Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-07-20
Outlines of Large Pre- Historic
Building Uncovered Opposite
Beaver Island" Iowa
ONCE THE HOME OF WHITE MEN
Indisputab'e Evidence in Shape of
Bullets, Rusty Blades of Hunting
Knives, Beads, ETC., Has Been Un.
earthed-very Likely That the Build
ing Was Once Jesuit Monastery.

northeast of Ora Dell. Late high waters
covered all the farms of the "old river
bed section TO depth Of from two to
ten feet. For upwards of two miles
a strong current swept across the ton
que of land enclosed by the old river
channei' denuding the surface of vege-
tation and washing the sandy soil off
to depth of from an inch or two to
more than foot.
on the southeast quarter. of the
southeast quarter of section twenty-
nine, Red Rock township. directly on
posite Beaver Island" and not more
than fifty feet from the waters of the
ola river basin, when at a normal level,
the rude outlines of a pre- historic
building OF large dimensions were laid
pare. Inc foundation, which is par
ually exposed on the north. and east
sldes, or to be more exact at the north
east corner, is composed OF sand stone,
the individual rocks varying in size
just as they do in modern building OPP
erations. The largest stones weigh
probably sixty or eighty pounds. Moth
Ing like systematic exploration of the
ruins has yet been made. 1t is on
Knoll slightly raised above the surface
of the surrounding field, but this may
be accounted for by the walls retaining
the sand and accommodating other de-
posts, while the surrounding field has
been washed away. In this connection
1t might be well to, mention that the
SOIL which covered the ruin prior to
the last month. has been cultivated for
years.
Home OF White Men.
There is indisputable evidence that |
the place was once inhabited by white |
men. Bullets. beads, rusty blades of |
hunting knives, broken glass, buckles |
of both silver and steel and numerous
other articles which would suggest civ
ilization OF the European type, were
found. The bullets. which were of
three sizes were cast in moulds, and |
some still have "necks" attached.
The beads are of various sizes and |
of four different colors, red, blue. white
and black. The two hunting knives |
found on the foundation site, and which |
are In the possession of Mr.. Prickett |
were so badly rusted that nothing like |
manufacturers names. marks or num-
bers could be seen. The broken glass
was evidently utensils, vases, etc. The
steel buckles are of curious type,
chased and highly ornamental, with
forked tongues, and an extra bow
working back of the crossbar. The uses
of this latter auxiliary are not very
clear to person acquainted only with
buckles of modern pattern. The two
silver buckles were perfectly round, |
about the size of silver % cent piece,
with the tongues bent around a flatten-
ed place in the outer rim and extending
entirely across the space enclosed by
the circle.
Many Curious Finds.
Among the numerous other articles"
referred to in the foregoing are nails Of
the handmade kind, of all sizes from
tacks up to spikes, six or seven inches
in length. That these latter articles
are not rusted, or corroded to any con-
siderable extent is accounted for by
the fact that they We're all more or less
burned. Only two or three dozen nails
were found; those which were not
burnt have probably all been destroyed
by rust. Only two buttons were found,
both of which are the property of Mr.
Pickett. One is small affair, scarcely
deep in brass cup, and held in place
oy protecting rim. The other is the
most interesting specimen so faD dis
covered. 1t is of bronze, oval in shape,
with loose link of brass still in the
metal eyes. This button
has about the same area as
he surface of dime The center !.
bears the figure of crown, surmount-
4
I'd by wreath or chain OF minute pro- ,
ections enclosing the following in =
in Latin: "Omni Benedict!a !.
or probably 'BenedictusD Sit" =
Probably jesuit Monastery. !
The finding of this last mentioned n
,utton, has led many to the belief that
he old ruin is all that remains of a
Catholic monastery, established by de-
'out Jesuit missionaries who are sup
posed to have assembled the Des Moines )
liver as far as the Raccoon fork, prior i
o the year 1900. John Kempkers +
History of the Catholic Church in | I
owa," says: The first public In,
Worship held in (what is now) Iowa /
vas the instructions of Marquette to
he Indians from the 25th to the 2Sth of \
,une, 1873" If the Catholics invaded
hat portion of the Indian country over
90 years ago, it is altogether probable
hat stray bands of priests and their 6
blowers penetrated far into the wilds r
n established missions for the saliva r
ion of the Indians. III
The Probable Occupants. y
1t has been suggested that the in
cribed button was Worn on the vesture
f a Benedictine Monk, or some priest Y
f that order. That it was once an n
rticle of utility and ornamentation on a
riestly or monlkish robes, there is but "
tile if any doubt The party of ex- q
lorers searched diligently for other
elics suggestive of monastic out "
ost, but found nothing that would
lrther indicate that the building had g
YER been occupied by persons engaged
1 the laudable undertaking of spread
lg the gospel among the aborigines. y
my kind of crucfix, large or small "
nd made of any material whatever IL
-ould have been hailed with delight, as N
robably establishing the identity of N
ne persons who occupied the site of the
lin before the river deposit and the S
of years made the spot
uitable for corn field.
--------------------- 4.
Denison Musical Festival. Ell
Denison, July 20.-A summer festival 7.
f music has been arranged to take m