The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1869-11-03
ARI1ONA-
Montezuma Well Explorations
Among Ancient Ruins-The Gave
OweIlers-Extraordinary Remains
of an Extinct Civilization WHO
and What Were These People ?
Correspondence of Cleveland Herald
CAMP VERDE, ARIZONA Terry, /
September 20, 1869.

| September ~, 1867.
| On Saturday last, the 18th inst, a
small party from this post visited a
| place called "Montezuma Well" sit
uated on Beaver Creek, about eight
miles distant. ...- ... ...--- o.
The we'll is about one hundred
| yards back from the stream upon n
high isolated mesa, and is about one
hundred and twenty-five yards in
width, and about one hundred yards
| dowa to the water, which is surround
ed by perpendicular walls of rock.
The water is very clear, of a light
green or blush color, and is very
strongly impregnlted with lime, sui
phur, soda, iron, and other minerals.
1t has no visible inlet, but its outlet is
by subterranean passage at point
nearest Beaver Greek, into which it
empti 4 large volume of water.
i The whole country between the
Sierra Prieta'' and the "Moyallon''
ranges of mountains is a limestone
formation, and full of caverns, some
of which are quite extensive, as was
shown by the results of the days eX-
plorat;ons ..E T.. ..-....:..- .-...
All along the bluffs of the Rio Yer
de and Beaver Greek, wherever these
caves exist, they are found to have
been the dwelling places of race of
people which has long since passed
away, and about which not even my
thology tells tale; bat it is general
ly supposed that they are of 4 very
ancient character, as old, and proba,
bly, older than the AztecS Of Mexico.
1t is certain that the present abort
yinal occupants OF the territory are OF
Il different race altogether, and from
their fierce and warllke character, it
is supposed that they are the destroy
ers of this industrious agricultural
people, which they seamel to have
been, and who certainly were deserv
ing OF a better fate.
The object of the expedition was to
explore the caves and ruins by which
the place is surrounded, and ascertain
if possible the depth of water in the
well. We took with us rubber bag
which was inflated and launched
DIR. ". FL. Smith (post surgcon) and
myself undertook to make. the sound
ings, which we did in very satisfac
tory manner, but with a great deal of
labor and at imminent peril, owing to
u thick growth of water plants which
hoated upon the surface, and, extend
ed some twenty feet from shore, and
through which it was next to an inn
possibility to swim; by great exertion
no ri q
soundings made, which in the deepest
place was eleven f; f;thoms.
Around the well were massive walls
of masonry, upon which time had
made such fearful havoc, that it was
almost impossible to tell anything OF
their inner construction J. but it is Ger
tain that they were intended as much
for defense as. for habitation. They
were like the feudal castles of old
their Notifications and their homes.
All around the well, in the high
walls, were caves, which, too, had
once been occupied, and from their |
sheltered position, all remain nearly |
as perfect to day as they were when
abandoned, probably hundreds Of years
ago. The openings are built up with |
masonry through which are left small
entrances and loopholes tor protection,
The walls overhead are blackened |
with the smoke of their fires, now so
old that it. will not rub off. The plas
t red walls show the prints Of their
hands as plainly as if they were made
but yesterday. Corn-cobs, pieces of
guards, mcscal and seeds, are found
in the plaster, which is conclusive
proof that they were an agricultural
peoplc--and for similar reason it is
believed that they were manufactur-
ing people, as Il good article of cloth |
and pieces of, common twine have
been found in these caves, and which
were preserved in the same manner
To day we discovered 4 new cave
which no white man had ever seen be-
tore; twas evidently the Gibraltar
of this ancient city-the name of
which to US is forever lost q Upon en-
tering the great front room, in every di-
rection We're seen little rooms where
inches in the rocks had been built up
with loopholed walls, forming as it
were. connterscarp galleries. as binte-|
rior lines of defense, timpregnable to
any enemy except starvation. Lead
ing from here are numerous passages |
which have not been explored. One
PASSAGE led down into GREAT cham