The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-11-18
A CITY OF CAVES.
HI0nLY INTERESTING DISCOVERIES IN ARR
zoSA-sIGNS OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATION

zOSA-SIGSS OF ANCIENT CIVILIZATION
A correspondent of the Cleveland Her
aid writes from Arizona, under date of
! September 20, an Interesting account of
the recent cave discoveries in that Terri
! tory:
On Saturday, September 1S, a small
party from the military post at Camp
Verde visited the Montezuma Well, sitoa
ted on Beaver Creek, about eight miles
distant. The well is about one hundred
| yards back from the stream, upon a high
isolated nlesd, and is about one hundred
and twenty five yards in width, and about
one hundred feet down to the water,
| which is surrounded by perpendicular
!! walls of rock. The water is very clear.
of light green or blush color, and is very
strongly impregnated with lime, sulphur,
| soda, iron and other minerals. II has no
] visible inlet, but the outlet is by small
subterranean passage at point nearer
Beaver creek, into which it emptics large
volume of water.
The whole country between the Sierra
Prieta and the M0yalian range of noun
talns is a limestone formation. and full of
caverns, some of which aIe quite exten-
| sive, AS WAS shown by the result of the
days explorations. All along the bluffs
of the Rio Verde and Beaver creek, wher-
ever these caves exist, they are found tc
have been the dwelling places of race of
people which has long since passed away,
and about which not even mythology tells
tale; but it is generally supposed that
IL, N o.,F., II,
ably older than the Aztecs of Mexico.
The object OF the expedition was TO ex-
/ plore the caves and ruins by which the
place is surroundnd, and ascertain, if pos
sble, the depth of the water in the well.
We took with us a rubber bag, which was
inflated and launched. DR.. w. II. Smith,
Post Surgeon, and myself, undertook to
make the soundings, which we did in a
very satisfactory manner, bat with great
deal of labor and at imminent peril, owing
to u thick growth of water plants which
fioated upon the surface, and extended
some twenty feet from shore, thro' which
it was Eext to an impossibiliIy to swim
By great exertions the difficulties were
overcome and the sounding made, which
in the deepest place was eleven fathoms.
All around the well in the high walls
were caves which, too, had once been oc-
cupied, and, from their sheltered position,
all remain nearly as perfect to- day as they
were when abandoned, probably hundreds
of years ago. Tho openings are built up
with masonry, through which are left
small entrances and 10 o1pholes for protec-
tion. The walls overhead are blackened
with the smoke of their fires, now SO old
that it will not rub off The plastercd
wallis fshow the prints OF their hands as
plainly as if they were made but yesterday
Corncobs, pieces of gourds, mescal and
seeds are found in the plaster, which is
conclusive proof that they were an agri-
cultural people-and for similar reason
it is believed they were manufacturing
people, as good article of cloth and pie
ces of twine have been found in these
caves, and which were preserved in the
same manner.
To day we discovered new cave which
no white man had ever seen before. II
was evidently the GIbralter of this ancient
city-the name of which to US is forever
lost Upon entering the great front room
in every direction were seen little rooms,
where inches in the rocks had been built
up with loopholed walls, forming, as ii
were, counter-carp galleries, as interior
lines of defense, impregnahle to any enemy
except starvation Leading from here are
numerous passages which have not vel
been explored. One passage led down in
to great chamber, at the lower end oi
which a stream of water was found, owl
IDENTIFY branch of the outlet TO the well.
Owing 10 the poor improVised torch thai
we had, it was not deemed prudent to ex>
plore any of the passages leading from this
room.
These caves are strange place TO live
in. Some of them are up almost perpen-
dicular walls of rock 10 considerable
height. And under extreme difficulties,
with an incredible amount Of labor, they
have arried great rocks, immense iimbers
and other building material where it is 81,
most impossible for a man to go. Stone,
metals upon which they ground their corn
acorns and mesquit beans, pieces of bro
ken ollas in which they cooked their food
pieces of pottery, painted OF glazed, are
found everywhere. 1t seems as if every
inhabitable place teemed with life, anc
that this country was once as denst lS
populated as any of the Eastern States oil
the Union are to>day.
The most perfect of any of these ruins.
and which is in the best state of preserVa
!, tion, is in cave on Beaver creek, about
one mile and half from Camp Verde -
It is in perpendicular wall of rock, be
tween 200 and 800 feet in height th,
f lower entrance is over 100 feet above the
valley below. 1t is four stories in height
and, like all the others. has lis interio
lines Of defense. The floors are elaborate
ly constructed of small timbers, covere,
. with straight sticks, placed closely togeth