The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-12
indications of Great Battle or Massa-
Gre Near the Sweeny Mounds.
From the ST. Louis Rerllblfc

Gre Near the Sweeny Mounds.
From the StLouis Republic.
CARTHAGE, ILL, Sept. 6.-From latest
est investigation made in the Sweeny
mounds near this city it is difficult to de-
termine whether the field was hundreds of
years ago the scene of a terrible battle OF a
cruel massacre. The first two Investigations
revealed only the skeletons Of adult persons,
as stated. Many Of the skulls found con-
talned ragged holes. indicating that either the
owner met death in warfare from a bludg-
con or battle-ax, or else the apertures
were caused by decay. The former
sneory seems to be the more ao-
ceptable one. Yesterdays Investigations
prove conclusively that, il this was the
scene OF prehistoric battle, those who be-
came victims were not alone warriors. but
sneir women and children, for skeletons Of
ootn have been unearthed Tho bones of
INFANTS were remarkably we'll preserved. In
tne Two mounds opened first the skeletons
were Oh unusual size, three femur bones be-
ing unearthed that measured nineteen
lhcnes In length. Some OF the skulls meas
VI uieo seven and three-fourths inches across
Sie psfletal bone, while many were
touno that measured from fourteen
" sixteen inches in length
~ one mound a number of skele-
- 80 we're discovered In such position as
~ Iea9 TO the belief that the eorpses were
u s IN standing position. a popularity
81 me investigation was the color of the soil
iouno deposited inside the skulls 1t was
yeo DlHck and reSembled heavy blasting
po"uer Upon exposure to air and sunlight
quickly dissolved into the peculiar
S1ayey earth which constitutes the mounds
b Noiess than 500 persons must have been
Sa,, ~, mere In one heap. Outside OF a
~" i SAuns ana one or two skeletons, few of
.ue larger bones were secured intact. from
the fact thai they crumbled away almost
r. al olately upon being exposed TO the air.
Al one mime the find was simply a hideous
Loss Loss VI Dones, that. from lying GU tue
p.alns, mad been denuded of flesh bv wild
ar -tliAnlS OF decay, and then hastily gath
e eu up and thrown into the pit. The
Th Nefihg was evidently an afterthought.
tbo.. sAeletons show conclusively that
Wiz people were a race of giants,
m4th huge jawbones. low forsheads
qua evidently barbarous habits. Tho reerh
i Ja"oones show that they were utilized
fooS aflng and masticating the toughest of
irDDi ~ Is singular fact no pottery or
6adp,I tei.lents OF warfare or domestic use have
~ round TO indicate how these peoule
tles .ir ueu thelr labors or fought their bet
4 fen,'.,1 ms mass of human bones, males.
In 80 Slo infants, and the mounds
Scene " ~ taey lie are still the
vest;,o ot great interest, and further in
furt5Soaa'Ions, 1t is expected, will reveal
peorIe er marvellous evidences of q prehistoric
! figdt;s.. Several scientists have been inves-
il i is ra smaller mounds in this vicinity, and
the sI ow discovered that for miles around
fonnd IONS OF the mound-builders can be
below a. many are buried only q few inches
sss ease" ., inc surface. The skeletons face the
the ',9 Knees being drawn up to the chin.
u" resting on the right arm.