The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-17
RED MEMS BONES.


EARTHED AT AoUEBoGUE, L. L-UNDER-
GROUND APARTMENTS WITH BLUE CLAY
wALLs-INTEREsTING RELICS FOUND.
Farmer Nathan Downs, of Aquebogue. L. l.. is not
of scientific turn. yet few days ago he made dis
coveres that have since agtated all the scientific
minds of Suffolk county. Farmer Downs was not
looking for archaeological relics; he immersed
in the construction Of cranberry marsh.
Now cranberry marsh as the term itself implies
must have swampy location to begin with. so that
the vines can be flooded during the winter; and next
it must also have flooring of sand. These
requirements to be found about three
miles from Riverhead. what is called Skill
mans Greek. which finds weedy outlet into
Peconic Bay. Above the creek is a marsh stretching
miles away to the northward. the upper portion Of
which is easily recognized former river bed.
Farmer Downs had cut away the soil on both sides
of tie creek aud engaged dragging sand
down the slopes and levelling the bottom Of
his cranberry marsh when he noticed
great many irregular spots Of black mould
within space of ten yards square on the eastern
shore of the creek. Black mould did not suit cram
berry growing exactly, and the farmer mentioned
the fact to his brother Oliver. The latter suggested
that the black spots might be Indian graves. and
little use OF the spade proved he was right
BURIED WALLS OF CLAY.
Still later. while dragging on the western side Of
the creek. Farmer Downs unearthed huge chunk
Of blue clay. Digging away the sand he found four
walls, in the shape OF rectangle with partition
wall running between the centres OF the longer sides
and dividing the structure into equal compart.
ments The walls foot in thickness and
about three feet high The size of the rectangle
nine feet by nine and half. Nothing but sand was
found within it, and nobody in the neghborhood
could tell what it had been built for Parties have
been going there ever since from Riverhead and the
adjoining towns and the blue clay structures ha
been picked and spaded and scooped without reach
ing any definite solution.
On Friday reporter OF the HERALD visited
the place in company with S. Terry Hud-
son. neghbor of Farmer. Downs. who is
deeply interested in Indian archaeology The
mysterious walls had been pretty thoroughly
plored. but efforts with the spade showed that
there flooring OF blue clay quite as thick
the walls. Pieces Of pine wood were dug up from
below the flooring in which the runs Of pitch
were still visible and moist, though it must
have been at least two centuries since they were
laid there foundation The two compartments
appeared precisely as If they had been intended for
the last resting place of chief and his favorite
squaw. But there were not the slightest evidences
Of any remains having been buried there
or any other purposes of defence that the
modern mind could think of; besides. there
studied the habits of Long Island Indians could not
believe that the walls were for the exercise of any
religions rite and ne WAS OF h sne opinion ans
ceremonies. The conclusion forced upon
the mind Of the reporter that it was in
some way used originally residence by the
mogul OF the village. and perhaps was canopied with
brush or skins. Schoocraft mentions mud and clay
structures used both for religious ceremonies and
for dwelling places and under the general descrip-
ton of these armer Downs discovery would fall
A SETTLEMENT.
The blue clay '.what-is-it!" is opposite what
beyond question the site Indian village. There
is pile OF broken bones Shells pieces of flint and
9th raf11a sfr n of
and representing long accumuiatons from the kit
chens and workshops OF the savages. The wigwams
presumably stool nearer the shore of the creek and
the dead buried just in.front of them. At the
time Of the reporters visit thirty graves had
all kinds of human bones indicative of powerful
OF men pieces OF pottery composed OF clay and
chips of flint arrowheads and any amount of clam
and oyster shells Ono stovepipe was dug up. but fell
to pieces on handling. From what was supposed to
arrowhead OF flint which is supposed to have been
worn for ornamental purposes about the neck. Its
edges fancifully notched, and hole about
three inches long had been drilled through it from
| point to base. Broken pieces of bone and flint
were also found. which seemingly had been thrown
upon the village dust heap amt then shoveed into
the graves Refuse bones found in the burial places
went to show that the "old time" red men were not
| particular to the kind OF soil with which
| they covered their dead.
1t not easy matter to find new subject for
elimination, but Mr.. Hudson eventually succeeded.
and carefully shovelled away the sand surrounding
the patch of black mould. Then every spadeful
was carefully examined without any more startling
of flint. second grave found and
explored with. no better success 1t was
presumed that they were the graves Of squaws for
whom pottery or implements Of stone would be
sacrificed. From the size of the graves the Indians
must have had a very awkward fashion of crowding
their dead underground. Possibly the sexton OF that
deserted village not fond of digging for
none of the black mounds more than three feet
in length by eighteen inches III depth.
ANTIQUITY OF THE RELICS.
How ancient the burial ground could only
be roughly guessed at. but at least two hundred
years must have passed since the Indians lived and
loved there. The geological changes would suggest
a longer lapse of time what is now marsh. and
soon will he cranberry marsh, must then have
been considerable body of water From
it the oyster shells found in the graves
must have been taken. there are no Oyster
beds than Great South Bay. The water
probably reached to the bay, from which the In
dams padded up stream in their ana settled
down in that village site. content to remain
long the stock of shell FISH held
ont. The people living thercabouts
know very little of the tribe of Indians that held
their lands before them. They were probably the
Corchaugs branch of the Montauk tribe. Mr..
Hudson told the reporter Of purchase made from
the Indians by his great-great- grandfather for
string of wampum ard u seven-year-old bull.
Pondering over this long dead tribe. the reporter,
walking from the place that once was theirs, came
upon Christian burying ground and little
brown headstone that had been brought from Eng
land for erection there he saw the date 1888.