The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1873-08-30
REMARKABLE DISCOVERIES.
Antique Relics.

Antique Relies.
From the Toledo Commercial
During the past three or four DAYS
numerous and remarkable discoveries
have been made at the old Indian burial
ground below Manhattan, where in
Vulnerable relic and treasure hunters
resort every day, actuated by a desire
to' knowledge of antiquity, or a greed
Tor gain--lt Is difficult to determine
which. The contractor at work on the
road, which runs through this resting
place of ancient dead, has quite large
force employed, whose ploughshares
daily uncover fresh relics of the past
ages, and who are followed by a band
OF greedy treasure hunters, who pounce
upon any little metallic or ossiferous
substance that happens to be unearth-
ed with an avldity which evinces the
interest they feel in their archao-
logical pursuits. Yesterday couple
of dilapidated Canadian Chippe
was-a sad remnant of that once
dreaded and powerful nation made
their appearance at Manhattan, and
solicited work on the road. The con
tractor, who probably felt compass
slonate throb for these lost evidences
OF mighty people, at once gave them
employment, setting them to blowing
up the road. An hour or SO had been
devoted to the labor assigned them,
when a quick, short, quavering whoop
from one of the Chippewas speedily
brought his dusky companion to his
side. The Indian who bad uttered the
signal cry had evidently made some
discovery too deep and abstruse for
solution by his scanty stock of brains.
He stood motionless as statue as his
comrade approached, pointing to a
human skull that lay iii turrow his
plough had made, while a wild startled
look of mingled awe and wonderment
was depicted in his swarthy hneaments.
After a moments pause both stepped
nearer to the up-turned earth,
stopped and began scratching in
the loose soil with their hand, taking
scrupulous pains, however, not to touch
the skull. Presently one of them
leaped to his feet, holding up to the
view of his perplexel brother, in the
bright rays of the sun, a small silver
cross of peculiar and ingenious work.
manshIp. The two Chippewas imme-
diately held a suppressed consultation
over this mystic relic, their faces obvi-
ously exhibiting the superstitious
dread in their hearts, then slowly and
solemnly, with many furtive chances
behind, they left their teams and
sought their employer. He was shortly
found, their discovery disclosed to
MIN, and the cross placed in his hands
for examination. 1t proved to be of
solid silver, about six inches III
length, covered with beautiful
aud exquisite carvings, the work
of none but a master hand. The
contractor quickly recognized LII this
a most important and interesting relic,
and once sought to purchase it of the
Indian, who stubbornly refused to let
1t go out of his possession, and both
declined to continue their work--un-
questlonably deferred by an inherent
fear from approaching what to their
simple minds partook OF the super
natural. After performing a series of
lncantations over the spot where the
skull was exhumed, the two red skins
took their departure. A few hours
subsequent the white ploughmen turn
ed up another batch of bones, a cross
almost al exact counterpart of that the
Chippewa had found, along with num-
Der Of cooking utensils and a pair of
silver earrings. After thorough wash
lug and removal Of the incrustation of
mould and rust that had accumulated
upon tins cTcs, the following inscription
ton became distinctly visible, cut III the
horizontal piece, :" +. G. Montreal y
This engraving leads to the suppose
ton that tins relic was a heraldic de
vice of an ancient Jesuit Mission,
which history states stood in that very
locality back in the gloomy days Of the
eighteenth century, or the crucitix of
some Catholic priest, who, to propagate
the cause of Christ, had penetrated far
into the land of the heather, only to
find grave there. These conclusions,
hypothetical as they are, are only to be
taken for what they are worth, hut
reference to the early annals of this
state wall show that they are not with
out foundation.