The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-05
THE CHEROK EE PILGRIMS,
KENTUCKY a BIT NERVOUS ABoUT
ITS INDIAN VISITORS.

A Suspicion That tho Cherohees Way hs Com.
ing In search or Treasure Instead or To H..
Honor to tho NetnsrJ OF Thelr Great Cb,,s
Traditions About old Indian MOUNDS.
RussELLvILLK, KY, Sept. A.-Slnce 1t wa, AZ.
nounccd that n large party OF Cherokee brave.
were coming here from the Indian Territory In
November on a pilgrimage to the grave OF ,heIy
great chief, wahotanah, a good deal o. apprN
hension has been felt by the citizens. They do
not relish the idea Of such an incurslon. al.
though the Indians are to be under the chnrv.
OF Capt. Raleigh Of the United States Army.
1t Is now recalled that another pilerim,v,
was made here by members OF the same trjb.
about scventy.hvo years ago. A few old ci,i.
gems remember hearing their parents speak OF
the matter. At that time It was supposed than
tho Indians were in search Of a buried treasure.
To this day there exists a tradition that when
the Memphis branch Of the Louisville and Nash.
willie Railroad was built through Logan county
stones were uncovered on the top OF which vera
chisolled rude arrows pointing in a Ger.
tain direction. These arrows were Inter
preted by q wandering Indian to mean that the
Indians had buried a treasure In the neighbor.
hood and left the marks to point out the loca.
ton. There is n story that some years ago an
old man discovered the spot pointed out By
these marks, and digging down into the ground
found an artificial cavern. which no explored
for some distance, whose walls were marked BY
arrows; but II any treasure was found there no
one 10 the wiser.
Tho grave Of wahotanah Is supposed 10 be in
q well.known Indian mound not far from the
junction Of Pedee Creek with Muddy River,
This mound Is twenty-five feet long. fifteen fee,
wide. and eight or ten feet high. 1t lies east
and west, and, being located on n perfectly level
bit OF ground, is plainly the work OF hands. 1t
Il.
eastern end ia a maple tree at least two fee, in
diameter and possibly $50 years old. show.
ing that 1t was planted there or grew
up soon after the burial OF Wahotanah, in l74a.
The mound is full Of relics; indeed. the whole
country round about is a ,storehouse Of arrow.
heads, pipes. spears and other stone instru.
ments.. Judge A; G. Finley, who has. given lho
local history Of this state 2 great deal OF study.
81 know OF a great number OF Indian mounds
in the northern portion Of the county. This
in which year they were driven out and her
lands taken possession Of by the Cherokee. 1t
would seem. Therefore, that If these mound,
subsequent 70 i714. which would agree with tho
tradition that Wahotanah was killed in battle
in 1749. These mounds should not be con.
founded with those Of the prehistoric mound.
builders. some OF which may he seen on Notes
Lick Creek in this county; The Difference is
historic mounds were taken, in my presence some
years, ago, portions OF a skeleton which must
Ou W " ilui AZ cNS lIh ltfl llR0
and large in proportion. The jaw bone, when
extended. beyond the back. Of the he'd
to the knee. when. placed by the leg
Of a man with his, shoes on. reached
six inches above his knee. The Wisconsin
Historical Society exhumed these relics, and
now has them in its possession. l have no
doubt that the Indian mounds kere woulf yield
some very interesting relics II they should 10
opened. Ny opinion is that the return OF the
they believe the tomb contains than TO do honor
to the memory OF Wahotanah."
An inspection of this particular mound shows
that it has been the burial place OF hundreds.
a few inches below the surface suflces TO bring
up portions OF skeletons in large numbers. The
children Of neighboring farms have for years
made collections of these relics The mound
has never been explored by antiquarians or
other Investigators.
The first intimation that the Indians proposed
here a couple of weeks ago. An old negro WAS
returning late one afternoon from hshinE on
Muddy River when he was overtaken by q man,
who questioned him as 70 the location OF The
yards OF the spot. and the scout was trying 10
locate 1t by means of n chart. The old man was
somewhat startled by the questions. but as he
knew the location of the mound he conducted
the stranger thither. He says the scout was cop
per-colored, but talked like an educated man and
was quite communicative The scout said that
their reservation ABOUT Sept. 20, and would ar.
rive here between Nov. ] and 8. The scout was
well dressed and in civilized Rarb. but had no
hesitation in saving that he was an Indian,
cheek bones. What became OF him is not known,
but it is supposed he left as soon as he located
the mound.
Some of the people in Logan county are ner.
vous enough to petition Gov. Bradley 10 have
the Indians restrained from making their visit
but 1t is not likely that this will be done.