People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1892-06-17
TAKEN FOR THIEVES.
The Misadventures of Two IN
lucky Relic Hunters.

Most boys have fondness for collect
ing something or other-old coins, min
erals, shells, plants, Indian relics and
diverse other articles of more or less
Importance. While these 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 to enthusiastic collectors-will
be found in the unpleasant experience
which befell Andy Sutton and myself a
few years ago.
Eighteen miles up the Susquehanna
river, on the bank of which we lived,
lay Eagle island, so called from pair
of eagles which had long had their nest
in bunch of lofty pine trees on the
upper point.
The island was of considerable extent,
and near the center were half a dozen
Indian graves.
As far back as can remember Andy
and had longed to open one of these,
and resurrect the treasures which we
knew it 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 McMasters,
the owner Of the island.
Though the squire had moved to the
mainland many years since he still
kept sharp watch on his property.
This he could easily do. since his pres
ent home was on the bank of the river
directly opposite the island
Andy and 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
lions 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 neighboring
village graveyard could hardly have
seemed worse in his eyes.
He would have laughed to scorn the
suggestion that digging up these relics
of the dead could 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 daybreall
on 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 by our
lunch baskets, lay spade, pick, and
d small bulIs-eye lantern with nova
bic slide.
A ive-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 tina,
it was only one o'clock when we en-.
tered the river again at Clarll'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 Nc.
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 soo1
forgot the original object of the expedi
ton.
Looking diagonally up and across the
river, we could see Squire McMasters
big white house, and fearing lest hi,
telescope was trained upon us from
some unseen point, We thought it wisC
to disarm suspicion by pulling dowI
che river little way.
We landed about twenty yards from
the upper end of the island and crep
up through the trees, Andy with tn,
lantern and spade, l with a pick. Ever,
little sound caused US to start and trem
'ble-a sure sign of guilty conscience
Emerging from the fringe of trees w
found ourselves in an open field. w
skirted the edge of this until we cam
to the deserted stone house and barn.
The former was in bad repair-no
even fit for a tenant to occupy. W
circled timidly around it and gained tn
orchard
Here were the Indian mounds, seat
tered among the gnarled old apple trees
There was just enough light to revea
their location.
Lets try this big one," whispere
Andy, designating a circular hilloc
that lay within dozen yards Of tn
house. 1T ought to have more in
than the others"
When we had excavated hole abou
three feet square and a foot and a hal
in depth, Andy stopped operations I
light the lantern.
1T won't do to work in the dark an
longer" he said. "We might dig up a
rowheads and things of that sort witt
out seeing them"
The lantern was placed in such a p,
sition as to illuminate only the bottol
of the hole, and we eagerly resume
dippinfr Daener and deenar crravv n