Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-09-30
Efirntift.
2
D!sCOYERlEs IN NEW.NEXlCO.

ASTONlSlIlNG AZTEC RUINS-ALTAR
FIRES AND sKELEToNs-MINER
WEALTH IN THE BURRo COUNTRY
AND THE RIO DOLORES.
SANTA FE, Few-Mexico, Aug, o.
The Colorado Canon, explored last
year by Major Powell, bids fair to be
riValed by other canOns and mountains
not heretofore known. Gov. Army,
the indefutigable special Indian Agent
for this Territory, has lately returned
from point north of the San Juan
country, reporting some of the most
marvellous discoveries that have been
made amid the great Sierra Madre
mountains. He reports that during his
tour to reach the Utah Indians at the
west of the San Juan River, his party
found the Canon de Chelly. Inis was
explored for more than 20 miles. They
report canons whose walls tower per-
pendicularly 10 an attitude of from
/ 900 to 1000 feet, the rock strata being
AS if laid 10y the skilled hands OF ma
sons and entirely symmetrical. Among
these canous were found deserted ruins
of ancient Aztec cities, many of which
bear the evidences of having been
populous, to the extent of many thou
sands of Inhabitants. In one of these
canons, the rocky walls of which rose
not less than 1000 feet from the base,
and whose SUBMITS on either hand,
inclined to each other, forming part OF
an arch, there were found, high up,
hewn out of the rocks, the ruins of
Aztec towns of great extent, now ten
antless, desolate. In each of these
rocky eyries there remained I'M state of
good preservation a house of stone.
about ~ feet square, containing one
bare and gloomy room, and IA single
human skeleton. In the center of tie
room were the evidences that fire at
some time had been used. The only
solution of this enigma thus far ven
tured, is, that these solitary rooms
were the altar places Of the Aztec fires !;
that from some cause the people at n
remote period were constrained 10 aban-
don their homes, but left one faithful
sentinel in each instance to keep alive
the flame that, according to the Indian
traditions of these regions, was to light
the way of MonteZuma again to
his people their hoped for Messiah and
| their Eternal King.
A close examination of many of the
ruins proved that the builder must
have been skilled in the manufacture
and use of edged tools, masonry. and
other mechanical arts. But who these
people We're, whence they came, or
| whiLher they are gone, is, now proba-
| bly,, one of the mysteries TO remain
eternally unsolved. Some of the ruins
are reported TO be stone buildings seven
and eight stories in hight, being reach
ed 10y ladders planted against the walls.
| Round-hOuses, 20 feet in diameter,
| built in the most substantial manner,
of cut-stone, and plastcred inside, were
also found in excellent preservation.
The mineral resources of the interior
| Rocky Mountain system seem as yet
to have become only partly known.
| The outer rim, as il were, of the gold
aud silver-bearing region has only
| been touched. Explorations i'm Il re-
| g.On of whose mineral wealth not the
remotest idea has ever been formed
are at this time going on, and will,
have Lo doubt, within very short
| time, astonish the world. Among the
sections most prominent at this time
are the newly discovered silver mines
in the Burro Mountain, near the Ari-
zona line, and others on tho Rio Del
ores, into both which regions the mi
ners are liocking in unprecedented
numbers. Reports well founded in
form us that returns of assays from
ores taken from the former mines,
marvellous results, and that they are
without doubt among the richest on
| the continent. They are SUPP osed 10y
wcll-informed pursOns To lie the East
mines, of which tradition has handed
down the most marvellous tales, aud
the mines themselves discover UNI
mistakable evidences of having been
successfully worked ages ago.
Upon the Rio Dolores already no
fewer than 300 rich claims have been
taken, their names being as diverse
as the tastes of those taking them
could devise. This mining region is
situated in the Navajo and Utah In
dian country, and consequently cannot
be successfully explored nor the mines
worked with safely and facility until
| these Indians are paciiled.