The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-10-02
AN EXTINCT RACE.
Interesting Relies OF the Mound-Builders
Found in Georgia.

Interesting Relics OF the Mound-Builders
Found in Georgia.
The region around Scull Shoals was
a favorite haunt of the red man, as evil
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' 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 fertilization,
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 fresh ct
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 Us 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 a
pasture and covered with Bermuda
grass, and relics are not so easily found
as heretofore. There is a small mound
on Rose creek that is cultivated, and
the pillow here often turns up the
queerest finds, that are destroyed OF
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 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 carpenter.
At famous wash-hole near old Soul
| 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 evil
| IDENTITY the work of some extinct race o.
men, but for what purpose they were
| fashioned no one can surmiSe. We
did not see these steps, but 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 il
the minds of the old people arounC
here, and the site of the cabin occupied
by the unfortunate family is still
pointed out. The Oconee was ther
the boundary line between the white
and Indian country, and on the cas-
bank there resided an industrious
family named Thrasher, related to TIN
people still living in Oconee County by
the name. There was frequent trouble
between the whites and the Indians, a
both races were constantly crossin
the border and committing depreda
tions. Some lawless whites one,
crossed into the Indian country AM
committed several cold blooded murder;
that stirred up the savage blood o
these people. In retaliation band o
them crossed the river at Scull Shoals
and fell upon and murdered and scalpe'
the Thrasher family, five in number
and escaped across the river. After tn
murder the indians stopped at a larg
rock near the roadside, still pointed out
and cleaned and loaded anew thei
guns. The pursuers that followed
found the rags and pieces of waddin!
they had used for this purpose. Al
Indian trail once led across the shoals
for in those days the river could b
here crossed by stepping from rock t.
rock without even wetting the feet
General Clark, when pursuing tn
Indians that eliminated in the battl
of Jacks Creek, crossed with his troop
here.-Ahte1sS (Gd.) Banner.