The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1899-10-28

for a few summer months during each Of
the past three years on the coast Of
Maine by well known ethnologists con-
nected with the Smithsonian institution.
Washington.
In the minds Of these experts the dis
covery Of the skeleton in armor Is Of as
much Importance to the chronological
world as other discoveries made within
the past few weeks in the same vicinity,
which not only throw new light on the
habits and customs Of the Indians Of the
eastern coast Of New England, but go
back to a time still more remote n In
dictate that a far earlier and a very diff
ferent people, perhaps the ~progenitors of
the Eskimos Of the present, lived here
The work Of investigating the ethno-
logical researches Of the coast Of Maine
was inaugurated by Major j. W. Powell,
chief of the bureau Of e~thnology Of the
Smithsonian institution, who has given 1t
much Of his personal attention. Il Is now
under the direct supervision OF Frank
Hamilton Gushing, for 20 ears connect
ed with the bureau Of ethnnlogy, whose
study Of Indian life has earned him a
widespread reputation. Discussing his
work in Maine, Mr.. Gushing said;
cat the beginning Of the work several
stations of shell heaps were exploded,
principally on the mainland at Tibbett's
shore and near Babson's landing, at
BROOKLYN, and on Torrey's island, IN
Eggemoggin reach. In all were found
scant evidence Of permanence.
sIn the limited amount of work I have
done this summer l have explored only
two points, in reality portions OF one
camp, on Campbelrs island, farther
around the end Of Deer isle than the 9TH
| err islands explored. But, although some
| 1000 or 5000 relics were found In the
first two summers, nearly an equal num-
| Der has already beer found IN the last
few weeks In this one ancient station
what is entirely new In relation to
this is that it was undoubtedly a per-
manent camp or village, and there Is ey-
| idence that as such it was occupied at
two different and quite widely separated
periods, one prehistoric and Of quite re-
mote time, the other coming down to the
earliest period Of French exploration.
1.-THE evidence that this was at both
times a permanent settlement may be
found In the fact that not only were
there evidences OF several interments,
but there was Q far larger number OF
| ceremonial appliances. The same thing
is shown by the tools, among which were
several ice picks or chisels. Of both stone
and horn, which indicate that the peo-
pie passed the winter here and used the
chiseIs In cutting through the Ice on
Eggemoggin reach and the little tidal
river that inclosed their island home.
zone skeleton was discovered. buried
/ prone. after the fashion Of the whites,
and lingering about the upper part of the
! skeleton were plates of iron or steel,
very much rusted, covering the breast
! and part OF the head In such wise as to
indicate that the person there buried,
whether Frenchman or Indian, was bur
led In armor OF the period. This was
made still more clear By portions Of the
blade and ornamental ball and spike OF Q
halberd, or battleax, and the muzzle and
| a good part Of the barrel OF a bell mouth
blunderbuss.
.aThat these were French remains was
| clearly indicated by the presence Of an
iron hatchet or so called tomahawk,
punched with the Jesuit trading sign OF
d Maltese cross in the earlier fashion
| that IS, with FIVE dots, which distinguish
| Cd it from the later French trading sign
| Of the cross marked Dy- Iour .f.ansulat
| punches
s1The Ratchet, therefore," continued
Mr.. Gushing, mot only aided In Identify
| ing the remains as those Of q French
! man.. but the method OF making the cross
! With dots also Hxed the period as the
earliest Of French exploration. To lind
| further evidence to the same effect il Y
only necessary to examine the remains
-xx~<~ I<a4<Ioo fozsoa IN tho Gnutn