West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1892-04-21


reiitted and served as a museum for
the rare things discovered in the
mound, skeletons, implements and
trinkcts. With these 1t served for
a two'fold and . more shameful
purpose-that of a saloon. A sa-
loon was kept in it for several years,
when the Business failing to be a
paying ono to the proprietor, was
discontinued. What became of tho
rare museum we do not know. But
thc persons who now visit that an
clent work, see the entrance partly
filled with dirt and BRICK, the vault
that had served rs, y resting place
for the dead, and for the less merci.
ful white mans saloon, is fast being
filled with the falling brick and the
dirt from the side of the walls.
Along the entire length of the ex-
caration from end to end, on either
side of the wall, are many figures,
names and initials carved by the
hands of the many curiosity seeking
spectators from time to time.
The material composing the
mound is very fine sand soil, taken
from the river bottom. Persons in
formed me it was mixed all through,
wherever disturbed, with ashes, and
therefore they claimed was Il place
for crematiug their dead. Hut from
the well preserved bones being found
therein, there is no reason that | sec
to believe their conjecture, as the
ashes might have been from their
camp fires where the material of the
mound was taken from. AS to the
time elapsed eimte the building of
this mound, it matters but little
whether five hundred or thousand
or two thousand years, but as we
stand upon its summit and think OF
the "chango OF time" we cannot
holp but think, too, of tho different
workings Of the different tribes of
the human race.
Here long since IN the unwrtten
history of the misty past uncon
sciously laborod race to perpet.
nate their memory among the sons
of nielf. I'm ages succeeding, the
Indian possessed the ground and
hunted and warred, and challenged
defiance to any other. These, all
long since, save only their ruins
have passed away. Another race
with changes for progress have pos
sGs5ed the regions round ABOUT. As
we stand on its summit, the cur.
talus unfolding the history of our
surroundings rapidly pass through
our mind. Pm all but one Ye sec
che history of the change of time.
Directly to the west still glidingly
flows ON that great river, 10y the side
Of whose banks we sec three pre-
dominant races that have lived and
loved and labOred and died. 1t
steady flow, its rise, ITS fall, the
kissing of its banks by the gentle
ripple Of its waves, has been caught
up by tho dull Moundbuildcrs, the
eager Indians and the-white mans
cars! All in the canqe have parted
.ts wave, all have bathed in its
waters.
As leighton says of war, CAL
else have changed" The forest
is gone. The hand Of the white
man guides the loaded tram over
her track of steel near by, and pro-
| pel5 the steamer mp and down the
channel Of the Ohio. In the place
of trees and warriors, mansions OF
wood and Stone how confront tho
Wow. Near by criminals day by
day work out their toll, and chill.
dren with Willingness reply to school
bells. A busy town encamps about
the great mound. Restless people
year by year, day by day, with busy
feet and hands echo from street t.
street. Many live and die tbereat,
and never know, nor never wish to
know, Who built the great mound.