A Skeleton and Sword

Some boys were playing on the site of the McNulty homestead in Alton, Ill., which has lately been graded off to conform to a new grade of Beacon street, they found a skeleton and a sword. The skeleton was found first, and it was presumed to be that of an Indian, as it is quite common to unearth such remains in this vicinity. However, when the sword was found a new phase was put on the matter. The latter is of the rapier type, and the blade is a half inch wide and of the very finest steel. The handle was inlaid with a metal which proved to be copper. The copper was inlaid to form letters, which are in Roman. On one side of the sword handle are the letters “L. I. N. B. U. R. G. O., 17,” all in capitals. On the reverse side appear these letters and figures: “1 (or I.), S. S.,” and a little to the right the following: “C. H. V. I. Z., I. N.” No explanation can be made regarding the inscriptions or their meaning. The most reasonable presumption is that the sword belonged to some member of Father Marquette’s party, when they were here several hundred years ago; that this person died and was buried with his sword at the place where both skeleton and sword were found.