Democratic Sentinel, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1892 — A 'Prehistoric Canoe. [ARTICLE]

A 'Prehistoric Canoe.

“A prehistorlo canoe was unearthed not long ago in digging a canal through Barton, near Manchester, England, and it appears to be an extremely interesting relic,” said a ''traveler at the Laclede. “It was brought to light by the steam shovel and imbedded in the sand about twenty-five feet below the surface. With some difficulty the canoe was removed to a shed in the vicinity of the engineer’s office and examined. It was found to consist of a portion of an oak tree, roughly hewn and fashioned. In length, this relic of a long past age is thirteen feet eight inches from end to end, with a width of two feet six inohes. Notwithstanding the lapse of centuries the marks of the ax are distinctly visible in the Interior of the canoe, the width of the blade of the instrument used —whether of flint or iron—being apparently about three inches. Unfortunately the vessel sustained some damage in the ruthless grasp of the ‘navy,’ the bottom having been cut through at the bow end while a portion of one side was broken in. But for this mishap the canoe would probably have been recovered practically intact. I saw the boat just after it was taken out. The bow is shaped so as to have a projecting block, through which a hole is driven, evidently for the purpose of fastening it by means of a rope. A gunwale runs clear around the canoe, which is shaped just like a modern Indian canoe, and fastened by means of pegs of wood. Not a particle of iron was used in its construction, and it was practically impossible to fix the exact period of the canoe.”