The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-07-02

form-and it is doubtless an implement
for the same general purpose which must
have been either an offensive weapon or
an instrument used in dressing the skins
Of wild animals-perhaps both
| will only add few general conclu-
slons concerning the various copper i'm
plements found in different parts of the
country-chiefly however in Ohio and
the Peninsula of Keewenau, Lake Supe-
rior.
There was time prof. Chas Whit
tlessy thinks) about six hundred years
ago when the native copper was extract
ed from the mines about Lake Superior
by the aborgines (not the modern In
dians) and by them was fashioned by
hammering into lance heads, arrow points,
axes and articles Of ornament, many Of
which were transported to the thickly
populated Ohio Valley in the ordinary
course of exc hanges.
These miners visited the Lake SUPERB
or country only during the summer to
take out the surface copper. returning to
their homes IN the Mississippi valley
southwestWard- Extensive colonies were
located around Pewaukee Lake and at
Astalan in our own State, and at other
places where are remains of extensive
enclosures, indicating hig h degree of
skill, IL is worthy Of re mark that when
the Jesuits established their missions
among the northern Lake tribes,-that
none of the indians knew of the exist
ence of these ancient mines which appear
to have been first discovered in 1S47 bv
the agent of the Minnesota Go. Without
entering into further details respecting
these interesting archaeological discover
les, [ will only sum up in brief the facts
already known concerning the remarka.
BILE race of Mound Builders which once
found hume within the boundaries OF
what is now the State of Wisconsin.
1. An ancient people extracted copper
from the mines of Lake Superior of whom
neither history nor tradition gives any
account. stasaEl xI5eao<a.r ...l.
2. They did 1t in a rude way, using
fine, copper wedges, and stone mauls,
some of which are of thirty lbs. weight,
ana therefore could only penetrate the
veins a very short distance. 3ur34 ;1taa
8. Their TOOLS, mostly chisels and AIDES
ofpure copper were not tempered, but
hardened OH the edges by hammering
when cold.
4, They only worked mp the smaller
masses cf the meta! tor want of ability
to cut the larger. ma3tat 10 est
5. No mounds for burial purposes
no defences, homes, roads nor canals are
known to have been made by them
nor is there any evidence Of the cultiva-
ton of the sod-in the mining regions.
6. They must have been numerous,
industrious and have dwelt in the country
q long time. @~.- iaaa'.a 5@".a
Such, at present, is all that can be pre-
dicated of those ancient people, known as
the Mound Builders, who once occupied
the Valley of the Northwest 9q .a
In conclusion [ would strongly urge
upon any one who may have in possession
or who may hereafter find any remains
of the Aborgines of America, the oresr
Importance of placing themsin possession
of some institution of learning for safe
preservation or sending them a: once to
Prof Joseph Henry Of the Smithsonian
Inst, Washington, D, C., who will glad
ly acknowledge such contributions and
put them in the way of serving to con
tribute to the knowledge of the earlier
aborigines of the Western Continent 2
Yours Respt, r. e. H1NsDALE.
| fH RACINE COLLEGE, Racine, Wis.
| -.@..-