New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-11-19
cAVE DWELLERS IN ARIZONA.
NcIENr RuINs-REMAINsO r AN EXTINCT RACE

ANCIENT RUINS-REMAINSO or AN EXTINCT RACE
MONTRZUMA WELL.
A party from Camp Verde, Arizona, recently
visited place called {" MOntezuna We,' situated on
Beaver Creek. about eight miles distant The well 10
isoSted miense and ~ about rs yards IN width sna
about 100 feet down TO the water which lie surrounded
Of f green or blnish color ana is very strongly inn
preguated with lime. sulphur, soda. IRON ana other
minerals. IL has no visible inlet Dut ts oulet N Ny
suberranean passage point nearest Beaver Creek
into which it empties arge , Sou y s,err y,
Prleta" and the "MoyallOn" ranges OF m0un
tarrs is limestone formation, and full OF
the bus of the Rio Verde and Beaver Creek wherever
these caves exist, they are found to be tine dWeinH
places Of of people which has long since passed
away, aud about which not mythology tells tale:
but it generally supposed that they OF very
ancient ch aacter old and probably older than TINS
AZees Of Mexico. IL certain that the present abOrg-
nal occupants OF the territory OF different al
together. and their fierce and warke character,
Is suppOsed that they the GeSrOyers OF this indus
explore the and ruins by which the place 10
surrounded aud ascertain possible the depth or water
inflated and launched DR. W. IT, smith Ipost surgeon,
aud myself undertook 10 make the soundligf,
which We did in very satisfactory manner. bus
with great OF labor, and at imminent peril, owing
TO thick growth of water plants which oated upon tho
surface and extened some twenty feet IRON shore ane
through which Il was next 10 Impossible 10 swim: BY
great eXerons the difficulties were overcome, and the
sOundngs made which, in the deepest place was II faith
oms Around the well were massive walls Of masonry,
upon which time had made such fearful havoc that was
almost impossible 10 tell anything OF their inner con-
sructon; but IL certain that they intended as
much defense for habttaOn They ike the
feuda castles OF Od-their Notifications and their homes
All around the WE'LL In the high walls, caves. which.
too had once been occupied and from their sheltered
position all remain nearly perfect to-day they wero
when abandoned, probably hundreds Of years ago Tbs
openings are built up with masonry through which are
left small entrances and OophOes for protection. The
walls overhead are backened with the smoke OF their
fires old that t will not rub on The plastered
walls show the prints Of their hands as plainly AZ they
made but YESTERDAY COrD-cObs, pieces OF g0ufdA
metal and seeds found IN the plaster, which IL con
elusive proof that they were ah AGRICULTURAL peOpne
for eimar it Is believed that they were mana.
factoring people good article Of cloth and pieces OF
common Irvine have been found in these caves. and
which preserved In the same manner We discovered
a which no white man had ever seen before ~
evidently the Gibraltar Of this ancient city-he
name of which TO is forever lost Upon entering
seen little rooms, where inches in tine rocks had
been built up with oophOled walls. forming, az it
mpregnable 70 any enemy except starvation. Leading
from there numerous passages which have not yea
Der, at the lower end Of which stream Of water WAS
found, evidently branch OF the outlet 70 tho wall
owing to the poorly impr0ysed torch that we had u wn
not deemed prudent To explore any OF the passages lead
ing from this reop These caves are strange place 70
TO considerable hight And under extreme difficulties;
Sreat I rocks immense timbers aud Other baGng mate
rial where IT is almost impossible for man 70 GO Re-
Of granares and water works ~ which they kepe
their supplies found IN nearly abode VI this
character Now it must not bo supposed that
the entire population were living Ia these caves.
for In every direction that you may IN thls ter
rtory ruins Of cities and towns everywhere 70 be
seen, In every valley Oh every mesa and Oh nearly aia
small eminences remains Of forts which they have
built for protection against some common enemy which
eventually eXterminated them. Stone, metals upon
which they ground their con acorns aud mesqut beaDs
pieces broken oar in which they cooked their food
ami pieces Of pottery painted and glazed, are iOnnd
everywhere IL seems IN every inhaDADle place
teemed with life, and that this county was once as
densey populated any Of the Eastern states of the
Union are to-day. The most perfect OF any OF these
ruins and which Is IN the best state OF 10 IN
cave Beaver Creek. about one mile and haif from
Camp Verue. II is in a perpendicular wall Of rock DO
tw, en- 200 aud feet in hight; the lower entrance 10
over 100 feet above the valley below 1t four stories In
hight and like all OF the others, has its Interior
lines Of defense. The floors deliberately con
structed OF timbers covered with straight sticks
placed closely together and upon this Is placed
the cement for flooring usually six Inches thick 1he up
per floors have been constructed entirely for do
tense crenated wall, breast high Oyerhangs the whOo
structure which be the entire SURROUNDING
country and from its gddy hight stone can be thrown
into the river feet below The excellent state OF pro
seryaton OF the wood and materials used IN these caves
due tO their sheltered position ana the dry hot climate
OF the country We're IL not for this. nothing would nave
been OF these people, as everything pershaSa
which has been used the construction Of these houses
has decayed wherever IL has been exposed TO the
weather Much been said OF these RUNS, aud mahy
specuatiOns been made 10 the bullders Outth
all speculation, rs one knows who they were
Cor. Cleveland Herald