Elephant pipes and inscribed tablets in the Museum of the Academy of natural sciences, Daveport, Iowa / by Charles E. Putnam.

  • Charles Edwin Putnam
Date:
1885
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Elephant pipes and inscribed tablets in the Museum of the Academy of natural sciences, Daveport, Iowa / by Charles E. Putnam. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    65/100 (page 63)
    From Oscar W. Collet, Esq. [The Davenport Academy was indebted to the thoughtful courtesy of Mr. Collet for the first information received of the accusations made by Mr. Ilenshaw ai^ainst the authenticity of its relics and the intej^rity of its members, and it was larjcely due to the emphatic opinions expressed by this eminent scholar as to the damag-inj^ effects of these charafes that induced prompt action on the part of the Academy to repel this unjustifiable attack. As will be seen, Mr. Collet does not approve the methods adopted for this purpose, and considers that, inasmuch its we did not follow his kindly counsel, therefore the publication of his orij^inal letter would only do us injury. As indicating-, however, the unscientific methods adopted by Mr. Ilenshaw, as well as the disas- trous effects of his accusations if allowed to pass uncontradicted, these views of a profound and disinterested investigator possess great scientific value; and hence we cheerfully avail ourselves of an implied assent, and now place these important communications before the scientific public.] St. Louis, Mo., October 8, 1885. Dear Sir: I have been ill for a long while, and am scarcely restored to health as yet. I received a letter from Mr. Putnam, but do not know whether I answered it, or was able to answer it, when it came to hand. What I wrote at first exyiressed my sentiments; they remain the same. But what I reprobated was the attack itself, and its manner. I do not go into the scientific value of the finds. I believed, and still believe, the parties at Davenport were strictly honest — not scoundrels, as represented by the Ethnographical Bureau—and that what they gave to the world were facts. As to whether they have themselves been de- ceived, the importance of the finds. Mound-builders theories, contem- ])orariness of man and the hairy elephant in Iowa, and all such matters, they are entirely beyond the question, for they are ])oints for legitimate criticism, whereas personal honesty is not. What excited my indig- nation was not that supposed errors were pointed out, supposed mis- takes criticised, the scientific value of finds attacked, but that the personal honesty, integrity, and truthfulness of men should have been wantonly assailed, their characters vilified, and, outside the special objects under consideration, their entire work deteriorated and dam- aged with a recklessness unjustifiable and uncalled-for. In this I speak only as an ordinary educated gentleman, and, as such, competent to form an opinion in the premises. Farther than this I do not go, as I do not feel that I [lossess sufficient knowledge to enter into a discus- sion of archaeological questions with those who have made such mat- ters a special study. Therefore, as the answer you have deemed it advisable to publish has gone beyond the occasion, and taken u]) the discussion of debata- ble ([uestions, the use of my name, so far from helping your cause, would damage it. Yours truly. Prof. Pratt, Dave7iport^ Iowa. Oscar W. Collet. St. Louis, Mo., July 6, 1884. Prof. W. H. Pratt, Davenport., Iowa.,— Dear Mr. Pratt: In the 1880-81 Annual Re[)ort of the Bureau of Ethnology of the Smithsonian Institution, in a ])aper by Mr. Henshaw, there is an attack iqion the Davenport Academy of Sciences and Mr. Gass, which not only affects them as scientists, but their personal hon- esty and integrity of character. The (question is not sim[)ly one of