The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-11-10
AN EXTINCT RACE.
Interesting Relics of the Mound Builder
Found in Georgia.

The region around Scull Shoals was a
favorite haunt of the redman, as evil
denced by the tumuli ON the river and
creek banks and the relies of their
handiwork that bestrew the ground
Every field in this locality is rich in
pottery, arrowheads, and other inde-
structible implements formed by their
crude skill. just across the river from
Mr. Fambrough's stand three large
mounds, while a number of smaller
ones are found on the creek bottoms.
Mr.. Morton tells US that the large
mounds were evidently intended as a
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 off This
stoekade perhaps even antedated the
Indian race, as these people could not
tell who erected these immense piles of
earth. MIR. Morton says that after that
freshet Indian relics could have been
gathered by the cart-load He saw
several pieces of flint, shaped like
saucer, but followed on both sides, of
different colors, cut and polished as
smooth as glass. With the rude inn
plements that the aborigines had, it is
mystery to know how they fashioned
their vessels. The ground around these
mounds is now a pasture and covered
with Bermuda grass, and relies are not
SO easily found as heretofore. There is
small mound ON Rose Greek 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 mound are some rocks filed
with curious shaped holes, made by the
Indians. Some were evidently intended
as mortars, in which to pour their corn,
while others seemed to be molds, in
which to form spoons and other imple-
ments. 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 m0rtised rocks
was strew with human teeth. 1t must
have been the place of business of an
Indian tooth-carpenter. At famous
wash-hole near old Scull Shoals are a
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 of some extinct race of men, but
for what purpose they were fashioned
no one can surmise. We did not see
these steps, but several reliable gentle
men told US of their existence. A hor-
rible massacre once occurred at Scull
L. 81
County, that is still fresh in the minds
of the old people around here, and the
site of the cabin occupied by the un-
| fortunate family is still pointed out
The Ocoi ee was then the boundary line
between the white and Indian country,
and on the east bank there resided an
industrious family named Thrasher, re-
lated TO the people still living in Oconee
| County by the name There was fire.
quent trouble between the whites and
Indians. as both races were constantly
| crossing the border 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 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 guns The pursuers that
| followed found the rags and pieces of
wadding they had used Tor this purpose.
An Indian trail once led across the