The Saint Paul globe., 1904-05-29
CLAIMS INDIANS
BUILT MOUNDS
Warren Upham Says Artificial
Hills of State Are Work
of Red Men.

Warren Upham, secretary of the
Minnesota State Historical society, in
an address at Indian Mounds park yes
terday before the Minnesota Congre-
gational club, expressed the belief that
the 10000 mounds scattered through
out Minnesota are not the work of the
so-called prehistoric mound builders,
but are the handiwork of Sioux In
dions who created the mounds as re-
ceptacles for the bones of their dead.
He cited as authority for his belief J..
v. Brewer, of ST. Paul. and N H.
Winchell, of Minneapolis, men who
have spent years in the fascinating
task of delving into the history of the
long forgotten past.
Mr.. Upham's address was the fea-
ture of the twenty-sixth annual meet
ing and outing of the Congregational
club. 1t was in a part a formal ad-
dress, but Mr.. Upham included in his
talk interesting data relating to the
mounds, in Indian Mounds park and
also information as to the mounds so
th1ckly dotting certain localities in
Southeastern Minnesota, Wisconsin and
Ohio.
He declared that there are not less
than 10000 of these Indian burial
mounds in the North Star state, while
wisconsin and Ohio are credited with
an equal number of the silent witnesses
OF the existence of past generations.
On the Cannon river, in a distance of
ten miles east from Red Wing, there
are not less than 1000 of the aborig-
mai mounds, and one square mile con-
talns 500 of the mounds. The park
where the outing was held originally
IJr& .
man have reduced the number to
seven.
He said that unquestionably the
mounds were erected by Sioux Indians
or the Indians who preceded them in
the occupancy of Minnesota as burial
places for their dead. There were no
enclosures such as exist in Ohio and
Wisconsin, the Minnesota mounds be-
ing simply heaped up earth in a con-
ical shape, and in these the bones of
head men of the Indian tribes were
buried.
Arrow Heads Found in Mounds.
Investigation had shown that often
the mounds contained bones of human
beings, and the speaker expressed a be-
lief that these were not deposited in
the mounds until the elements had de-
Stroyed the flesh and the bones more
easily dissolved by chemical action.
The investigators had found in some
mounds Indian arrow heads, mussel
shells, ashes and charcoal. Recent ex-
plorations had been made by T. II.
Lewis and Alfred j. Hill, the latter
now deceased. Both these men were
residents of st. Paul while engaged in
the work. The most notable mound in
the country, Mr.. Upham said, was near
St Louis, and worlds fair visitors
would find this an interesting spot
while at st. Louis.
Following luncheon, served in the
park, the club elected Rev. E. W.
Shurtleff, of Minneapolis, president, to
succeed Charles ]. Hunt Rev Walter
A. Snow and George w. Wakefield
were reelected respectively secretary
and treasurer. The minor offices were
also filed.
A visit to the fish hatchery followed,
and here S. F.. Fullerton, executive
agent of the state game and fish COM
mission, gave an Interesting talk in
explanation of the work being accom-
plished for the propagation and preser-
walton of the fish in the state.
A two hours trip up the river on the
steamer Oracle Mower and barge fol-
lowed and the party paid a visit to
Raspberry island and Harriet island,
where they were shown the public
baths on the opening day of the sea-
son.