revenue cutter on Lake
Erie 1t was finally agreed between Cunning
ham and Eldred that the latter should remove
the rock to Detroit and deliver it up to the gov
eminent officers, when he should be paid for a \
bis trouble. This was accordingly done, and
tie celebrated copper rock of Ontouagon, the
idol ManiIoa of the Ontonagon Indians, finally
removed by government to this city, and depos
tied where ii now lies. Mr. Eldred, by order
of Congress, was paid the sum Of $564,9S for
| his services - Wash IN Uninn