264 DAVENPORT ACAOEMV OF NATURAL SCtKNCES. 



nesses — Rev. A. Blumer, an evangelical clergyman living in Geneseo, Illinois, Rev. 

 J. Gass, a Lutheran clergyman residing in Davenport, Iowa, and a Mr. Hass, for 

 many years owner of the farm on which it was found, and several others. We have 

 never heard a word that would lead us to suspect the integrity of these men from 

 any source whatever (except Eastern archaeologists who know nothing about them). 

 The first elephant pipe was found by a German farmer (Peter Mare, now living 

 somewhere in Kansas), who plowed it up on his farm, in Louisa County, Iowa, some 

 seven or eight years ago. When he moved to Kansas he gave the pipe to his 

 brother-in-law, from whom we obtained it by barter. This man used it habitually for 

 smoking, and valued it highly as a keepsake from his brother. He had no idea of 

 its archaeological value. The history of the finding of these two pipes shows not the 

 slightest evidence of collusion or fraud. They each tend to confirm the genuineness 

 of the other. 



"Of the other 'finds' of Mr. Gass, and of other members of the Academy, the 

 evidence of genuineness is equally strong whenever it is stated they were taken from 

 the mounds by themselves. — as, for example, the three inscribed tablets, the first two 

 of which were found by Messrs. Gass and Willrodt, and the third, a year later, by 

 Messrs. Hume, Gass, and Harrison. When the objects were obtained from third 

 persons the evidences are, of course, not so strong; but the Academy's collection 

 contains very few such objects. 



"In explanation of the many important 'finds' made by Mr. Gass, I would say 

 that he is a very tireless worker, and not easily discouraged. The mounds in this 

 region are very numerous, but not one in ten contains anything of value. This causes 

 most men to become easily discouraged, but not Mr. Gass. After opening, say, twenty 

 or more mounds without result, he will commence the next with as much vigor as 

 the first. His work is always thorough, and if there is anything to be found he 

 always finds it. Having charge of a number of small congregations, and going from 

 place to place to preach, he has many acquaintances throughout the country, whom 

 he keeps on the lookout for any archaeological relics that may turn up. He pays 

 his own expenses, and whatever he gets he gives to the Academy. It is in this way 

 the Academy has obtained a number of objects in its collection, the Academy being 

 entirely without funds that can be devoted to this purpose. 



"In the same manner we have received very large collections of stone and flint 

 implements and pottery from another of our members. Captain W. P. Hall, who 

 spends most of his time traveling up and down the entire length of the Mississippi 

 and some of its branches, paying his own expenses by working his way, and donating 

 all he gets to the Academy. Many other members, and many persons not members, 

 have done and are doing the same thing. It is this unselfish devotion that has ena- 

 bled the Davenport Academy to take and to maintain the position it has, notwith- 

 standing the financial poverty of its members. None of our members known to me 

 have any desire either to deceive or be deceived; hence they would be greatly 

 pleased to have the genuineness of these relics, about which .some skepticism has 

 been expressed, thoroughly examined into by disinterested archaeologists. We 

 believe this can be best done by personal examination of all the relics from each 

 mound, and by visiting the grounds, examining the persons who assisted in the 

 explorations and the neighbors who live in the vicinity of the mounds. All the 

 relics under suspicion have been found within fifty miles of the city of Davenport, 

 and several of the most important '(both tablets) almost within the city limits. We 



