Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-10-31
FOR the Essex County Herald
Ancient Civilization in Vermont.

seemed to have lain in that position a
very great length Of time. 1t was
made of steel rings about one-fourth
inch in diameter, locked together in
the way steel ring purses are made,
but much thicker, and instead of be-
ing brazed, or left open, were all nice
ly riveted; the wire was about the
size of a coarse knitting needle; the
form of the article was like that of q
shirt, reaching down below the hips,
with the collar made of several thick
nesses of brass wire put together in
the same way; the ends of the sleeves
and the bottom being bordersd also
with the brass rings the collar was
open before sufficiently for passing
the head through, when 1t could be
fastened so securely as to protect the
head and throat. 1t was evidently
designed to protect the wearer against
spears and arrows, and perhaps the
sword also, but by whom and when it
was left is open to conjecture. 1t is
now in the National museum at Wash
ington, d. G.
Some twenty years ago while party
were at work repairing the Vt. Cen
trail r. R., at Swanton, one of the
workmen discovered a peculiar white
looking stone as lie supposed, in the
bank. He struck it with his shovel
and picked it up. lis weight still fur
Their attracted his attention, and he
threw it up 10 the overseor for his ex-
animation. The overseer found it to be
a chunk of lead much corroded and
covered with spruce gum upon the
ends; this he removed with his knife
and found the lead hollow, III the in
terror of which he found a paper,
rough and old, but written over on
one side with words which he could not
fully make out, but which were after
wards read AMI facsimile made of
the writing, a copy Of which is now
in the State Cabinet, where the origi-
nal was placed by Dr.. Hall, of Swan
ton, subject to his control, and was by
him taken and the fac Simle left in
its place in 1878. ! understand from
him that the owner is lady in Bur-
lington, and it is TO be hoped that she
will donate the same to the State Col
lection. The written manuscript be-
ing in ancient English, reads as fol-
lows:
Nov. 20, AID, 1864.
This is the solem day, l must now
die; this is the Goth day since we left
the ship; all have persisted, and on
the banks of this river | die; so fare
well. May future posterity know our
end. JOHN GRAVE.
Many suppose this the trick of
some insane person, or rogue, and
that it ought not to receive credence,
but the arguments in its favor, are, to
many minds, conclusive as to its an
tiquity. 1t is deemed certain that it
was honestly found as above stated,
and also found several feet from the
surface. Its exact history can prob
ably never be known.
In 1864 MI. M. Mott, of Alburg,
cut hemlock, which stood in hem
lock grove about three-fourths of a
mile from the lake. The tree was
about twenty-aight inches in diameter.
After the tree was cut Mr.. Mott MOTTO
ed bulge near the butt which he
thought might injure the stick which
lie desired and so cut off six feet of it
which he drew to his house for wood ;
when he came to split it he found axe
marks In the interior, showing that it
had when small, been hewn on four
sides, making it nearly square fol-
eighteen inches, over which marks,
had grown 240 grains that could be
distinctly counted. 1t was probable
there were several more, but as many
rs above stated, distinct. 1t seems
not improbable that this tree was
marked by Champlain when he dis
covered the Lake, In 1909, or by him
in some of his later visits to the Lake,
as it seems he visited it several times
before his death in 1885. NIr. Mott
preserved this specimen for several
years, but one day while away from
home his hired man burned it.
In January, 1872, Hazen Garfield
cut hemlock tree about two and one
half feet in diameter, on his place a
mile north of the village of Sheffield.
1t grew on the highland and was ap-
parently sound though somewhat
shaky, as is usual for hemlock to be.
When the tree fell, about eighteen
inches of the heart pulled ont and re-