Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-07-24
AN ANCIENT BATTLE-AX.
Rev. Frunnerss Contribution to a
Learned Cincinnati society.


Historical Antiquities, Of this city, is
just getting over the effects OF a con-
vulsi0n, which, metaphorlcally, came
near leveling the Masonic temple
This society is, to a certain extent,
close corporation, and It's membership
limited and select.
What treasures of antiquity it has
laid away in It's rooms the outside
barbarians can only guess. When
once a fellow of the society lays his
hand upon an antiquity it is thence
forth sacred from the gaze of the vul-
gar horde. 1t is put into a cabinet,
where the select few dote upon its an
known and undecipherable history,
as only the truly profound can dote
upon the absolutely unknowable.
About eighteen months ago Rev. L.
A. Drummer, of Upper Sandusky, had
the great fortune to be elected an hon
Orary member of the society. The
active memberships desceHd by de-
wise, while honorary members are
chosen in recognition of contributed
antiquities, and are entitled to enter
the sacred rooms Of the society once
annually and look at the priceless
treasures there stored
That IS how Rev. Mr.. Drummer came
to be an honorary member Of the So
clety, and it was to attend the annual
meeting that he was IN the city the
other day.
1T was the antiquity contributed by
Mr. Drummer that caused the cOmmO-
ton. A simple narration here be
comes necessary. AS IS we'll known,
monument was reared a year or so
ago above the spot on the TymOchtee
creek, IN WyandOt county, where
Col. Crawford was burned by the In
dams over century ago. Rev. Mr..
Drummer, who is one Of the most
famous antiquarians In northwestern
Ohio, was present when the fOunda-
ton for the monument was being ex-
cavated.
As the soil was being thrown up By
the thoughtless hands of the diggers,
the reverend gentleman thought taat
he heard something fall with dull,
heavy thud. He poked around in
the dark loan with his cane, and
soon the brass fefule struck a metallic
substance He pried it out and soon
had it IN bis hands. He swOre the
diggers to secrecy, and as neither Of
them knew what Mr.. Drummer had
picked up, they took the oath without
hesitation.
He was so excited over the find that
he walked all the way back to Upper
Sandusky, leaving his horse and
buggy standing on the banks of the
TymOchtee But his excitement was
eXcusable in view of the treasure he
had come into possession of. Here
was the key to the rooms of the So
clety for the Preservation of Antiqui-
ties. Ia short, Rev. l. A. Drummer
had found an ancient battle ak, whose
antiquity might well puzzle the sa-
wants of both hemispheres 1t wasn't
the ordinary stone ak, but was com
posed of metal.
It's peculiar shape puzzled the find
er, and subsequently aStonished the
members of the learned society in this
city. 1t was composed of two blades,
differing both IN size and shape, while
projecting somewhat in front of them
was sort of a spear-head, evidently
used for thrusting. There was a wide
horizontal groove running along one
side of it, while small eyelet pierced
it in the opposite direction, clearly
showing that the instrument Of death
was fastened to q staff or pole. and
that IN the hands of a resolute man it
would cut to the right and left and in
front also.
The more the fellows Of the society
examined it the less they knew about
1t, and no two of them could agree as
to It's origin. It's use all admitted by
commOn consent. It was the most
destructive engine of war that had
some down from the ancients. 1t
bore a faint resemblance to a bill
hook, but was a hundred times more
destructive. The tide of opinion was
that this savage battle,ax was not car
ried at the time of Col. Crawford's
execution-thate even then it lay bur
led in the ground where it had fallen
from the hands of some prehistoric
warrior ages and ages before Column
bus discovered America. Some
thought it had a clew shat would
eventually lead to the true history Of
the mound builders.
1t was FURNISHED UP and carefully
mounted on a staff ten feet long, I'M
der the personal supervision of DR..
cambridge and Mr.. j Ohm Simpkinson.
The members shuddered when they
looked at the terrible instrument that
had slain its thousands on battle
fields that do not live even in tradi-
ton. rMurat Halstead confidently
expressed the opinion that one thous-
and men armed with them would have
done more execution in an hour at
Gravelotte than both armies did in a
whole day.
Thus the minds Of the able mem
bers Of the society were excited, when
Mr.. James Medbury a farmer living
In the hills back of Faster's Crossing,
was admitted to honorary member
ship. After being duly installed he
was taken around and shown the
curiosities. Whe he came to the bat
tle-ax his face assumed a puzzled ex-
DrpSSiOn