Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-07-16
enclosing the following inscription in
Latin: "omni Benedictia Tor probably
sBenedictusO Sit"

euCloo1h6 tue lOllOWluS luSCTlpJlOu III
Latin: "Omni Benedictia (or probably
'BenedictusD Sit"
Probably Jesuit Monastery.
The finding of this last mentioned
button has led many to the belief that
the old ruin is all that remains of a
Catholic monastery, established by de-
vout Jesuit missionaries who are sup
posed to have assembled the Des Moines
river as far as the Raccoon fork prior
to the year 1900. John Kempker's
History of the Catholic Church IL
iowa., says: "The first pub
lie worship held in (what is now Iowa
was the instructions of Marquette to
1.-The Indians from the 25 to the 20 of
June, 1873" If the Catholics invaded
that portion of the Indian country over
zoo years ago, it is altogether probable
| that stray bands of priests and their
followers penetrated far into the wilds
and established missions for the sal
walton of the Indians.
| The Probable Occupants.
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 orna-
mentation on priestly or monkish
robes there is but little if any doubt.
The party of explorers searched dill
gently for other relics suggestive of a
monastic outpost, but found nothing
that would further indicate that the
building had ever been occupied by
persons engaged in the laudable I'M
dertaking of spreading the gospel
among the aborigines. Any kind of
crucifix, large or small and made of
any material whatever. would have
been hailed with delight as probably
establishing the identityTof the persons
who occupied the site of the ruin be-
fore the river deposit and the accumu-
Ilations of years made the spot suitable
| for corn-feld. "a
Traces of Animals.
| Teeth of animals, probably elk OF
deer, We're found scattered about the
foundation wall and far below-where
| they had been washed by the water
OF the river. Beads were also found
at distance of hundred yards or
more from the site of the ruin. Be.
sides the pint or more bullets picked
up, in and about the place, several
ounces dross, such as would result from
melting lead in ladle or other recep
tacle was found. These punches of i'm
purities suggest the idea that crude
mineral was used by the makers OF
| the bullets. Two iron implements OF
queer pattern, and such as could have
| been used in war for domestic pur
poses, We're also found. One is about
16 inches in length, the other slightly
shorter. The first belongs to VIM
Scott and was not available for inspec-
ton. 1t was described as being a
pointed iron instrument with sock
ct at the larger end. something similar
to that into which the modern hoe
and rake handles are inserted Such
an instrument would have been for.
midable weapon to use in battle, or
could have been put to good use as
a spear to be used in dispatching a
wounded buffalo Ut other large game
The second and smaller iron weapon
belongs to Mr.. Ayres and was brought
to town by the explorers. Its probab
able use is an enigma. 1t is a blunt
pointed implement with two projec
lions on its, sides. but not opposite tc
each other The projections. each have
| VI lAS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES VI d Udl
4 except that the shoulder is square ani
joins the main stem of the implement
without the least semblance of gar
or joint. t.
The first projection is about four
inches from the sharpened end of the
instrument; the other three or foul
inches farther up the shaft. The OPP
posite end has the appearance of hay
ing been driven through wooden
handle, similar to those on the hand
| corn-cutters of today. The iron has
been hacked OF ''roughed,' SO as tc
| prevent the instrument from slipping
out of the handle. The handle end is
also battered and turned down for the
same purpose.
Who Erected the Building?
The great question in connection
with the matter is: Who built the
foundation and erected the building
which once occupied the site? THAI
the building was of logs there is little
| doubt, and that it was destroyed by
fire there appears to be no question
Chunks of the "daubing" which once
filled the interstices between the logs
were found in quantity. The mud hat
I been made of loan filled with grass o.
/ straw. The fire which consumed the
building burned the "daubing'' to {
salmon red and left network Of holes
in place Of the straw or grass. Person.
who have not recently brushed up
on history. attribute the building tt
DeSota and his meE. Others take i
to be an early day trading post. Ou
theory is that it is the remains of ;
Catholic mission or monastery. Alber
Reynolds of Ora Dell, gentleman whit
has spent IS years in that vicinity
knows nothing of the ruin except wha
he has heard since the flood subsidized
Il He says that the Indians who occupied
that section in an early day had nj
tradition of the previous existence o
such building.
Century and Half Old.
A One of the most convincing evi
dences Of the great antiquity of tn,
ruin is the decaying stump of an oil
elm tree eighteen or twenty inches II
diameter, which stands within tn
ruined walls. The tree was eyidentl.
cut down fifteen or twenty years age
Judging from the condition of tn
stump. From its size, this ancient elm
must have been from so to 100 year