Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-15
EVIDENCE OF EXTINCT RACES
Proof Of the Existence of Prehistoric Mar
in Central Nebraska.
RELICS FOUND IN THE L0uP VALLEY
weapons of Stone, Burned Ware ana
Cooking Utensils Similar to Aru-
cIes Fabricated by tho Anctents
of Europe and Asia.

NORTH LOUP, Neb., Sept 12.-(Corre-
spondence Of The Bee.)-While the data on
which to base conclusions relative to the
condition Of a prehistoric race are always
necessarily somewhat limited and are often
of doubtful Interpretation, a curious but
deep interest attaches to the relics of q
people, who, ages and ages ago, wrought out
their destiny in harmony with their primitive
environment In accordance with the will OF
Him who 'hath made Of one blood all ma
tions of men for to dwell on all the face Of
the earth, and hath determined the times
before appointed, and the bounds Of their
Eabitations."
In the consideration OF the probable status
Of prehistoric and savage tribes in all parts
Of the world, we are met at the outset with
a painful paucity Of materials bearing on the
many questions at issue, nor are our feelings
at all relieved by the reflection that the de-
structive and ever active forces of nature
must inevitably have destroyed much, per-
haps most. of the evidences that otherwise
might have easily led us up to correct
premises and thence onward to correct, COM
prehensive and truthful conclusions.
Through whatever great branch OF the
human family as classified in the nomen-
clature Of modern ethnology our own descent
may have been, when we realize that our
remote ancestors presumably passed from a
condition Of Adamic simplicity through all
conceivable degrees Of the most primitive
civilization before the pen Of the earliest
writer had been taught to record the first
feeble beginnings Of history, there arises in
our minds a feeling Of kinship with those
ancient beings who were born on the very
soil where We are now living; who, however.
widely different their mode of existence,
doubtless braved the cares and met the
struggles Of life much as We brave and meet
them, but whose only message to us, mute
Indeed. but eloquent with meaning, has come
down In the form Of fragments Of stone and
roasted clay.
LoUP VALLEY FLINTs.
Were II not for the persistence OF these
itmperishable remains, which have withstood
the destructive action Of the elements for
untold centuries. We would have no evidence
whatever to point out the fact that q race or
races Of beings, at time long preceding
occupancy by the historic nations OF the
most remote antiquity. occupied large por-
tions OF the surface OF the globe. That these
people were but the widely scattered men,
-bers OF one race would seem evident from a
careful study OF the relics to which ailusion
Is made above. A fragment OF prehistoric
pottery from the valley Of the Meuse in
Belgium or Of the Somme In France, for
instance, would hardly be distinguishable
from a fragment found In the valley Of the
Cedar or the Loup in central Nebraska.
While the form and other details may slightly
vary, the material Is almost identical. The
same general fact Is also true Of the relics
of flint. so-called. "fint" being merely a
general term used to include all classes of
implements In stone. Babylonian civilization
probably precsded that Of all other historic
nations. with the possible exception of
Egypt, yet even on her classic soil. inter
mingled with much that belongs to later
ages. are found these evidences Of perlshed
race; race OF which even that ancient people
knew absolutely nothing.
Rawlinson, In his Seven Great Monarch
fes." gives the cut OF a curved flint knife
from a Babylonian specimen In the British
museum OF which almost the exact counter
part. and possibly equally ancient, from the