The evening times., 1896-07-18


at the Smithsonian Institution will be sur
priscd 10 learn that there is III existence 4
collection even more extensive and vaiu-
able. The circumstance which renders the
fact especially interesting is that the per
manent home OF this group OF relics is an
unprctentious river boat that navigates the
Mississippi and its tributaries.
Capt. j. X. Johnson, the master of this
craft and collector and owner OF its cargo
of curiositics. was in Washington a short
While ago. The object of his visit was to
trade some of the-duplicate specimens in
his cabinet for various articles in the
Smithsonian exhibit not found in his own.
The relic hunter is not unlike Uncle Sam,
as the cartoon;sts draw him. Kcntecky
jeans and broad -brimnled felt hat add
picturcsqueness to a personality already
imposing.
lti Improbable that any one would con-
verse with the captain for five minutes
without becoming aware that he was in the
presence OF an extraordinary man. His
eyes are of that restless ever mo wing type.
His ears seem 10 be alert for every sound.
Indeed, each sense appears strained to the
utmost. In Il marked degree has he that i'll
which physiognomists say characterizes
men looking for something and noticeab BILE
in inventors, discoverers and explorers.
Nature appears to have marked this man
for. his work.
For the past twenty years the great aim
in life of this american ScIilieman has been
the unearthlng and preservation of the
monuments of the nationsthat preceded the
Indians as inhabitants of the Western con-
tinent.
In appearance. the captains craft does
not differ essentially from hundreds of other
Mississippi River boats. 1t is of that type
known to the native as the "Jo Boat."
Although measuring seventy-five feet in
length. the flat-bottomed vessel draws but
p inches of water. THIS latter feature en-
ables it 10 ascend the many shallow streams
where larger vessel could not 20. When
necessary, the relic-hunter takes 10 his
canoe and paddles up the small waterways,
or journeys overland, afoot, in quest Of the
mound builders mcmentoes.
The passenger on the river steamer. when
he sees the little craft with the name
"Caddie" astern. would never imagine that
this vessel contained tile stransest and. sci
cntifically. the most valuable cargo on the
Mississippi.
A SUCCESSFUL COLLECTOR.
1t is the thorough knowledge of the Gus
toms of the mound builders that has made
this man the most successful collector Of
their relics. Experience and observation
supplement this knowledge and make The
resting places of the desired objects almost a
matter of exact calculation. His eye,
quickencd by twenty years training can
single out from among the Inequalities on
the earth's surface those artificial up
heavals which form the tombs OF the people
whose relics lie is collecting.
Frequently these mounds have been so
disfigured by the farmers plow and lar-
row that optical detection is impossible.
These may very often be accidentally dis
closed to the agriculturist who stoops to
examine the queer objects than his plow
has upturned. Some raritics have been
obtained by the captain at farm houses
where these specimens have been carried
in from the field and preserved. The ma-
jority OF the relics have, however, been
gained by locating a mound and excavating
In reconnoitering, considerable strategy
has to he employed. The dwelle1s in both
NdileN anu dEt suspicious Hc
owner of every three -Corncred lot is imbued
with the idea that there is a gold niine
somewhere on his property, and that every
stranger is trying TO work il without tile
proprietor's knowledge. The mountalneer
regards every newcomer as a revenue Off
Ger looking for Illicit stills.
When suspicion has been allayei and
consent obtained To examine the suspected
mound the task is not by any means COM
plcted. An inexperienced hand might re-
move a small mountain without discov-
ing any relics. The captain is expert at
the work because OF his long service. An
iron rod is driven deep into the earth,
and when several successive insertions,
within a radius of a few feet, disclose an
impenetrable rocky bed and all around the
iron goes down without enco1ntering any
obstacle, it may be reasonably presumed
that grave has been found.
The next procedure is to dig down di-
recty into the suspected spot. If the sus-
picion be well founded and the rocky COW
ering removed the hard part OF the search
is at an end"
"GToping carefully about the earth,'
says the captain, you will find perhaps
"
adhering soil is removed, appear rs grace
fully formed vases, nicely edged arrows
or well-turned weapons" {.
The search is not always successful, but
when it is the pleasure derived from the
feeling Of success amply repays an en-
thusiast like Capt. johnson. He says that
lie frequently finds graves containing whole
skeletons, just as they have lain for CEN
turies.
Arrow and spear heads, knives and weap-
ons of all sorts are frequently found in
the graves where they have remained in
tact, while the shafts, bows and the bones
Of their owners have crumbled into dust.
THOUSANDS OF SPECIMENS.
The collection is arranged in 100 feet
OF glass casing, that ON either side extends
the entire length Of the boat. The spec
jmcns number thousands, and even after
considering the fact that twenty years have
been spent in gathering the relics, the
achievement is marvellous. Many varieties
| notwithstanding of Instruments arc found, fash
ioned out of flint, which defies the most
improved tools of the turner of the present
day. Ornaments are abundant, bric-a- Drac
in all forms and shapes being present.
Clay pottery is represented by many spcci-
mems in the collection.
The captain is in love with his subject,
and as he pointed out the excellence Of
particular pieces, his enthusiasm was that OF
n schoolboy. A curious clay object which
he had with him-a figure made to repre-
solt a duck-was found in what was evil
IDENTIFY a child's grave. This is toy the
! relic-hunter thinks was once the pla ything
with which the infant in whose grave it
was found was wont to pass away the days