Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-10-27
NO.. 8.
AN EXTINCT RACE.

The region around Scull Shoals was
favorite haunt of the red man, as evi.
denced by the tumuli on the river and
creek banks and the relics of their handi-
work that bestrew the ground. Every
field in this locality is rich in pottery,
arrow heads and other indestructible
implements formed by their crude
skill. Just across the river from Mr..
Fambrough' s stand three large mounds,
while number of smaller ones are
found on the creek bottoms. Mr.. Nor
ton tells us that the large mounds were
evidently intended as a fortifcation,
for many years ago, after freshet had
carried away the soil around them
| down into the clay, a black circle OF
| decayed wood was seen, showing where
timbers had been driven into the ground
| and rotted off. This stockade perhaps
even antedated the Indian race, as
these people could not tell who erected
| these immense piles of earth. Mr..
Morton says that after that freshet
Indian relics could have been gathered
by the carload. He saw several pieces
of flint, shaped like saucer, but hol-
| lowed on both sides, of different colors,.
cut and polished as smooth as glass.
With the rude implements that the
aborigines had, it is mystery to know
how they fashioned their vessels. The
ground around these mounds is now
pasture and covered with Bermuda
! grass, and relics are not so easily found
as heretofore. There is small mound
on Rose creek that is cultivated, and
the plow here often turns up the
queerest finds, that are destroyed or
thrown aside, as Indian relics are SO,
common in this section that they are
not appreciated. Not far from this
smaller mounG are some rocks filled
with curious shaped holes, made by
the Indians. Some were evidently in
tended as mortars, in which to pound
their corn, while others seemed to be.
molds, in which to form spoons and
other implements. These cavities in
rocks are numerous in this section, and
near them are always found beads,
pottery, stone implements and other
articles. The ground near one of these
mortised rocks was strewn with human
teeth. 1t must have been the place of
business of an Indian tooth th-carpenter.
At famous wash-hole near old Scull
Shoals are set of stone steps, about
the length and dimensions of stairs and
perfectly smooth and regular, begin
ming on the bank and leading down to
the bottom of the river. They are evi-
IDENTITY the work of some extinct race of
men, but for what purpose they were
fashioned no one can surmise. We
did not see these steps, bat several re-
liable gentlemen told us of their exist
ence. A horrible massacre once oc-
Cured at Scull Shoals, across the river
in Greene County, that is still fresh in
the minds of the old people around
here, and the site of the cabin occupied
by the unfortunate family is still
pointed out. The Ocouee was then
the boundary line between the white
and Indian country, and on the east
bank there resided an Industrious
family named Thrasher, related to the
people still living in Oconee County by
the name. There was frequent trouble
between the whites and the Indians, as
both races were constantly crossing
the border and committing depreda-
tions. Some lawIess whites once
crossed into the Indian country and
committed several cold blooded murders
that stirred up the savage blood of
these people. In retaliation a band of
them crossed the river at Scull Shoals
and fell upon and murdered and scalped
the Thrasher family, five in number,
and escaped across the river. After the
murder the Indians stopped at large
rock near the roadside, still pointed out,
and cleaned and loaded anew their
or,1pc Tho ,1,IY.c11oTr followed
found the rags and pieces of wadding
they had used for this purpose. An
. Indian trail once led across the shoals,
for in those days the river could be
here crossed by stepping from rock to
General Clark, when pursuing the
Indians that eliminated in the battle
of Jacks Creek, crossed with his troops
here.-AtEens (Ga.) Banner.
Abingdon, Mass. ssWhen the Pill
grims landed what did they have that
was more precious than home and
friends?" A bright-eyed little boy
answered so promptly as to bring
down the house: "Pop-cornr'--BoS-
ton Journal.
Paul, tive Yeas old, had beer
poking ct the range, and burned a hole
in his Sleeve. His mother said: 'sYoa
will surely catch afre, and there wiH
be nothing left OF you but little pile
of ashes. What will I say then?" AZ
once Paul replies: You viii say;
Kate, shovel up those ashesp 10
iedo Blade.
An old Scotchman saw railway
train for the first time, and was great
ly surprised On being asked what he
thought it was, he replied: Il juss
think it's the dell running away with
a row of bousesr'-M Y. Telegram.
"A Deadwood man named Pott has
achieved gigantic victory for one OF
our foremost American Institutions
He has gained his wife's consent t.
name their first-born Jack. Think o9
Jack Pott of twenty years unceasing
growth. BingbGmtosa Republican,.
When baby was sick, we gave her Castoria,
WI,ar Sha was q Child Sba oriad for Coc+or;o