The morning news., 1897-08-20
THE INDIAN METROPOLIS.
IL Was Called Seccaium and Was
situated in what Is Vow Ohio.

situated in what Is Vow Ohio.
From the Boston Evening Transcript
Prof. Moorehead of the Ohio State Uni
versity and the Hon. E. b. Finley, eX-
adjutant general of Ohio are planning an
exploration trip to the'site of the ancient
Indian village of Seccaium, which has
lately been located by Gen. Finley who is
an authority on aboriginal history. MIR.
Finley has long pondered over the location
of this long-lost village, and felt confident
that il had been located near the head Of
the Olentangy, south of Bucyrus. Recent
ly ne actually stumbled upon tine location
and conveyed the facts to Mr.. Moorehead,
and they will together make thorough
investigation and expect to find some of
the most valuable proofs which will be of
much historical value. Speaking of the
ancient village and its location, Gen. Fin
ley said recently:
I'm addition TO the marble shaft of the
Crawford monument, just south of Bucy-
rus, marking the spot where Col. Craw-
ford's forces fought their last battle with
the Indians, it also marks the spot where
once stood the ancient village of Seccaium,
most celebrated in Indian legend and song
as one OF the famous places of Indian his
tory. For hundreds of years before the
white man set foot on this continent the
Sandusky, Olentangy, and Scioto rivers
formed a great water thOroughfare. over
which Indian commerce was carried ON
between the north and south over this
route Indian war parties from the lake
region swept down upon their enemies
In the south. and over the same route Of
ten-tinles came the wild Catawas. Natchez
and other southern tribes in fierce retalia-
ton.
From the time when the French first
occupied Canada until the opening up and
settlement of the United States this same
route continued to be the thoroughfare
of traffic and travel, not only by the In
dams, but by the French traders. Com
ing anywhere from Canada of the north
or northwest. the canoe of the Indian or
trader entering the mouth Of the San
dusky river was padded up its sluggish
waters until arriving at the bend north
east of Bucyrus, the canoemen transport
ed their boats and goods across this point
to the bend of the Oleutangy COR Whet-
stone, as it is now called), and thence
launching their light craft in the Olen-
tangy, padded down to the Scioto, enter
ing which they Travelled down to the
OnlO anu lHlO lilG AliSSlSSlpplt bAluo bNlil6
enabled to travel by water from the great
lakes of the north to the Gulf of Mexico,
with a land portage across Of only about
four miles
Near the landing place on the Olen-
tangy stood the once great village Of
Seccaium, famous for centuries as the
great mart of Indian commerce. Like
the great Nijninovgorod, it was the com
mon grGSnd where all the tribes of the
north and south met and exchanged their
peltries and wares. Here it was that the
great treaties, ,conclaves, and powwows of
the Indian nations were held. When it
first was built no one knows. 1t was visi-
ted by white men in 1850, and even at that
day Indian tradition could not give its
age.
"A Frenchman who passed over this
water route in 1850 thus writes of it: The
Scioto is almost as wide as the Ohio and
runs through fertile bottoms or plains,
which commerce a few miles above the
River Husknkas and extend almost to
Seccaium. The Olentangy IS navigable
for boats as far as the famous village of
Seccaium. 1t is at this village that the
great portage to the Sandusky river be-
gins, which is but four miles
The village stood here in 1863 and was
visited by Robert Caveler Seur de La
Sale, the famous discoverer of the mouth
Of the Mississippi river and all the vast
territory bordering upon that river La
Sale, in company with Doller, De Casson
companions, passed by water from Mon
treal to the mouth Of the Sandusky river
thence up the Sandusky and over the por-
tage 20 this point, where he visited the fa-
nous village of Seccaium, remaining sew
eral days; thence passing down the Olen-
tangy and SciOto to the Ohio, he planted
at the mouth of the Scioto the copper
mates (affarWarH fpnndl haQFinp 10
age of the King of France, and then for
mally took possession of all the country
in the name OF his king. From the mouth
of the Scioto he Travelled down the Ohio
to the falls of the Ohio, were Louisville
now stands. there planting other copper
plates and likewise taking possession Of
all of the country Travelled over by him in
the name of the King of France
James Smith. who. as a boy, was taken
prisoner by the Indians in Pennsylvania in
IT'S, a short time before Braddock defeat
and who was adopted by the Indians and
lived with them many years and often
Travelled over the water route / have de-
scribed, gives a brief account Of the des-
truction Of Seccaium. He does not speak
Of II being Seccaium, but learn from 9TH
er authorities that the village described
by him as destroyed was the village Of
Seccaium. He tells that the Catawas came
from South Carolina a large war party
OF them, and, landing near the village at
night time. when there was light snow
on the ground had a large party OF their
number walk around the village on buffalo
hoofs and then move 10 the westward
where an amburcade was formed. IN the
morning when The people OF the village
arose they saw the buffalo tracks and at
once the greater part OF the men ana boys
started In pursuit OF what they supposed
was a herd Of bufalocs and In doing 80
int h.s "a yfaf fnrpafa htf bg t1gtI
Catawas, who rose up and slaughtered
them almost 20 a man and burned ana Ut
terly destroyed their village; ana thus was
wiped out forever the great village of Sec
caium. which bad stood for hundreds Of
years the pride au1 the glory Of the Indian
nation"
English a. She u spoke In Havana.
From the Havana Carta del sabado.