River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1892-06-09
TAKEN FOR THIEVES.
The Misadventures of Two IN
lucky Relic Hunters.

The Misadventures of Two IN
lucky Relic Hunters.
Most boys have a fOndness for collect
ing something or other-Old coins, min
erals, shells, plants. Indian relics and
diverse other articles 9f more or less
importance. While thee pursuits are
for the most part commendable and
show a cultivated taste. even the best
of them may be diverted into a wrong
ful channel.
A good example of this fact-and a
warning 10 enthusiastic collectors-will
be found in the unpleasant experience
which befell Andy sutton and myself
few years ago.
Eighteen miles up the Susquehanna
river, on the bank of which we lived.
Law Eagle island, so called from pair
of eagles which had long had their nest
in bunch 4 lofty pine trees on the
upper point
The island = as of considerable extent.
and near the center were half a dozen
Indian graves
As far back rs 7 can remember Andy
and bad lOnged TO open one of these.
and resUrrect the treasures which we
knew IL must contain
For a long time we regarded this as
hopeless ambition. Close To the Indian
mounds stood an old stone house for
merly occupied by Squire McMaster.
the owner of tie island
Though the squire had moved to the
mainland many years since he still
al D. -
This he could easily do. since his pres
ent home was on the bank of the river
directly opposite the island.
Andy and l were not the only ones
who had designs on the Indian graves
Several attempts were made to open
them by unknown parties, and this re-
suited in a closer watch than ever being
kept on the island.
Squire McMasters was a genial. kind
hearted man. but he had very rigid no.
tons of propriety. and would have re-
garded the opening of one of the In
dian graves as an act of sacrilege.
The dissertation of the neighboriDg
village graveyard could hardly have
seemed worse in his eyes
He would have laughed to scOrn the
suggestion that digging mp these relics
OF the dead cOuEl in any way benefit
the living.
So for year after year he kept con-
slant vigil over the island. and the
mounds of the redmen remained undis-
turbed.
Frequent broOding over the matter
only served to strengthen the hope that
ANDY and / had so long cherished. The
temptation waxed stronger and finally
banished our scruples. We decided to
visit Eagle island and open one of the
mounds
In view of Squire McMaster's watch
fulness we took extra precautions to
Outwit him.
We started from home at daybreak
on a bright. clear June morning, bound
ostensibly on fishing expedition. Our
rods, landing net and bait pail were
openly exposed in the boat, but under
the stern seat, partially covered 10y our
lunch baskets, lay spade, pick, and
a small bull's-eye lantern with nova
bic slide.
A five-mile pull up the river brought
us to Rockville. Here we carried our
boat into the canal. and made such
speed through the sluggish water that
II was only one o'clock when we en-
tered the river again at ClaTsx's ferry
dam
Eagle island was three miles distant.
and an hour later we sighted it. We did
not venture near. but crossed TO the
left-hand shore of the river-Squire Me
Masters lived on the opposite side-and
began To fish very unconcernedly in the
deep holes at the foot of the mountain.
The water was in prime condition,
and the bass bit so freely that we soon
forgot the original object of the exPedi-
tion.
The hours flew by rapidly, and we
We're quite surprised when the sun
slipped ont OF sight
Looking diagonally up and across the
river, we could see Squire McMassers'
big white house, a nd fearing lest his
telescope was trained upon us from
some unseen point, we thought it wise
20 disarm suspicion by pulling down
the river little way.
When the twiligfs deepened to pur-
pie mist we headed the boat around
and rowed slowly up stream until we
We're abreast of the island. For fully
an hour we rested in a sheltered little
cove, and then pulled eagerly toward
the tall bunch of pines which We're
stamped family against the horizon
We landed about twenty yards from
the upper end of the island and crept
up through the trees. Andy with the
lantern and spade, with pick. Every
little sound caused us to start and trem-
ble-a sure sign of : s"lIty conscience.
Emerging from the fringe of trees we
found ourselves in an open field. We
slxirted he edge OF this until we came
70 the des erted stone house and barn.
The former was in bad repair-not
even fit for a tenant TO occupy. We
circled timidly around it and gained the
orchard
Here were the Indian mounds. scat
tered among he gnarled old apple trees.
There was Just enough light 10 reveal
their location.
Lets try this big one" whispered
Andy, designating a circular hillOck
that Law within a dozen yards of the
house. 1T ought 10 have more in 1t
than the others"
This was unanswerable logic. and
after listening a moment TO make sure
that no one was about. we began work
on the big mound tore up the clOds
with the pick and Andy threw them out
of the way with the spade We worked
hard for half an hour. needless of bis
tered hands aud perspiring faces
When we had excavated hole about
three feet square and s foot and half
IN depth, Andy stopped operations to
light the lantern.
1t won't do 20 work in the dark any
longer he said Eve might dig up ar
rowheads and things Of that sort with
out seeing them"
The lantern was placed in suck po-
sitiOa as 70 illuminate only the bottom
OF the hole. and we eagerly resumed
digging. Deeper and deeper grew the
excavation. aud higher aud higher
mounted the heap of earth behind rs.