The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-09-14
A North American Pyramid.
SAN BERNARDINo VALLEY, Cal, !
limo O2 1Q69 &

/ A North American Pyramid.
/ SAN BERNARD1No VALLEY, Cal,
June %, 1853.
| There has been no little excitement her,
of late among the antiquarians and tht
curious, arising from the discovery of ar
ancient pyramid on the great Colorado
desert, and which fixes the probability be
yond all dispute of the possessions sha
occupancy. at some greatly remote period
OF time, of the American continent by g
race OF people Of whom all existing histo.
ry is silent.
party of men. five in number, had
assembled the Colorado for nearly two hun.
dred miles above the mouth OF the Gila
their object being to discover, il possible,
some larger tributary from the west by
which they might make the passage OF ahe
desert, and enter California, by new
more direct, and easier route, inasmuch
as there are known to exist numerous
small streams upon The eastern slope o
the mountains, that are either lost in the
sands of the desert or unite with the Col.
orado through tributaries heretofore un.
known. They represent the country on
either side OF the Colorado as almost to.
tally barren of every vegetable product
and so level and monotonous that any
oh, ,ect sufficient to arrest the attention pos
ssssed more or less Of curiosity and il /.
terest; and it was this that led to the dis.
covery and examination Of this hitherto
unknown relic Of forgotten age.
An object appeared upon the plain 10
the west, having so much the appearance
of work Of art, from the regularity of its
outline and its isolated position, that the
parry determined upon visiting ii. Pass-
lng.oyer an almost barren sand plain q
d stance Of nearly FIVE miles. they re ached
the base Of one of the most wonderful OF
Jects, considering its location, (it being the
very home Of desolation.) that the mind
can possibly conceive OF; nothing less
than an iamense stone pyramid. compos
ei OF layers or courses OF from els hit sen
inches to nearly three feet in thickness,
and from five to eight feet IN length. Ii
has level top Of more than fifty feet square,
though it is evident that il was once com.
Pleted, but that some great convulsior of
nature has displaced its entire top, as ii
evidently now lies huge and broken mass
upon one OF its sides though nearly oover-
ed with the sands. 49,
This pyramid differs in some respect.
fFom the Egyptian pyramid Its. or was, ,
more slender or pointed; and while those
OF Egypt are composed Of steps or layers,
receding as they rise, The American pyra.
mid was, undoubtedly. more finished
structure. The outer surface of tho blocks
was evidently cut to an angle, that gave
the structure, when new aud complete,
smothe or regular surface from top to
bottom.
From the present level OF the sands that
surround. it,, there are 6fty-two distinct
layers OF stone. that will average q, least
two feet; this gives its present hight one
hundred and four feet, so that before the
top was displaced, ii must have been,
Judging from an angle Of its sides. at least
twenty feet higher than at present How
far It extends beneath the surface Of the
sands, it is impossible todstermine without
great labor
Such is the age of this immense struc.
ture, that the perpendicular joints betwet n
the blocks are worn away 10 the width Of
from five 10 ten inches q. the bottom OF
each joint, and the entire OF the pyramid
SO much worn by the storms, the vicissis
tudss and the corrodings of centuries, as
10 make it easy of ascent, particularly on
one Of its sides. We say one OF its sides,
because singular fact connected with
this remarkable structure is. that il inclines
nearly ten degrees TO one side OF the yer-
tical or perpendicular.
There is not the slightest probability
that 1t was thus erected. but the cause oi
its inclination is not easily accounted for
By whom, AT what age Of the world, and
for what purpose, this pyramid was erect.
ed, will probably forever remain hidden
mystery. The party, in their unsuccess.
full attempt to cross the desert at this point
in their wanderings discovered other eyi.
dences Of nature that would seem to
make il certain that that portion Of the
country upon the Colorado, now the mos
barren, was once the garden and granary
OF the continent. and the abode Of millions
of our race.