The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1877-06-20
FRAGMENTS OF the EARLY HISTORY
OF OHIO COUNTY.
BY II. ID. TAYLOR.
CHAPTER Y.

Like most OF the Western countries we
have traces of, this portion of Ke0tucky;
having been settled at day long prior 20
theadveut Of Europeans, 10y a different
race OF people, iiint-arrow heads, hatch~
cts. pestles, and other implements made
of stone and fragments Of crockery ware,
composed of a curious composition, were
numerous many years ago; in fact, those
tlint-arrev heads served our early set
,lers a valuable psrpose. being the prin-
cipal means Of supplying the old>tash~
toned fire locks with flin,s. Mounds
mostly containing human bones, were
quite common. On many OF these
mounds the timber was as large as any
in the adjoining forest. Some years ago
while levying up road near the bank OF
Muddy creek, at the bottom OF the
bitches, which was some two feet deep,
charcoal aud ashes were found for the
space Of some two hundred yards-evi>
IDENTIFY showing that this had been ia
yorite camping ground, where some saw
age tribe had once hunted and perhaps
fished, but how long ago none can tell.
The roadbed had once been covered like
the adjoining lands, by heavy timber.
\ large mound containing bones IS situN
aled on high ridge about quarter Of a
mile from this place.
The late Robert Render, ST., a gentle
man we'll known aud highly esteemed
for his many virtues. used to relate the
fact OF binding a mound or grave near
Green river, IN which were bones OF an
enormous size. A human leg bone, when
stool on the floor beside his leg while
sit,isz down, would reach 10 the top Of
his knee, aud a jaw bone would fit loosely
over his under jaw.
Now, when it is taken into consldera-
ton that Mr. Render was q man cons'd~
erably Over medium height, measuring
over six feet, with II large head aud face,
with a wide, prominent jaw bone, and
quite corpuIeut, it will be seen, by max
ing the proper addition for the foot. ankle
and connecting bones OF the knee joints,
that these bones must have belonged to
human Using fully One>third larger
than Mr. Render, who ranked among the
largest men of the day.
4 is aow subject OF regret that this
grave had not been thoroughly examined
by scientific men, and full skeleton pro-
cured of this semi-giant race. Nothing
like Notifications, or other war~like relN
les have been found in ihis section; the
mounds so far as examined. all contain
ing bones. The early pioneer and lndian
fighter perhaps strobe over those humble
repositories Of the dead, without care or
reflection, or perhaps with a feeling OF
triumph but not so with the sensitive
youth when rambling through the forest
in after years. 1t would be difficult to
imagine the strange feelings that would
spring up in his mind when one OF those
mounds obstructed his course, thrill OF
superstitious awe ard reverence for the
dead, would turn his steps aside and no
longer "whistling for want OF thought,
strange vagaries and enquiries would
arise, such as GLOW long have they lain
here in their graves? What manner OF
people were they2 Whence did they
come and whittier have they gomez Do
their spirits now mingle with the spirits
Of the pale faces, or do they chase the
phantom buffalo, elk and deer, in their
own spirit-land2"
The hunters. like the sailors yarns,
are perhaps much the same in all coun'
tries, and We have in our youthful days
all heard of the strange mishaps, the
marvellous centre shots, the charmed
guns, and the silver bullets, told of 10y th,
old hunters. To us it seems strange now
a-dsys, that sensible men should cvel
have believed in such absurdities as hav
ing their guns charmed, but stories usec
to be told by men Of uHdoubted veracity
which did seem almost marvellous, anC
can only be accounted for upon the prin
ciple that when once hunter happened
to make a very bad shot ae becam
nervous, excited and unsteady, and con
sequently could kill nothing until his ex
element wore OF, and confidence in hi
good gun restored. Many times, N
doubt, this excitement was superinduce,
by the frequent mishaps occasioned iron
his rickety old gun>look and worn-ou
Gint. Many and many were the time
when the sleek, fat deer walked leisurel
away, while the poor hunter was pickin
his flint and re>adjusting his printing
for percussion caps and firelocks wer
unknown, nor was hunting then a mer
child's plsy-bear and panther fight
were common occurrences.
A story is told OF an old hunter, hi
name MOI noS reeellected, who, Tor III