The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-01
.BFgMOUS MOUND GOING.
The WALNUT Grove Tumulus at
Martins Ferry Disappearing.
INTERESTING RELICS ARE FOUND
And the Strata of Earth Used in its
Construction Present Novel Prob
Ioms-It is u Fine Specimen OF the
Mound Builders Art, and its Demo-
lItton Attracts Wide Attention.

ipv tho removal OF the bigmound in the
once famous Walnut Grove, at Martins
Ferry.
To-day will end the first weeks work
on this ancient landmark, and three or
four weeks more will be consumed in
the removal. Tho farther into the
mound the workmen dig the more in
teresting the discoveries become, It's
expected that hidden treasures will BIO
found in the centre or at the bottom OF
the tumulus.
Thousands OF persons have visited the
scene during the week and tho sight
eecrs and would DO relic hunters arc
making life burden for Mr. u q Coch'
ran ana his men, who are removing the
mound and using the earth for filling
North Fifth street preparatory to pay
inc. At times the crowds have been so
great that the mon have found It next
to impossible to work,
The height OF the mound from the
base to the summit is 20 feet and y
measures III feet in diameter. Few II
any OF the 1900 mounds in Ohio arc
larger 80.
Many years ago party OF Mt, Pleas
ant students dug Il large trench into
the mound, working for. several days
and until dark every evening a num-
Der Of Bethany students heard OF this,
came one night and Immediately pro-
ceeded to eXcavate where the Mt. Pleas
ant men had lett of. After digging for
several hours the exploration gave val.
liable results. A large human skeleton
was found, also several pots and other
valuable relics. The Mt. Pleasant stu
dents knew nothing Of tho Intrusion
until the noxt morning and left in dis.
gust. A portion Of the articles found
arc at the Smithsonian Institute at
Washington, D, o., which Is anxious TO
get part Of the relies now being found
here.
Nine.tonths OF tho mound is made Of
yellow clay; tho other tenth is OF dark
earth. Tho clay Is entirely different
from any in the immediate neighbor-
hood, 1t Is very sticky and water can DO
squeezed out Of great deal OF this clay.
The mound is covered with gravel and
dark soil, Before tho cyclone there
were several very large trees on 1t, tho
roota OF which arc all through the
mound, showing that the hold was
wonderful. From the top TO the bottom
of the mound there are at least twenty
strata OF earth. Then comes q stratum
OF clay Of from four to eight inches,
then dark soil intervening, None OF
the strata OF soil exceed five inches;
there is moro OF this near the bottom
than the top. This mound, known as
IN altar mound Ia more shapely and
symmetrical than others. Unlike other
mounds the earth is laid up in different
strata, not in horizontal lines, but in
conformity with the surface of the
mound.
Several large sculls and the horns and
part Of the skeleton OF q buffalo and
number Of latchets were found yestcr.
day. 1t is in the black strata that the
major part Of tho bones and relics are
found Many stones are found
that are entirely different from
most stones in the Ohio Valley. Some
oEthese are really beautiful specimens.
On ono stone is delicate paleolithic
engraving. Thepaleolithic implements
found are quite numerous, and arc
among the finest ever seen anywhere.
Those exhibited at Washington City do
not surpass them. There arc different
sizes and kinds, from the large salutri-
an point, shape Of laurel leaf, down to
very small specimens. Most OF these
implements arc beautifully Clipped,
some for spear points Several large
skin sCrapera were found, and number
OF monsterinn points. One granite i'm
plemont was found, which is different
from any ever seen or heard Of. Arrow
heads, pale grey flint, spear heads, q
cup stone, agricultural implements,
granite hammer stone and slnkers and
perforated stones have been discovered,
Pieces OF something resembling charcoal
and mussel shell arc also being found IN
the black strata. No pottery has yet
been found. The articles Of personal
use must have been exposed to an in
tense heat. Only clay or stone could
resist 1t. II 1t were not for this one
might know their habits and customs
and tho advance they had made in arts
They certainly developed civilization
OF vigorous and original growth.
Tho implements found under tho
skulls and bones had been carefully
ibid there, aud in most cases they
pointed in ono direction. The teeth
found, while much worn, arc in q good
state OF preservation. One set was
nearly complete. Over tho two skole.
tons found In one place was thin
stratum Of rcd, looking as II 1t had been
burned and carefully cemented over
the dirt, as II put thero for tho purpose
OF keeping oil the water. Many stones
were found near these.
Tho dead and buried culture Of the
ancient people to whose memory they
themselves erected such curious monu'
ments is specially noteworthy, in that
II differs from all other extinct clvilizu'
tons. These oarthworka were hardly
meant for nero outdoor occupation.
Tho people must have been numerous
and industrious and different from the
Indians and nomadic tribes Of hunters.
Tho soil was doubtless titled by null
titudc.
1t Is estimated that 295,O0O persons
have seen this famous mound since
tho country has boon inhabited by tho
white race.
Walnut Grove, one Of tho most boau.
tttul III the world and noted picnic
and camp meeting ground, was do.
Btroyod by tho cyclone in 1887.
Tho ground on which tho ancient
landmark stands was sold by Ebenezer
Martin, after whom Martins Ferry Is
nnmot just attcr his failure in 1862,
caused by tho failing oil the South
Wheeling glass works, In which no lost
S76,0ON Dr. Oliver Jones, OF Pitts
brrgh, was tho purchaser. Dr. Jones
nnll q - Ianl Au..l -..l u ..a... In