Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-04-14
An AMERICAN EXPLORER.
The Expedition Sent Out by = Westers Cs
lese...A Queer Gran.

n. Expedition Sent Out by q westerv Gel
lsse...A Queer Gran.
The New Orleans Picayune says
Ono day this week strange craft touch
ed the Morgan City wharf, having a GU
rious cargo and an odd commander. II
was a common skilf, upon which was
erected rude framework Of lumber, be-
tween two and three feet in height above
tho sides, serving the purposes of a
cabin. Through it projected small
stovepipe, looking very much like the
smokestack OF q diminutive steamer.
The cargo consisted of few rustic
chairs, different varieties of wood, pieces
Of sandstone, volcanic quartz, Indian ar
rows md pottery, ETC., gathered at vari-
GUS points in southern Louisiana, espo-
cially for college at or near Keokuk,
Iowa. The commander was square
built, bronze faced man, probably up
ward Of fifty years of age, named W. p.
Hall. He did not seek notoriety, appa-
rently, and merely stopped at this place
to forward and receive letters and take
aboard supplies.
Mr.. Hall started from Keokuk, Iowa,
in October, 1876, in an open skiff, to
search for prehistoric relics in the
Southern States. During II small por-
ton OF the journey he slept on shore ut
night, and during the remainder on
board. He followed the Atchafnlaya to
the residence of nm old Indian chief
named Pere Jupiter, where he stopped
to procure valuable information. The
chief, now probably eighty years old, is
familiar with every nook and corner of
southern Louisiana, and is one of few
survivors of an almost extinct tribe. Mr..
Hall proceeded to the vicinity of Tiger
vile, on Bayou Black, and examined
large Indian mound located there, from
which he obtained specimens of Indian
weapons of warfare and utensils. He
ascertained that the bones of fish were
used in the manufacture of the articles.
Clearing tho mouth of the Atchafalaya,
he passed along the coast through Atchn-
falaya, st. Bernard, Cote Blanche and
Vermilion bays, out of Southwest pass,
forty miles along tho gulf to Mermentau
river; thence he ast,r led the Mermentau
until he l,",Aed the route marked by
blazed trees which small vessels use in
passing from Louisiana to Texas through
the parish OF Cameron to the Sabine
nj l., ,.tt nI al al ,TL
short delay returned to the Louisiana
coast. He stopped at those mysterious
and beautiful islands familiarly known
as Petit Anse, Grand Cote, Cote Blanche
and Belle Isle, which never fail to inter-
est all travellers
Mr.. Hall is of the opinion that the
three fiHt named islands are n continn-
alton Of that geological formation known
IA the Ozark range, while Belle Isle is
OF much older or = different strata, and
belongs TO the Florida formation. He
made here the most interesting discoy-
cries OF his trip. Examining the trees
OF the island he found nearly a dozen
sturdy young lockwood trees, the first he
has seen growing in the United States,
and familiar 10 him IA = native of San /
Domingo. He Supposos that the trees
must have bcen planted here by coasters
in the Spanish reign. After repeated
borings on the other islands he could |
discover 10 indications Of rock, save u
thin sandstone near the water level.
The Belle Isle rock was hard and glis-
tening.
Mr.. Hall left yesterday, going up the
Teche, which he will follow to the head;
make portage to Washington, on the
Bayou Courtableau, and proceed up
through the Louisiana interior, home
ward. He speaks of his travels in
Egypt, Syria, San Domino, and parts of
this continent in plain way, and his
oddity, if not the profundlty of his
knowledge, will make him an object of
interest wherever he goes.