Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-09-22
SEEK OTHER INDIAN
DATA CONNECTING
NATIVE DELAWAREANS
Report Over Finding Skeletons
at Rehoboth Stirs Histori-
cal Society.
VICTIMS SLAIN IN BATTLE

VICTIMS SLAIN IN BATTLE
Believing that there are other valu-
able Indian relics and data in this
state Of the same character. but per-
haps even more important than those
discovered this summer by Joseph
Wigglesworth a mile and half from
Rehoboth on the Atlantic ocean front,
members of the Delaware Historical
Society announced today. that the
Society would gladly undertake to in
Nestigate any other possible finds
that may be reported to them. If any
one discovers traces of Indian imple-
n-ents or articles that would indicate
the native Americans had once in
habited any section of the state, they
are requested to at once communicate
with the members of the Society.
Mr.. Whsglesworth's report which
has just been made public, is an un-
usually interesting review of his
findings for those who love Indian
lore and history. He made the
archaeological survey at the request
Of Josiah Marvel, a member of the
Historical Society, who with other
members is keenly interested in the
collection OF all data relative to the
earliest residents of Delaware.
In his report, Mr.. Wigglesworth
after describing the typography of
the land where fifteen skeletons, one
that of a child were afterwards un-
earthed writes:
owing TO the heavy rains and a
number of severe storms the face of
one OF the cliffs was considerably
croded during the past summer, ex-
posing to view the skeletal remains
% an adult human. The discovery
of these bones was made by the Rev.
G c. Morhart. a Lutheran clergy
man. Of Cleveland, Ohio. man
greatly interested in archaeological
and historical matters.
THE land upon which the skele-
ton was found is one and half
miles south of Rehoboth Beach and
was purchased by the late Chief JUS
tice Comegys and Manlove Hayes,
about the year 1865.
after the death of Chief Justice
Comegys, his interest was purchased
by Mr.. Hayes. who afterwards con-
veyed the property to a Mr.. Patter-
son of Philadelphia. This latter
owner sold the land to the Catholic
Order of Paulists, who, after using
the premises for a number of years
as a religious retreat. disposed OF
the same to the Y. NJ. c. A. of Bal
timore. the present owners.
For the purpose of making an
archaeological investigation Of the
anterment, L journeyed on Satur-
day afternoon, August q, to the scene
Of discovery. On the following Mon
Gay morning began the labor of the
survey.
The brow of the cliff at this point
b. eight feet three inches above the
leach and for considerable dis
tance it's direction was exactly north
and south. The surface is covered
with a thin, meagre, soil, barely sus-
tanning a scanty vegetation. Be
reath this thin top coating was seven
tc nine inches of sand, resting upon a
subsoil Of dark yellow clay. The sur
face soil and sand was thiclSly i'm
rregnated with coal ashes, cinders
and pieces of anthracite coal; the
rsove or range debris of a cottage that
formerly occupied this spot.
Commencing at point ten feet
back from the edge Of the cliff. ex-
the face Of the bank. This trench was
sxcavated for a distance OF twelve feet
made wide enough for working pur-
poses and was three feet four inches
in depth and on a level with the bot
tom Of the grave exposed in the side
OF the bank.
For a short distance I opened mar
row trenches to the northwest and
southwest. but without results. / ther
began the demolition Of the wall be-
tween the trench and face of the bluff
After removing the top soil and sand
with shovel and spade the entire re-
rnainder Of the work was completed
with a small hand trowel.
Skeletons Close to Surface.
at a depth of three feet fouI
i inches and a point six feet four inches
due west from the face of the cliff, the
first skull was brought TO light. Il
lay on its left side and was buried
with the head pointed TO the south
] then worked carefully toward tbs
south until the entire length of tbs
skeleton was exposed to view. The
u homes were in far advanced stage o.
decay and only the larger bones ooult
be removed Eight inches above, ant
one foot south of the skull of thii
skeleton. the Uranium of child, 1.
or IA years old, was found; traces o
the bones could be plainly discerne,
IN the clay but most of them immediat
~ turned to dust upon exposure TO tn
air. Portions of the skull. leg bone
and two ribs were taken out.
AT the same level and one foo
three inches TO the east the remains o
the second adult was found. 1t ais
lay with head TO the south. In tn
work of uncovering this skeleton tn
lower leg bones Of six adults wer
found lying across the rib bones