The Nevada Democrat., 1857-11-25
From the Washington Unicn.l

yard between the war ana Navy departments
in this city, has an extraordinary history. 1t
was brought from the banks Of the river Onto
nagon, near Lake Superior, and has, il is said,
been known over two hundred years The Jes-
uits who first visited that part Of the country
heard of it from the Indian priests, who, how
ever refused to conduct the missionaries to the
spot where ii lay, on account of q superstitOus
belief among the Indians that when the white
man had seen il the Indians would be destroyed,
and the control 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 ia need of any particular ia
vor. In order to propitiate the spirit of the Ma
nitou they were accustomed to cover the rock
with the smoke of the calumet. They also inn
agined that it frequently spoke to them in voice
of thunder, and demanded q human sacrifice I;
and in accordance with this belief, they were ac-
customed, on important occasions, to immediate
at its shrine prisoner OF war. On one ocoa-
sion, when an important and hazardous expedi'
ton had been resolved upon, they sacrificed
beautiful maiden fifteen years of age, who had
been taken prisoner in one of their hostile ex-
cursions among the neighboring tribes. The
following tragic account of this sacrifice, by
Father Charlevoix, one Of the Jesuits above spo-
ken Of in letter to his superior, we could only
be prevailed upon TO insert in our columns by
disposition to correct morbid notion that exists
with many, that the American Indians are natur-
ally very superior race, and to show the bene-
its resulting to them and the country from eau
casian civilization and Christian missions.
CATER having lodge appointed for her use,
attendants to meet every wish, and her neck,
arms and ankles covered with bracelets of silver
and copper she was led to believe that she was
to be the bride of the son of the head chief The
time appointed was the end of winter, and she
felt rejoced as the time rolled on, waiting for
the season of her happiness. The day fixed up
on 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 p ,ced in the midst of Cir
Gle 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 the preceding day, which
she had helped to gather in the forest. Believ-
ing she was to be elevated 10 high rank, her
ideas being of the most pleasing character, the
poor girl advanced to the alter with rapturous
feelings OF JOY and timidity which would natur-
ally be raised in the bosom Of young female
OF her age. AS the procession proceeded. which
occupied some time, savage music accompanied
them, aud chants, invoking the intervention Of
their Mantou, that the Great Spirit would pros
per their enterprise; so that being excited by
the music aud dancing, the deceitful deusion
under which she had been kept remained until
the last moment. But as soon as they had reach
ed the place Of sacrifice, where nothing was to
be seen but fires, torches, and instruments of
torture, her eyes were opened her tate was re-
vealed to her. and she became aware of her hor-
rible destiny, as she had often heard of the mys-
terious 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 for
est, but neither tears nor ntreates prevailed.
She cOnjured the stern warriors who surrounded
her to have pity on her youth and her innocence;
but all in vain-the Indian priests coolly pro-
ceeded with the horrid ceremonies. Nothing
could prevail against their superstition and the
hOrrid demands of the copper monster, which
called for q human sacrifice. She was tied with
withes 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 warriors When exhausted with
her cries, and about expiring, her tormenters
opened the circle that had surrounded her, and
the great chief shot an arrow into her heart,
which was followed by the spears and arrows of
his followers, and the blood poured down the
glistening sides of the rock in streams. Their
weapons were sprnkled with her blood to make
them invincible; and all retired to their cabins
cheered and encouraged with the hope of glO
rious victory"
In the year 1911 Mr.. J. Eldred purchased this
copper rock of the chief of the OntonagOn tribe,
for the sum of $3.50, with the intention of exhib-
ting it as great natural and historical curosi-
ty, in this country and Europe. After a great
deal of trouble he succeeded, in 1874 in remov-
ing it 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
l843 the Secretary of War had written to Gen.
Cunningham to take possession of the copper
rock, and to have it shipped to the Sault, thence
to be taken on board the revenue cutter on
Lake Erie. 1t was finally agreed between Cum
ningham and Eldred that the latter should re-
move 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, f.
naly removed by government to this city, and
deposited where it now lies Mr.. Eldred, by
order of Congress, was paid the sum of S5654,- |
98 for his services.