The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-07-23

Inc uuuluB "a Lulb idSI luc1tACucAl
button has led many to the belief that
the old ruin is all that remains Of
Catholic monastery, established by de-
vout Jesuit missionaries who are sup
posed to have assembled the Des
Moines river as far as the Racoon fork
prior to the year 1900. John KEN
per's History of the Catholic church
in Iowa." says: The first public
worship held In (what is now) Iowa,
was the instructions of Marquette to-
the Indians, from the 25th to about
the Goth of June 1873" If the Catho-
lies invaded that portion of the Indian
country over 200 years ago, it is alto
gether probable that stray bands of
priests and their followers penetrated
far into the wilds and established mis-
sions for the salvation of the Indians.
1t has been suggested that the in
scribed button was once worn on the
vesture of Benedictine monk; or
some priest of that order. That it
was once an article of utility and orn-
amentation on priestly or monkish
robes there is but little IL any doubt.
The party of explorers searched dill
gently for other relics suggestive Of
monkish outpost, but found nothing
that would further indicate that the
building had ever been occupied by
persons engaged in the laudable un-
dertaking of spreading the gospel a.
| mong the aborigines. Any kind Of a
crucifix, large or small, and made OF
any material whatever, would have
been hailed with delight as probably
| establishing the identity of the per-
sons who occupied the site OF the ruin
before the river deposit and the accu-
mutations Of years made the spot suit
able for a corn-field.
Teeth of animals, probably elk or
deer, were found scattered about the
| foundation wall far below-where
they had been washed by the water On
| the river. Beads were also found at
a distance OF a hundred yards from
the site of the ruin. Besides the pint
or more of bullets picked UP in and a.
bout the place, several ounces dross,
such as would result from melting
lead in a ladle or other receptacle
was found. These punches OF impur.
I tiles suggests the idea that crude min
eral was used by the makers Of the
bullets. Two iron implements of
queer pattern, and such as could have
i been used in war or for domestic pur.
poses, were also found. One is about
16 inches in length. the other slightly
shorter The first mentioned belongs
to VIM. Scott and was not available
for inspection. 1t was described as
being a pointed iron instrument with
socket at the larger end, something
similar to that into which the modern
; hoe and rake handles are inserted
Such an instrument would have been
formidable weapon to use in battle,
or could have been pat to good use as
a spear to he USED in dispatching q
wounded buffalo or other game. The
second and smaller weapon belongs to
Mr.. Ayres and was brought to town
by the explorers It's probable use is
an enigma 1t is blunt pointed i'm
plement with two projections on its
sides, but not opposite each other.
The projections each have some OF
/ the characteristics of a barb, except
that the shoulder is square and joins
the main stem on the implement with
out the least semblance of a gap or
point. The first projection is about A
inches from the sharpened end OF the
instrument; the other 3 or inches
farther up the shaft. The opposite
end has the appearance of having
teen driven through wooden handle,
similar to those on the hand corn-cut-
tiers of to-day. The iron has been
hacked or "roughed," so as to prevent
the instrument from slipping out or
the handle. The handle-end is also
battered and turned down for the pur-
pose last mentioned.
The great question in connection
with the matter is: Who built the
foundation and erected the building
which once occupied the site? That
the building was of logs there is little
doubt, and that it was detroyed by
fire there appears to be no question.
| Chunks OF the uduUluS "hASA OhSS
filed the interstices between the logs,
were found in quantity. The mud
had been made Of loan filled with
grass or straw. The fire which con-
sumed the building burned the "daub-
ing" to salmon red and left net
work of holes in the place OF the straw
or grass. Persons who have not re-
Gently brushed up" on history, attrib-
ute the building to De Sofa and his
men. Others take it to be an early
day trading post. Our theory is that
it is the remains of a Catholic mission
or monastery. Albert Reynolds, OF
Ora Dell, gentleman who has spent
So years in that vicinity, knows moth
ing of the ruin except what he has
! heard since the flood subsidized He
says that the INDIANS who occupied
that section in an early day had no
tradition of the previous existence OF
1 such a building.
] One Of the most convincing eViden'
ces of the great antiquity of the ruin