Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-05-12
A VERY RARE MINERAL
Found Near Philadelphia - Fourth
Specimen Diseovered-An Amateur
MlneralosIst Located Invaluable
Indian Ceremonial Stone--LaW.
yers' Green Baq
BY GEORGE NOX MCCAIN

yers Green Sag
BY GEORGE NOX Mccain
CAMUEL G.. GORDON, in charge OF the
- neurological section Of the Academy
of Sciences, has just placed on exhibition
remarkably fine specimen Of one Of the
rarest minerals In the world.
It was described as new only eight years
ago, having been first discovered in Austria.
II Is called epidesmine. 1t thus far has
been found In but four places, one in Europe
and three in this country
II has been identified near Reading, and
at Moores station, y. j., but the finest
specimen, the one the Academy is now OK
hibitlng, was found in Montgomery County,
within thirty five miles of Philadelphia.
FREDERICK HILTELBITEL, an ANA
teur mineraloglst, discovered 1t in the
hills south OF Green Lane.
Not only this rare mineral but four others
were discovered that are unique because Of
the location in which they were found. They
rather upset, believe, some Of the accepted
principles OF mineralogy.
Natrolite is one Of these minerals not so
rare as epidesmine, though finding It where
Mr.. Hiltebitel did makes the discovery un-
usual. &.
Other minerals that we're found where
they were unexpected are stilbite, chabazite
and calcite in the same group Of rocks.
-. The bills near by arc veincd with copper.
Two copper mines have been worked in the
neighborhood; one of them for 1T5 years.
Both have been abandoned recently be.
cause of the refractory character of the ores
and the expense of railroad transportation
to the reduction mills.
The early explorer who filed his ship with
Nova Scotian black rock scanned with yellow
metal and returned home 10 find it was only
fools gold would have found the same
metal here.
Fools gold resembles the real article
near enough to deceive any amateur.
THERE is a romance about these finds
J. that is interesting.
All his life Frederick Hiltelbitel has been
interested In minerals. He had no oppor-
tunity though to crafty his hobby. He had
the book lore Of the rocks at his finger ends,
however.
He recently retired, past sixty years Of
age, from active life as a mechanic In VIII
mington, Del.
Now that he has the leisure and despite
his age he spends good part Of his time In
the hills and among the rocks and quarries
in search of these hidden beauties of nature.
A companion in many Of his exploring
trips has been John II. Tails, the me-
chanicsl head Of an automobile company,
also an amateur mineralogist, who has taken
up the science TO enable him to enlist the in
terest Of the Boy Scouts in nature work.
Mr.. Tails Is member of the Advisory
cry and Chester district.
A MONG the museum treasures also found
4 are a number Of garnets.
The specimens from Perkiomenville are
rare said Mr.. Gordon, from the fact of
being found in that particular formation.
1t is very unusual indeed.
II do not know of their having been dis
covered elsewhere in similar location.
They are Of high scientific interest and
will be described fully in my Forthcoming
work on The Mineralogy Of Pennsylvania.
ONE of the rarest Indian relics in this
~ country is also located within few
miles of the spot where these geological oddi.
ties have been brought TO light.
Spring Mountain is one Of the highest
elevations in the north central part OF the
adjacent county.
The region round about is celebrated for
its wealth Of aboriginal remains in the way
of stonMDaxes, arrow heads, pestles and other
Instruments of war, the chase and the camp.
Jacob A. Bromer, a business partner Of
Mr.. Tails, has rare collection Of these.
He is quite as much interested In Indian re-
mains as Mr.. Tails is in mineralogy.
His most recent addition is an Indian
mortar, eighteen inches in diameter but i'm
perfect broken edge that was Clipped
by the wheels Of wagons passing over it has
marred its outline.
II was a household implement used by the
Indians for grinding corn and is otherwise
In an excellent state Of preservation.
THE large relic located on the southern
l. side OF Spring Mountain Is a huge cerc-
monial stone weighing approximately three
tons. How much OF the rock is still buried
in the soil has never been determined
It consists OF basin followed out 10 a
depth OF eighteen inches with bowl four
feet in diameter.
Rising behind 1t, and part Of the rock,
is scat five feet in height with stone
back.
It is in a perfect state of preservation.
symmetrical and well preserved, and a beau
tful specimen Of Indian work
A popularity of this basin Is that It has
never been known to become dry. although II
is only partly shaded by surrounding trees.
THE purpose of the stone was coniec.
l. tural until some time ago when two In
dians, Chief Black Hawk and Chief Red
Fox. Of the Blackfoot tribe, of Washington
State, visited the locality under the guild.
ance Of Messrs Bromer and Tails.
They instantly recognized 1t az an Indian
ceremonial stone used during certain rites
by ancient medicine men.
From their description the ceremonial
must have been akin to the Dcphlc rites of
the ancient Greeks.
According TO Chief Red Fox the stone was
originally !nclosed in n bower or medicine
initiatory solemnities of one Of the ancient
secret fraternities Of the tribesmen
Heated stones were thrown into the howl
while the medicine man was perched
In the seat above and behind it. Water was
then thrown upon the stones and from out
! this veil of steam and cloud the oracles,
obligations or instructions were delivered
| by him.
Only two others are known TO exist, ac
| cording to Chief Red Fox, in this country.
The boulder or basin protrudes from the
soil in glade of second growth timber, and
| is almost as perfect as it was when used ms
sacred instrument hundreds Of years ago
| by the vanished redskins.
A LEGAL friend has called my attention
"a TO the disappearance of the green bop
| once the badge OF the Philadelphia Iawyer
II also recalled an incident In the Hons.
at Harrisburg years ago. It was during
| hearing when a speaker referred to having
met the late George McGowan Carrying =
green lawyers bag" The attorney repIied