Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1892-11-21

Skeletons OF an Ancient Race IN
earthed in Indiana.
Many Traditions Brought Out by tho Dis
coVery - Evidences OF an Extinct
Tribe OF Very Largo
Americana.


A rich archaeological find was recent
ly uncarthcd two miles west of Craw-
louisville in n gravel pit along the
high bluffs of Sugar creek. Thus far
twenty-five skeletons of Brobdingnagian
stature have been eXhuncl, and the I'M
burying Of these mammoth bones is
Still going on. This metropolis of long
ago is filed with excited hunters of
curioS and scientific students FROM
Wabash college almost continually. and
as soon as removed from the gravel
their rafting bones arc carried away to
become part of departments of arch
zoology, which arc being csta blishcd all
over the city.
The last skeleton taken from the
burial ground Tasa GiganticOnc. meas
uring seven feet in length. The fcmur
alone would prove that the skeleton
was that of a giant, and tie pelvic
bones are twice as large Is those Of an
ordinary mai. The. g~rinning skull Of
the giant had q perfect set of teeth, not
one cracked or dccaycd, and with an
enamel a. beautiful as polished marble.
The bones were perfect IN every detail.
Notwithstanding the fact th2t thcy must
oSSI liIISltSl AlcIS lOE JlOuVlSS
The entire absence of vegetable matter
in the soil and the perfect drainage
would account for the preservation of
the bony structure. 3d..
OF the whole number of skeletons
thus far found only two Indicate i'm
mature development, the rcmaindCrre rep
rescnting the framework of q race of
mon evidently extinct for centuries.
This is certainly the first discovery OF
skeletons in which the characteristic
development of giants has been OBJ
served. 1t is thought by local scion
fists that these bones belong to a tribe
of aborigines, but this theory cannot be
fully established by the material
structure of the skeleton.
Although no implements or orna-
ments were found buried with the
bones, yet in close proximity many in
~strurncnts of warfare and domestic
utensils were found. They arc mostly
composed of. stonc,' though some are
composed of copper and n few of shell
and bone. The stone implements are
flint spears and arrow heads, and appear
to be wrought with exceeding great
Skill. Pottery is found in great album
dance. For many years specimens of
these pots have been unearthcd in this
region, especially along the banks of
the creek. a.
None of these skeletons was found in
a separate grave, they being for the
most part piled togcthcrin one conglom-
crate mas. Ten were found in one
place in close contact, facing the set
ting sun; and arranged in a sitting
nntf1IIn k1nnu ~f fLn l~-,- P.-l
farther down the bank, and in q soil in
which there was more vegetable matter,
crumblcd to dust ns soon as exposed t o
the atmosphere, and the symmetry Of q
single bone could not be distinguished.
Many traditions have been brought
out since this discovery. One old set
tier has called to mind the fact that fif-
ty years ago 81 tree was uprooted on this
same spot, exposing three skeletons of
gigantic Dimensions, and as they were
beneath the tree, it must have sprung
up long after the bodies were buried.
Gen. Lew Wallace says he remembers
the actions of a stranger, who several
years ago spent many months digging
along the banks of Sugar creek in search
of n gold spoon supposed to havc been
buried long ago when this part of the
country was inhabited by savage tribes,
n the wncr OF the land on which
these remains were found calls to mind
u tradition often related by his grand
father that n Spanish treasure had been
buried here in the long, long ago, when
the country was a wilderness and Chi
cago n barren waste of impenetrable
swamps. ,
The excavations are being continued,
md it is thought that rich developments
arc in prospect, for thereis not n foot of
the soil removed that does not contain
some relic or grinning skull.