The herald., 1897-11-14
laffed at me, too, but I'll jist snow
youse. Got any money!

laffed at me- too, but I'll jist snow
youse. Got any money!"
We produced some SIT in silver
"Now youse put that under this mere
gum coat and I'll show youse."
We spread the coat upon the floor ana
while he remained at distance placed
the money under one corner. Then we
called to him. He poised a string over
his knee at the end of which was
round ball filled with ingredients of an
unknown character With the pulsa-
ton of the blood in his leg the ball
swung a few inches He moved about the
edge of the coat, never holding the ball
save over his knee Finally he stopped
about foot from the money and said
"Its right under the rod now.
We took up the coat and showed him
he had missed it by foot. Then he said
the amount of money was too small,
that he was in the habit of locating
masses as large as house and that his
powers for divination were only Tor
great objects. The rod would not, he
said. be attracted by so small a mass.
We begged him to try again and ne
Withdrew. We took up all the money
and pocketed it, Then we called him
in and he set about holding his rod
again, singing meanwhile peculiar
droning chant. Presently he stopped
and said:
Its right under here.
We took UP the coat and showed him
that there was no money there. Was he
angry? Well, should say! He ordered
US out of the cabin
And this man, we were told by an in
telligent farmer, actually believed in the
efficacy of that worthless ball ana
spent days and days in roaming over the
hills, locating claims which, in his imag-
nation, were worth millions of dollars.
All this in a region where there are no
geologic formations containing metal
| of any value whatsoever.
After careful study of the chronicles
of the dealings with the Indians. find
nothing to prove the foolish assertion
that metal of any value was buried at
Bucyrus or elsewhere in Ohio. AS l
have said, the medium of trade with the
Indians was goods-not money. Traders
did not care to have large sums OF money
about them in the wilderness. When
thew went east or north for supplies
they gave beaver and other skins to the
large merchants in exchange for more
goods. These, sent abroad, were con-
yerted into money but that money never
reached the west.
Our ealiest authorities regarding In
dian. French, British, Dutch and Span
ish history and travel covering the peril
cd from the time of the discovery down
to the removal of the Indian tribes from
Ohio, speak of exchanges in hides, corn,
beads, hatchets, kettles, blankets, etc.
No intelligent person, therefore, would
suppose that any trader would bring
vast sum of gold to the Ohio wilder
ness. Not only would Indians have no
use for it, but the risk of transporta-
ton would be such that the trader would
hesitate before attempting so foolish
an undertaking and one which would re-
suit in no gain, even if he succeeded.
Until the last forty years the Indians
of America spent what money they Sc
cured as fast as received. Even that
money was silver. An Indian knew
nothing about gold or paper money.
These are the facts regarding the
buried treasure of the Indian mounds OF
Ohio. 1 believe it is the first time that
anyone possessed of the necessary
knowledge to speak with authority has
told them to the public in detail.
WARREN X. MOOREHEAD.
:, Curator Department Of Archaeology
Ohio State University.