Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-27
A BLOODY INDIAN MASSACRE.
Relics of an Extinct Race and Dumb
Witnesses to Their Power.

From the Athens (Gd.) Banner Ratcbmdn.
The region around Scuh Shoals was a
favorite haunt of the red man, as evil
denced by the tumult 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, ar
row-heads and other indestructible i'm
PIGMENTS formed by their crude skill.
Just ACROSS the river from MIR. Fam
brough's stand three large mounds. while
number of smaller ones are found on
the creek bottoms. Mr.. Morton tells us
that the large mounds were evidently in
tended as fertilization, for many years
ago, after a 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 of. This
stOckade perhaps even antedated the In
dian race, as these people could not tell
who erected these immense piles or earth.
MIR. Morton says that after that freshet
Indian relics could have been gathered by
the CARLOAD. He saw several pieces OF
flint, shaped like a saucer. but followed
on both sides, of different colors, cut and
polished as smooth as glass. With the
rude implements that the aborgines had,
it is mystery to know how they fash
Toned their vessels. The ground
around these mounds is now q
pasture ana covered with Bermuda gFnss,
and relies are not so easily found as here
tofore. Theress small mound on Rose
creek that is cultivated, and the pillow
here often turns up the queerest hnds,
that are destroyed or thrown aside, as In
dian relics are so common in this section
that they are not appreciated. Not far
from this smaller mound is some rocks
filled with curious shaped holes, made by
the Indians. Some were evidently IN
tended as m0rtars, 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 arti-
Giles. The ground near one of these NOR
ticed rocks was strewn with human teeth.
IL must have been the place of business
of an Indian tooth 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, beginning on the
bank and leading down to the bottom OF
the river They are evidently the work
nt some extinct race of men. but
for what purpose they were fashioned
these steps, but several reliable gentle
men told US of their existence. A horri-
BILE massacre once occurred at Scull
Shoals, across tue 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 Oconee 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 liy-
ing in Ooonee county by the name. There
was frequent trouble between the whites
and Indians, as both races were constant
ly crossing the borders and committing
depredatIons, Some lawless whites
once crossed into the Indian country
and committed several cold-blooded
murders that stirred up the savage blood
of these people. In retaliation band of
them crossed the river at Scull Shoals and
fell upon and murdered and scalped the
Thrasher family, five in number, and es-
capped across the river. After the murder
the Indians stopped at large rock near
the roadside, still pointed out, and cleaned
and loaded anew their guns. The pur-
suers that 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 rock without even wetting the
feet. Gen. Clark, when pursuing the In
dams that eliminated in the battle Of
Jacks creek, crossed with his troops
barp