The Lenape Stone; or, The Indian and the Mammoth — John Shaqi
The Lenape Stone; or, The Indian and the MammothMercer, Henry C.
History
The Lenape Stone; or, The Indian and the Mammoth
Mercer, Henry C.
Delaware Indians; Mammoths; Picture-writing, Indian
The writer questioned Hansell's wife. She remembered his having shown
her the relics before they were sold to Mr. Paxon, but had paid no
attention to "these little stones he picks up," and did not remember
whether "this stone you are talking about" was among them or not. The
writer also questioned Hansell's father and mother. Neither had seen
the stone. The boy, William Hansell, brother of Bernard, said that he
had seen the little piece when Bernard picked it up, but had never seen
the large piece of the stone. The piece he had seen was covered with
dirt and mud, and had "half a hole" in it. Bernard had told him that he
was going to give it to Mr. Paxon.
STATEMENT OF MR. HENRY D. PAXON.
I remember Hansell telling me of his Indian relics at my
father's office. I went to see him on a Sunday, and he showed
me, in the wood-shed, a tobacco-box half full of relics, among
them the large piece of the Lenape Stone. At the time I never
realized what it was. It was covered with dirt, as were all the
relics. There must have been about two hundred arrow-heads,
broken and perfect, besides a broken axe and fragments of a
banner stone, and one or two large spears and so-called "gigs."
The stone struck me as an extraordinary Indian relic. Buying
the relics, I brought them home that Sunday afternoon, and at
once showed them to my father. He saw the elephant. Whether I
had noticed it before I cannot remember. Mr. John S. Ash saw
this first piece--the large piece--before Capt. Bailey saw it. I
showed it to any and everybody that came to my father's office,
but can only be sure now of Mr. Ash. Capt. Bailey saw it and
borrowed it while preparing his article. I had it at the Bucks
County Bi-Centennial Exhibition, August 31, September 1 and 2,
1882. I did not particularly value the stone until I read Capt.
Bailey's article. I cleaned out the soil which clung to the
stone with a toothbrush, and may also have used a stick--but I
think not a nail.
[Signed] HENRY D. PAXON.
Sworn to before
ELIAS EASTBURN, J. P., Nov. 8, 1884.
STATEMENT OF MR. ALBERT PAXON.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account