San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1879-02-15
IN Indian Mound.

CLIP from the last issue OF tho Lacon
Home Journal.
The region surrounding Chillicothe is
peculiarly rich in remains of the strange
people who once inhabited the country
and left imperishable evidences of their
labors behind, extending from Lake
Superior to the Isthmus, from Ohio to
the Pacific. OF them and concerning
them history is silent. No record exists
of their achievements and progress, no
sculptured memorial att0sts their skill
and their greatness, yet all about us is
proof that population vastly greater
than now abounds, once inhabited these
valleys and reared these mysterious
structures. Our houses are built on
grounds once appropriated by others,
our towns and cities occupy the sites of
older cities, and our cemeteries are
sacred to the memory of ghostly
people, who in the event Of final
resurrection could rise up and claim
ownership prior to the present occu-
pants. Investigation and research
tell US for what purpose these mounds
were made, but from whence the build
ers came, the age in which they existed,
and the cause of their final disappear
ance we know absolutely nothing, and
all is resolved to the region of conjec-
ture. Mounds are of three kinds, viz:
Observation, worship, and sepulture or
sacrifcal- the two latter often combin-
ed in one. Upon the former, beacon
fires were built, and intelligence con-
veyed from one part of the country to
another. They are usually circular,
though many of the second class imi-
tate the forms of animals and men.
On Saturday, parties from Lacon and
elsewhere, with numerous delegation
of ladies and gentlemen Of Chillicothe,
proceeded to open, under the guidance
of VIM. Clifford, of Alta, Peoria county,
one of the ablest Psychologists OF
the State-a large mound in the Steub-
er pasture below town. A survey
made showed base of 66 feet, and a
height of some nine OF ten. A channel
two feet wide was begun at the base,
which was designed to run to the center,
but owing to insufiiciency Of time and
want of help, was abandoned, and a
partial excavation made from the top.
A previous exploration had resulted in
discovery of numerous remains, but at
three feet below these well preserved
skeleton was found, lying on its back,
with head pointing southwest. The
form was large, jaws massive, and teeth
perfect. At it's feet lay the bones of an
infant, and the skeleton, when living,
was probably female and mother.
As the excavation progressed, the
shovels threw out peculiar black,
closely compacted clay, which on ex-
animation under glass showed crystals
of blood. Mixed with this was loose
friable soil, which proved to be ashes.
Last came layer Of stone, and this
told what was before suspected, that
we had struck sacrifcial mound, and
one of the most important yet discover
ed. The victims whether prisoners OF
war or inundated to please some sup
posed deity, were slaughtered and
burned, the blood running with the
earth beneath, to tell the story untold
centuries later of the sacrifice. Inter-
mixed with soil just above the stones
were bones much decayed, but whether
they were remains of the victims, or
we're inferred there for purpose, can
not be told. Possibly there was con-
nected with it a ceremony similar to
one witnessed by cameron among
the savage tribes of Africa. A chief
having died, an immense pit was dug,
the bottom of which was covered with
layer of closely packed living women.
Upon these was placed one of the wives
Ct the chief on her hands and knees,
and upon her back the dead chief was
laid with his beads and treasures, sup
ported by two other wives at his head
and feet. The earth was then shoveled
in, and fifty or one hundred slaves
slaughtered over the whole and their
bodies thrown upon the pile.
With the exception of some orna-