The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-05-12
.PAINT-ST0NES.
A CURIOUS RELIC OF FORMER
INDIAN LIFE IN OHIO.
How the Indians Decorated Them
selves for BattIe-Peculiar
Mode Of Manufacturing
Bright Colors.

A cambridge (Ohio) letter to the
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette says: One
of the most romantic localities which the
great vandal, civilization, has left un-
touched in her conquest of the great
State of Ohio, lies along the precipltous
banks of Paint Creek and Rocky Fork,
about four miles from cambridge, and
near the dividing line between Ross and
Fayette Counties.
Lofty hills, which the inhabitants of
the country dub mountains in their local
pride, lise proudly from the plains. The
celebrated Rocky Fork caves honeycomb
one of the largest hills, and attract
crowds of tourists and sight-seers in the
summer. Paint Creek, or "Paint," as it
is familiarly called, flows placidly
through some of the most romantic and
beautiful scenery in Ohio. In spring the
sun shines in golden splendor on the
forest-covercd SUBMITS of the great hills
and on the liquid depths of "Paint"
Creek; in autumn it converts the great
forests into gorgeous variegated pyra-
mids, and gives the forest depths the
appearance of cathedral aisles, through
which the sunlight falls, tinged with
the scarlet and purple splendor Of the
leaves.
A few farm houses, the Rocky Fork
hotel and a post-office form what is
known in postal guides as the village of
'Paint." The village and creek enjoy
the name of Paint from the fact that the
Indians in the early days of Ohio were
accustomed to secure their supplies of
paint in that vicinity.
The local authority on ell questions re-
lating to the history of the place is a
gentleman rejoicing in the sanguine-name
of Hope. He has been postmaster of
Paint postoffice since the war, and in the
little grocery, which he keeps in connec-
ton with the postoftice, he lives placid
life. In one corner of little carpenter
shop over his store, Mr.. Hope has one of
the most interesting collections of Indian
curiosities I have ever seen. All the
specimens were gathered in the vicinity
of Paint, and are interesting as showing
the methods of life of the Indian tribes
in the early days of Ohio.
Among other interesting specimens
are several of the Indian paint-stones.
When picked one of them up thought
that it was one of the stone hatchets
which occupied so prominent q place
among the weapons and tools Of the In
dians. The paint-stone is about five
inches long and three inches broad, and
tapcrs to an edge like stone hatchet. 1t
is extremely heavy and looks like a
smooth piece of polished iron which has
been corroded, or like piece of polished
iron ore. A hole drilled through the
middle makes place for string or thong
of deer sinew, by which it was attached
to his belt by the Indian warrior.
"What was the hatchet used for?" I
asked Mr.. Hope, picking up one of the
painted stones. ''Do you call that a
hatchet9" he remarked; "look here a
minute and I will show yon."
He picked up small saucer made out
of granite, and rudely fashioned on the
principle of an India ink saucer. He
filled the hollow of the saucer with water
and then rubbed the "hatchet'' in itas he
would have done a cake Of water color
paint. In few minutes he had tea
spoonful of brilliant vcrmillion paint.
Applying some of it to the back OF his
hand in Stripes it proved to be brilliant
vermillion flesh dye, bright enough to
send the most dudical Indian beau into
raptures.
"This," said Mr.. Hope. noting my
look of amazement, "is an Indian paint
stone. 1t was found in this county, and
is remarkably fine specimen. The In
dians were accustomed to tie the paint
stones to their belts by means of thongs,
and always carried them to battle. The
mode of manu- 'acturing them was quite
remarkable. The Indians hunted up
springs which contain oxide OF iron.
The iron in such springs always floats on
the ton in the form of scum. This
they would patiently skim off the sur
face with rude spoon and collect it in
a vessel which they used for the purpose.
When they had collected a sufficient
amount of skimmings" to make a
paint stone they added certain other
Substances, and then nodded it into the
hatchet shape which charactcrizes all the
pmnt-stoncs left by the Indians. The
method they employed in doing the
molding is not definitely known. The
springs in the neighborhood Of Paint,
we're remarkable for the amount Of iron
scum they yielded, and this region was
favorite resort for the Indians to make
paint.stoncs. This one gives bright
vcrmilion tint, but There arc others which
give bright yellow or rich purple
tint. With these colors the Indian braves
could get themselves up in superb style.
They would rub the paint-stone in water
in this stone saucer, and then apply
the stripes to their skin directly
with the stone. The color which it
Yields does not rub off, but remains on
the skin long time. The exact receipt
which the Indians employed in making
the paint-stones will never be known,
but the principle Of all the coloring mat
ter is the oxide of iron. This paint
scum can often he seen on the springs
and streams in this vicinity now, but alas |!
the children of the forest, whose eyes it
gladdened, are gone forever.