New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-12-08
THE "SENTINEL MOUND"
IT CONTAINED THE TOMB OF A GREAT WAR
RIOR OF PREHISTORIC TIMES.


IS what is known as sentinel Mound. so called from
the fact that II has been used as landmark from
time immemoral by both Indians and white men, ami
during the late War used by both sides as point
of lookout and the Of many sklrnhhes.
Local archaeologlss have long been anxious 10 open
this mound, It's great size has led 10 the belief that
10 contained many valuable additions 10 the specimens
OF the bandwOrk OF prehistoric man. The owner.
however, has been seadast in his refdsals to allow
hls 10 be done. IL is of the largest aruhci ai
mounds in the West and is situated ont in the open
pralre' away from any timber, ard can be seen Tor
miles II is I'm the form of trIncated cone 400 feet
In diameter at the base. and reaches the height OF
40 feet from the surface OF the surrounding country
oh the top Is level space 10 feet in diameter.
for some time negotiations have been going on
oe"eeh local achaeoogsts Of this city and Mr. Clarke
ana the latter gentleman at last consented for the
MOUND 10 be explored. Work begun on the lst
Oh 'hls month and rapidly pushed, the result amply
Ie"aming the explorers for the time and money ex-
pended. The party returned from the mound last
Tuesday and the following taken from their report
OF the result of their labors:
WORK was begun the southern side Of the mound,
ana drift OF tunnel run directly into the hill
ABOUT ten feet above the level of the prairie. 1t
all made ground, and the work much easier than
II otherwise would have been, as there nothing
TO interfere with the digging At depth of fifteen
feet bones were found which upon examination proved
to be those OF some animal and they had evidently
boon thrown in with the dirt when the mound was
iorihed' rs they were not In place. but were scat
tered a. If carelessly thrown together. As the work
men got toward the centre OF the mound they found
many loose stones, which became thicker until. at
depth OF 40 feet. the entire hill composed OF
boliders, mixed only with the dirt had sifted
through The work here progressed very rapidly, and
al Iast the worbmen came upon a large stone slab
which appeared tc be the side of cavity. Great
care was now enjoined upon the worimeu, and after
careful examination It decided to uncover the
entire box or receptacle before endesvoring get at
the inside Of It, The excavation enlarged that
large room was made by snoring up the excavation
around the box, which was 10 feet long by feet
high and feet wide. 1t took two days 10 get the
box uncovered much time necessary to pro-
tect the place from the loose stones which constantly
interfered with the workmen. A finally
dug with the box in the centre. 1t formed Of
slabs of stone SIX inches thick The top either
cemened on the sides the lapse OF ages since the
stones we're laid had caused them adhere closely
that 1t was almost impossible to separate them.
The patience Of the searchers at last rewarded
by having the entire box laid bare, but As it
near nishtfall they concluded to walt until the follow
Ing morning 10 complete the work Of opening the
receptacle guard placed in the to prevent
any vandal from doing damage to the box in an
attempt to steal the contents. The work Of raising
the slab extremely difficult but at last it moved
slightly and then slowly II slid off. and the
box lay OPEN after having been hidden for thousands
Of years.
The receptacle lay exactly east and west, and in
the west end sat the skeleton Of facing the
east The exterior of the box had evidently been
lined with sort OF wicker work, but
the air admitted It crmhed TO fine dust leaving
only trace upon the sides of the box as If some
woven work had been pressed upon it. In the east
end of the box were two large bowls made OF red
clay and burned. These eighteen inches in
diameter in the largest part and with mouth about
seven inches across. These bowls Of solid
color, but near the top and bottom wcro double
lines niersectcd With crossbars OF raised work. while
between these double lines tho body of tho bowls
was a raised figure resembling vine with leaves,
which regularly around the bowl The workman
ship displayed on this was much superior 10 that
seen on the pottery work found in the ruins of New
Mexico and Colorado The bowls we're empty with
the exception OF a little dust in the bottom, which
| bad evidently from the remains of food which
had been placed there at the time OF the burial Of
the man whose skeleton had such noble resting
place Lying midway between the bowls was a stone
ppe which was carved in the representation Of a
bear II was made fOm a peculiar white stone
that was foreign to the locality and in its carving
| great skill was displayed but the art of very
crude order. This pipe was priced very highly a.
II was similar TO those of the Aztecs, and did not
resemble those OF the American Indians of the north
was an instrument the like of which has never before
been found in any mound. 1t stone ball
about four and half inches in diameter, and almost
exactly spherical in shape. Through the centre was
drilled perfectly round hole about inch in
diameter. II evident from the formation that
! the ball had been used with handle Of some kind
and was probably weapon. This ball was lying al
| The feet of the skeleton. and was surrounded by a
pile of arrow and spear heads, showing that the
| owner had been of warile nature, and had taken
his weapons with him when he through with this
world. Among the arrow heads were several double
| headed ones. made from flint, agate and bone, all
showing good workmanship. Among these arrow
heads were several that had undoubtedly been used
as ornaments They were made of beautiful ribbon
agate. and had been given very high polish.
Through the lower end drilled hole as though
! they were used on a string with beads. Lying at
the side OF the skeleton several copper and stone
beads also some small carved pieces OF Porphyry and
number Of shells. These all had holes drilled
! through them. ana mad evidently been part of a
string of ornaments by the Indian. The skeleton
was apparently very we'll preserved when it was
hlst exposed but had been in the air only short
time when it began crImbng and in twenty four
! hours nothing wa, left Of Il but pile OF dust and
some pieces OF me denser portions FROM an exam Al,
| NATION OF the skull, # was seen that the man hal
belonged to race that was higher intelleotusiiy
| than the American Indians Of today Tie frontal
abnormay developed.
Inc receptacle for the skeleton was eAamHed LOT
any marks or carving, but 1t was perfectly pare %
any ornamentatiOn whatever. The stone SLABS were
Limestone, and there beds of this material
anywhere In the nelghborhOOl, they must have been
! brought long distance. This pcsuppO'es mat me
natives OF that day had means OF carriage LOT
ne stones being ten feet long by iOu feo %uJ am
SIX inches thick weigh somewhere In the nelghborho0
OF ton each. on side OF the box was pile
OF ashes and charrcd wood.
The ornaments and the weapons OF warllke man
leads to the belief that the mound builders Who erected
| the Sentinel Mound Of the same race as those
| who planned the extensive works In the Mssisslppl
Valley. and Inhabited the entire area OF the eouhuE
between the eastern and western chains Of mountains
The presence Of shells from The sea. pOrPnyry Hon
Mexico, copper from Lake superior ana rioooh asise
/ tended immense area OF II ha1 commercidl
Intercourse with all sections OF the country, -.
Taken as a whole the mound Is one OF the most
interesting that has ever been opened III inc a
according to those who were engaged III th' Worh
many valuable addition, were maze the knowledge
possessed OF the prehistoric people Who leehi'u