Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1919-09-04
PILGRIMAGE TO
AZTALAN MOUND
Recent Evidences Show the In
dams Once Living There Prac-
Eced Canabalsm---Dr. Barrett
Speaks

Canabalism was practiced by the
Indians who once inhabited AZtalan,
is the conclusion reached by DR.. S.
A. Barrett. president of the Wiscon-
sent from the Milwaukee museum to
investigate the most noted Indian
earthworks in Wisconsin. The plOw
has wrought sad havoc with them; of
"a mounds but ten remaining. One
of the unusual features was a parall-
eogram, three sides being of earth,
the river forming the fourth.
In exploring the refuse heaps and
burial pits, Dr.. Barrett and his CO.
workers found human bones mixed
with those of the deer and other ami
mails
In some Of the mounds the lower
ends Of decayed poles were found. In
one mound the Indians had sunk a
hole 16 feet deep to receive the pole
and stones had been piled around to
make it more secure. The earth had
been heaped about the pole in order
to make it stand, no doubt. For what
purpose the pole was used has not
been learned, but no doubt it was for
some aboriginal ceremony. The idea
of a mound being built about pole
is a new one to Psychologists.
Arrowheads, beads and other relics
were found during the exploration.
At the meeting held at the Albert
Kracht farm home near the bridge
DR.. Barrett and others gave ad-
dresses, a map Of the mounds as sur
veyed by DR.. |. A. Lapham in 1850,
being shown
Among those present were the fol-
lowing: Miss Jennie Baker of Prair-
lie du Sac with Mrs. Jessie R. Skinner
Of Madison; Mrs. Daisy Flint of Bara-
boo with Mr.. and Mrs. u. Won Valid
of Madison, formerly of Baraboo;
Mr.. and Mrs. w. G. Kirchoffer and
Mrs. Kirchoffer's mother, Mrs. job
anna Kelly, Madison; and members
OF the Davis family, one of them
being daughter of the late DR..
Davis of Baraboo, Lake Mills
Members of both societies for miles
around were present for the exer-
cises. More than five hundred were
in attendance. 1t was the largest
meeting ever held by the societies.
y $: *
One car of visitors contained Mr.
and Mrs. HI. E. Cole, Superintendent
A. c. Kingsford, Baraboo; Miss
Louis Phelps kellogg and o. d.
Brandenburg, Madison Previous to
visiting Aztalan they tarried at
Oconomowoc where the home of Miss
Julia A. Lapham and her brother was
visited. Their father was the found
er of the weather bureau and accom-
plished much to advance the cause of
science in the state.
4 y y
Rev. c. A. Wilson, formerly rector
of Trinity Episcopal church in Bara-
boo, is located at Oconomowoc. His
church has one of the most beautiful
locations in the city. Rev. L. c..
Ferguson of Hinsdale, H., was visit
ing tuc1c DIT llC
Some of the fine places at Ocon-
omowoc were seen and st. Johns
Military academy was visited
* ~
An afternoon was spent with H
L. Skavlem and family on the west
shore of Lake Koshkonong. Near his
cottage White Crow lived, also his
daughter, Mrs. Yellow Thunder, the
Washington woman, buried few
miles north Of Baraboo Mr.. Skavlem
has found many relics on the village
site and the display occupies several
cases in the museum at Madison. He
has written extensively of birds and
Indian life and is an enthusiast about
all wonders Of nature.
Near his cottage stands the Car
cajou club house. It was here that
more than a quarter of century ago
Governor Peck was wont tocome and
tell some of his most entertaining
/, stories, while the fire roared on the
chilly autumn nights, after the ducks
had been killed and cooked at the
, close of day of sport