Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-05
INDIAN RELICS FROM KlNEo.
A Rare Find by Capt. Chas. e. Nast
While Outing at Moosehead Lake.

That Maine was for many years the happy
hunting grounds of the Abenakis tribe Of In
dians is a well known fact Of history Every
river which poured its waters Into the ocean
along the rock bound coast of our State boosted
At an early period q thriving Indian settle
ment somewhere upon its banks. As an evil
dence Of this many places have been found
which gave unmistakeable signs Of having
once been the abiding places of the red meh.
Stone implements used in the household
arrow, tomahawk and lance heads used in
hunting and fighting and wsmpum used in the
barter which they carried on
have been found in more
or less large amounts. and all point to the
very early occupation Of our State by this
race. Although it is said we have no full
blooded specimens of the Indian race at
present, our forefsthers can well remember
when their presence was only too well mani
fest ald was a menace to civilization.
While the Journal reporter was out on a
round of the city recently, he had the pleas
Z. Nash, the well known publisher, and one
of the most enthusiastic members
Of the Maine Historical Society.
Capt. Nash returned Monday from
n trip to Moosehead Lake where he has been
camping for some four weeks. During this
time he occupied many of his spare moments
in trampir about the lake In the vicinity OF
the camp and in some Of these rambles he
came across places where the Indians OF
years ago bad made their camp. He told
the reporter of this, and adjourning to the
building he exhibited many Of the-curiou'
| relics which his work and explorations hat
brought to light.
On q desk at one side, arranged sttrsc
lively in groups, was collection
Of a. handsome Indian implements IS ons
would wish to see. There were over ont
hundred and twenty-five pieces in all and
each one seemed to have history in itself.
BY the kind invitation Of their owner W
| examined them bit closer.
| The arst pieces shown Us were some per
feet lance heads Clipped from the flint,
'horn stone" which forms the body rock o.
that rough sentinel Of northern Maine. Mt
Kineo. They had been worn by the sctio'
Of the elements from their native cold blu
ish gray color to a shade more nearly white
yet they preserve the form Of the i'm
plement and show distinctly the marks o
the tools which in the hands Of the red maj
| had brought them into shape. Several o
them were perfect while others were broke
in all shapes, insDimate evidences Of 6erc
struggles and bloody contests. Next .
shaped rocks said by Capt. Nash to hav
been used In shaping these implements o
peace and var To the unpracticed ey
they we're but so many shape'e. masse
Of quartz, but to those learned in ansiquaria
matters they we're each possessed Of an in
trinsic value and formed connecting link 1
the strange life. history Of these ancient inhsb
itanss Of the forests. Leaning against pill
Of books -as . peculiarly shaped slab o
stone with beveIled edge asd hole in tn
centre which hsd evidently been worn b
constant rubbing. This instrument VI
found In the bed Of the Kennebec river sbos
one half mile from the outlet Of the laks
IL sse 10 nos readily apparent bst IL IL NJ
iapsobsbie shat Il either served he psspos
Of hoe o. else vs. used y brsastplat,
[Csatinssd = fosssh pags.]