The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-15


thing OF the past, The last cart load OF
dirt was hauled to the dump on Satur-
day in tho presence OF less than a dozen
persons and without ceremony, except
ing few remarks by the workmen,
Persons who have made study OF
mounds say that q greater variety OF
relics have been found in this big mound
than in any other one in the United
States, Nothing like it has ever been
heard Of, said one gentleman.
The jaw bones recently found and
supposed to be those OF horse are the
bones of large elk, The teeth show
very plainly that they are not horses,
there being six grinders on the side.
On these bones are marks that have been
made by some instrument or the teeth
of some animal in eating the flesh, The
marks arc visible in several places.
The law bones OF several meat eating
animals have been foRnd lately, and
few darts. More large stones were
found in the bottom than in any other
part of tho tumulas, and what they rep
resented is like many other things in
the mound, mystery. A large num-
Der OF Hat sand stones were found In one
place near the bottom. "Why, We found
ashes OF burned bones in that mound
by tho bushel," said one OF the work.
men.
There were originally two small
mounds, close together, measuring about
six feet In height. They were south Of
the centre and were doubtiessiy used
for burial purposes. The earth showed
very plainly that there were two small
mounds. The space between them was
filed, and the mounds themselves we're
covered, presumably, at one timo. Mr.,
Q. q. Cochran, who had charge Of the
removaHtdiscovered that there had been
two small mounds. He called the at
tcntion Of several persons to this fact,
aud upon examination they agreed with
him.
Quite number OF relics escaped the
eyes OF the workmen, were hauled away
and deposited with tho dirt on the
dump, where they were picked up by
men and boys. Several boys visited
the dump Immediately after hard rains,
and found not afew relics, among which,
il ia said, there were number OF stones
with paleolithic cngravings, resembling
Egyptian characters. Teeth, jaw bones
and one or two pieces OF pipe were also
found on the dump. A number OF arti-
clos we're found at the mound by boys
who made habit of going there in bad
weather, when the men were not work
ing. after they quit at night and on
Sundays Ono man who found an an
tiQue pipe sold IL for a gallon OF beer.
According to reports, several pipes
were found, meution Of which has not
been made. One was about six inches
long, made out OF some kind OF hard
stone, with the inside bored and the
exterior larger at one end than the
other. The pipe was round and had
been used for smoking, as the coloring
on the inside indicated.
Pieces Of another, pipe were found
which was ono OF the most interesting
OF all the relics. This was round, about
an inch and quarter in diameter, and
made out OF grey stone. The pipe had
been bored out, and the work must
have been slow and tedious. Two parts
the pipe had been fastened together by
threads, made in ends. These threads
were perfect, and how the work was
done by the missing race, who inhabited
this country as far back rs 1000 and
probably 1000 or 5000 years ago, is yet
TO be explained. Mechanics OF the
present day with the most modern
steel implements and machinery could
not do better work. The outside OF the
pipe was smoothly finished.
1t is said that some shells were found,
which are entirely different from any
heFeabouts.
There seems to DO little doubt that
the famous mound, after it had been
built, was used for signaling purposes
by the natives in time OF war and before
tho country was covered with forests.
This point is about the highest in Mar.
tins Ferry, excepting the hills further
west, aud all OF this part Of town, from
point above tho old cemetery TO tho
Belmont brewery, is believed to have
been au Island, and the mound builders
chose tho spot they did because it was
the highest point on the island. A
number Of things make II reasonably
certain that this part OF Martins Ferry
was an island, and tho portion where all
OF thebig NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
arc built and where two or three thou.
sand people live, was at one time under
water and the main channel OF what is
now called the beautiful Ohio, the bed OF
which is now ITO feet below whore the
great mound stood.
Mr.. Cochran, who removed tho
mound, commencing early in April and
finishing the work on Saturday, will
mako snug sum Of money. He paid
only s., five round silver dollars, for tho
sacred spot, and Mr.. D. II. Wood, tho
owner, threw in the fragments OF sev.
eral walnut trees, which Cochran has
converted into fence posts, Mr.. Wood
to receive all tho relics found In tho
mound. Theso posts will pay for the
mound several times. The earth will
DO measured by tho city engineer and
Cochran will be allowed the regular
price for stroot filling. which Is 30 cents
per cubic yard, Tho Garth from tho
mound Will measure something like
1000 cubic yards, and almost that much
more Will DO required to fill North Fifth
street preparatory to paving 1t with
fire brick.
AS an carly hour yesterday morning
an effort was mado to steal tho mound
relics in ], r. piCkons' show window on
Fourth street, according TO tho state.
meat Of several persons. Tho effort
was unsuccessful. About o'clock
frank Co.'s passed tho Presbyterian
church and saw man trying to ralso
the front window In PiCk6nB' store. Ho
stopped and watched the man fot few
seconds, aud seoing that the follow was
NyIhg ~ not I'M. fnan rnn nNnr 10