Eskippakithiki, The Last Indian Town in Kentucky - The Filson ...

38O The Filson Club History Quarterly [Vol. 6
CONCLUSmN: In 1888, under the supervision of my mother, 1
assisted in s'mking a pit in the center of the mound on the
Howard's Upper Creek scarp, down to the original ground. We
went through several hearths, containing charcoal and shells, and
in the lowermost one was found the burnt-off stub of a post
around which were charcoal and burnt human bones, suggesting,
as we thought, the torture of a prisoner--a form of amusement
much delighted in by aboriginal Americans.
In 1929 I made a careful map of this mound and the circle beside
it, drawing contours of elevation of one foot on the circle.
The rapidity with which the circle is disappearing by plowing
will cause it to vanish in the near future. My map will aid in restoring
it, should the state of Kentucky gain enough pride to make
a park of that place from which it receives its name.
There is another mound near by, on the farm of the Hen.
John W. Swope. There was one on the hill above the mill dam of
the old Clay distillery, which has now probably disappeared, for
it was barely observable about twenty years ago. These are all
that now remain of the first "Kentucky," the one-time capital
and metropolis of the land where Kentucky history was made be-
fore Boone was heard of.
If you wish to take an interesting trip, go to Esldppakithiki
and view its vanishing mounds and circle; go to the Oil Springs
and see picturesque Lulbegrud, where, if you can cast a dainty
fly, you may catch a small-mouthed bass, the gamest of our fish;
then climb Pilot Knob and look out for miles and miles over Indian
Old Fields and the far-reaching levels of the Bluegrass be-
yond; and stand where Findley and Boone stood when they
viewed their promised land. If you do, you will see the majestic
vision that should have been pictured in the lune of the State
capitol, where Findley's and Boone's first view of Kentucky is
attempted. You will then realize what was missed when ignorance
caused this incident to be depicted as taking place on the
river cliffs near Frankfort--a very tame picture by comparison
with the view from the "eminence" at Indian Old Fields, where
Findley and Boone "saw with pleasure the beautiful level of
Kentucky."