Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1895-12-05
RELIC OF THE ONEIDAS.
A Plain Stone in Utica Cemetery
That Served as an Altar.

On the grassy plot within the gates
of Forest Hill cemetery there stands a
Simple-looking stone. 1t Is plain ana
uninscribed. Hundreds, thousands,
during the course of every year pass it
by almost unnoticed, for there are
more pretentious stones to gaze upon
elegant monuments that mark the
sleeping places of the dead, mausolc-
ums where the humble dust of once
proud mortality reposes. And yet no
stone In that splendid repository of
the dead Is more interesting. TO none
does Il more singular story attach. 1t
marks no grave and yet 1t is the mon
ument of race. Could it speak what
stories it might tell of the dark mys-
teries of the woods, Of the joys, the
SORROWS, the sufferings, the endurance,
the virtues and the vices, the sim
pliCity and the bravery of people
who have passed away from among us
forever 1t was the kaaba of another
civilization The ark of the Hebrews
was not more sacred than was this
simple stone to the children % the
Great Spirit, who once peopled the
wooded slopes and hills of the valley
of the Mohawk. Now on their ancient
hunting grounds new civilization has
set It's stamp; the woods no longer echo
their cries. the waters no more bear
their light canoes; in Wisconsin and
Canada they have taken up their
abodes, far removed from the ashes Of
their ancestors. Yet does this stone
remain to remind us of them and of
their friendship In two trying wars and
to connect us With civilization that
has passed ava. forever.
Far back in the unhistoric dimness
of the past, when the Oneida Indians
settled near Oneida lake, they found
Il stone differing greatly from others
In the neighborhood. They made of
this stone their sacriticial altar, and
around 1t they held their national
chants, their festivities and their coun
ellis of war and peace. When the
Oneidas removed to Stockbridge the
stone was transferred by unseen
hands and deposited in the center OF
u large buttcrnut grove in their new
settlement, and here it remained until
the Oneidas became dispersed and
ceased to be n great peoplei. Such is
the Indian tradition dealing with the
sacred stone.
La 1,. ht+
the trustees of the Forest Hill Gene
terry association and was placed in its
present position. On the dedication of
the cemetery the remnant of the Onei-
das, living near Oneida lake, with
some Onondagas, were present and for
the last time sang their national songs
around the sacred relic of their race,
leaving its future care to their pale
faced brethren
And now their Is movement on the
part Of some to displace this Indian
stone so romantic, so pathetic in its
history, and make ii the corner stone
of the Oneida Historical society's build
ing 1t seems Vandal act. The stone
is really n monument, not of an indi-
vtdual, but of a race and the place
where 1t rests seems the most fitting
abode. Alone In its setting of green
grass and trees and flowers, it has
stood for almost half a century, mem
orial to those who are gone, pledge
Of faith between the red man and his
pale brother, link that brings us near
TO the days of our pioneer ancestors
Remove it, place It in a pile Of brick
and mortar. with the roar of traffic
around 1t and the eyes Of an alien race
gazing on it, and its significance is
gone. Leave 1t where it is, whore the
last chant was held around it by thos,
whose ancestors venerated it anC
where for all time in its pathetic lone
liness 1t will mutely speak Of the de
parted glorics and the tragic story o
a race Utica Saturday Globe.