The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-11
PROBABLY sUN-woRsHIPERs.
Interesting Relics Being Unearthcd
Near Mich OIasviIIe.

From the Louisville Courier-JournaI.
Nicholasville, Ky.-On the farm of Rob
ert Quinn ia this county, there is an In
dian burying ground which was Just re-
Gently explored and found to contain many
queer and wonderful relics, and the histo-
rians pronounce it of unusual historical
interest-perhaps more so than anything
OF the kind in Kentucky-containing as it
does, numerous skeletons, crude weapons
and trinkets all that is left of the Red
man in Kentucky. To the relic seeker it
is indeed a place of curiosities. To the his
torian 1t constitutes a landmark and tes-
ttmonial of the ways of life and death of
an extinct tribe, stronger by far than ira
dition and scarcely unsurpassed by writ
ten recorded history. Beneath the rocks
and yellow clay lay the decaying bones of
men, who in their way experienced the
bitters and sweets of life in this world
three or four hundred years ago
This Indian burying ground is very diff
ferent from the graVeyards of that pre-
historic race known as the mound-build-
ers, and must not be confused with SUCH
There are many of the erections of the
mound builders in Kentucky which have
been explored and written about and
while there are many places where It is
known that Indians lay buried, the Getty
of the Dead" on Mr.. Quinn's place con-
tains so many skeletons is in such a weird
and picturesque spot and contains so many
plain evidences of the life of Poor Lo'
that it is worthy of especial notice
The burying ground is situated on the
top of cliff along the Kentucky river
a few miles below Valley View. On
one side of the cliff is the Kentucky
river and on the other is TapD's creek
Thus the cliff is entirely surrounded by
waters. Its sides are rugged and broken
with Lodges of limestone rock covered
with moss while from between the
Lodges grow cedar trees and various
forms of shrubbery. 1t is on the level
top of this cliff that the graveyard is
found, and it is impossible to reach it
save on foot. The plateau is about a
halt acre large, and standing on it one
may see for many miles in any direction
he may look. Below on one side is seen
the fog of the picturesque river while
on the other side is the rapid waters
OF turbulent Taps creek. The Indians
must have had some object in bringing
their dead to this out-of-the-way and
weird place. and various reasons are
advanced for it. One reason is that
the tribe of Indians in this section were
sun-worshipers, and that their bodies
would be nearer the celestial orb on this
plateau than they would in any other
place, and that no trees would ever cast
their shadows across the graves The
barren land, so thin, produced scarcely
any vegetation, and was an undesirable
place for animals, and this also might
have been reason for the selection Of
the place. There is no doubt but that
the skeletons of 300 or 400 Indians are ly-
ing in this graveyard. The bones are
considerably decayed and broken, but they
are easily discernible as those of humans
From the way the skeletons are lying it
seems that only a very small excavation
was dug, and that the corpses were laid
in this and the dirt piled upon them,
forming a kind OF mound. great deal
OF the dirt which was used I'm covering
the bodies was washed away and the
bones are now only two and two and A
half feet In the ground. The entire plateau
is covered with large thin rocks, which
were most certainly carried there from
the sides of the cliff. These rocks were
arranged in grotesque figures, and In
spite of the fact that but few people have
ever visited the spot they have become
considerably dsarranged. Every one who
visits the place carries away some bones
or Indian relics. as all that Is necessary
to find them is to raise the large Cat rocks
and dig down few inches in the earth.
The Courler-Journal correspondent vis-
tied this old grave yard a short time
since in company with a party Of relic
seekers. Col. Samuel McAfee Duncan. the
well-known Kentucky historian. was
among the party, and he considered the
Old grave yard as the Qucerest he had
ever seen, and he has visited all Of any
note In this state and In many other
states. A large quantity Of bones, teeth,
weapons and trinkets were dug up by the
members OF the party Mr.. n. H. Webb,
one OF the party, had a thrilling expert
ence In opening a grave. His pick struck
a skull, which was sull clinging together.
and broke into fragments Dr. T. r.
Welch examined the bones which the
party brought 20 town and he said they
we're those Of person OF ordinary build.
which leads to the conclusion they were
not those OF prehistoric race. While.
az above stated the bones were consid.
erahly decayed. Il Is a fact worthy OF no
tce that the teeth we're IN a remarkably
fine state OF preservation In the last two
weeks many people from here have visit
ed the wonderful old grave yard and % is
al present the subject OF many marvellous
storiCs-eNperienccs OF people who have