The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1877-04-13

A correspondent Of the St. Louis Re-
publican. writing from Arkadelphia
(Ark y, under date Of March 23, gives
the following interesting account of
archaeological discoveries In that
region:
think ! have struck big bonanza
here, and, II ! am not mistaken, this Is
the field for the archaologist who re-
wells in the relics of the prehistoric
man. When the old military road was
opened from Memphis In 1881 10 the
Mexican (now Texas) line, the route
lay along what appeared 70 have been
q well-built and graded road about 50
feet in width, and apparently 50 old
that trees OF the largest and oldest
growth had grown to maturity, decayed
and their places filled with others. In
fact, all the indications we're that the
road had been built from eight hundred
TO one thousand years. The Indians
then living here had a tradition Of an
other race which had inhabited this
country which they called the Lena
Lcnape, or wise men, and claimed that
their domain extended from the great
American bottom east Of St. Louis, far
off TO the southwest. They also boast
ed that when the fercer tribes Of red
men came from the North they drove
these peaceful cultivators Of the soil to-
ward Mexico, and that remnants Of the
tribes driven away still lived away To-
ward the great hills in the sunset land.
The pioneers who had charge Of open
ing the military road had learned 10
look upon the dusky sons Of he forest
as liars and frauds, and attached but
little importance to the traditions, but
when they reached the Ouachita, near
where this town is built, the Indians
pointed out to them the mounds, and
especially the one on the Caddo which
is over one hundred feet high, then
they began to believe the story, and the
officers mentioned the mounds and the
tradition in their report. But Arkan-
sas was q far-off country then, especial
ly the western and southern part, and
the existence of the mounds was soon
forgotten, il generally known, which
was probably not the case.
When white settlements came the
pioneer followed the Ouachita up to
this point, near the Caddo, and, finding
the soil rich and every thing as attract
i've as nature could make il, cid what
the Lena Lenape did-started town
and began cultivating soil which gave
the most extravagant returns for the
labor expended upon il, and for years
so interested were they in raising corn
and cotton that they gave no thought
to the rich treasures which might be
buried In the mounds. About twenty
years ago it occurred to Col H. W.
Mcmillan, then young attorney OF
this place, that il might be well to dig
into one Of these artifcicial hills, and
If possible, discover some relics of a
past and forgotten age. Taking q
couple Of negroes and supply Of
picks and shovels, he began operation
on the large mound on the Caddo. This
hill was covered with growth Of large
trees, and had it not been for the fact
that it rose out Of level plain, might
have been mistaken for 8 natural
mound. The laborers, after digging a
few feet, struck a rich lead which
panned out number OF earthern jugs,
bowls and dishes and few pipes, all
of them curiously carved, and evident
" containing inscriptions in hero
glyphics as difficult TO decipher As those
found by Prof. Smith among the an
cient Abyssinian ruins. The crockery
was made Of clay, and had been hard
ened by fire, and when found was in a
good state Of preservation
While making these examinations,
an old Spanish sword was found buried
nearly "a foot beneath the soil and under
1t the remains OF human skeleton.
About the skeleton was found some
pieces II iron. evidently portions Of the
style of armOr worn In the time OF DE
Soto and similar 10 those found at the
old Salt Springs below this place, while
the sword was the counterpart Of the
one found near Hot Springs about four
years ago.
The net result Of Col. McSlillan's re
searches was barrel Of jugs, bowls,
pipes and some stone relics which he
mad removed to his Office, where they
were thrust aside and forgotten for
quite a number Of years. But when
the ancient kettles and iron camp ut n
sis were found at the Salt Wells = few
years ago, giving indisputable evidence
that De Soto had camped there, the
Colonel bethought him Of the ancient
sword and went to his barrel 10 get it.
but it was gone, and has never since
been discovered.
Some five Years ago Col. Mcmillan
gave the relics he had left 10 one Of the
editors OF the Memphis Appeal, and
that gentleman deposited them in the
State Library at Nashville, where they
still remain.
Daring the last twenty years Mr.. w
A. Trigg (the largest planter in ihii
part OF the State, and gentleman o.
the old school OF hospitality, ha: