New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-11-03
COLORADO ANTIQUITIES.

EVE STONE STRUCTURES MADE WITH TOOLS OF
ROUsEs, wATCH-TOwERB. AND
IKMPLzs-wRoLE VILLAGES IN RUns-THE
VALLEY OF DEATH AND ITS TRADrION-soMS
HINTS OF THE FORMER HlsToRY OF THE PEOPLE
nRoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or rHE rRIBuSEJ
DENVER, Col Ter, Oct. %.-We had heard,
before leaving Denver strange stories told by prospect
ors who claimed TO have seen In the south western
corner OF Colorado wonderful ruins Of great extent and
surprising architecture entirely different from any
thing before observed In the country 1t was Impossible
to ascertain anything DEFINITE with respect IN the exact
character or whereabouts OF tbeSs reported ancient
dwellings, but other duties also led the Photographic
party Of the Survey into that portion, the careful nves
tigation Of whatever facts gave foundation 10 the
rumors was especially enjoined upon them The In
structons were complied with during the frs: half Of
september, 10 what and with what result pro-
pose this letter shall tell
But little preliminary geography is necessary. Just
along the south border OF Colorado the noun
tans sink almost abruptly into plains, which stretch
away 70 the CHA and Colorado Rivers. Rising in north
ern New-Mexico at the end OF the main range OF the
Rocky Mountains which here stops short, and flowing
south and west into Arizona thence north into Utah Is
or 30 miles west Of the Colorado ne then gradually
westward into the Colorado River the Rio San Juan,
the largest river OF this district 1t receives but enc
tributary OF consequence from the south. but from the
north many draining the southern slopes of the
RIO Las Animas, and Its branch the Florida, Rio la
Plata, RIO MancOs, and Montezama Creek, naming them
from east w west.
Leaving the main camp stationed IN Bakers Park at
the head OF the Las AniDas Mr.. jackson and myself
with two muleteers Steve and Bob took the smallest
possible outt, except Of cartridges and started for
rapid OF the valleys or these rivers In
which we hoped TO md what we sought
Our srst and second days marches carried across
high, rugged, volcanic mountains, wild aud picturesque
and full OF grizzlies, ana down into Animas Park which
succession OF grassy valleys, diversified Dy frequent
groves, ana seemingly always warm and lovely. few
adventurous ranchmen have located here and raise
splendid crops. From here TO the La Plata is
days pleasant ride. At the La Plata we found Jolly
camp Of old Cafornians preparing TO work the gold
placers Their leader Capt. John Moss, New
Engander by BIRTH who possessed with rowing spirit,
went West when . mere boy and has ever since re-
NAMED there, II anywhere. But 10 his immense expe-
rience of life and adventure he has added much knowl
edge of science and literature, is Is familiar with the
streets and dra OF NewYork London Paris,
Rio Janelro and San Francisco with Ute and Navajo
teepees labyrinth OF trails the distracted
tumble OF mountains. He fully understood che Ian
guages customs Of all the southern tribes west OF
the mountains and we were very glad to accept Of his
preferred guidance and entertaining company and to
learn that our search would not be fruitless one
THE SANDSTONE HOUSE OF FORMER TIMES.
Proceeding west 10 miles and descending some 2o0
feet we struck the BIO Mauc0s few miles down where
we began to come upon mounds OF earth which mao
accumulated fallen houses and about which were
strewn an abundance Of fragments Of pottery variousy
painted in c0ors often glazed within and Impressed IN
various designs without. Then the perpendicular walls
that hemmed In the valley began 70 contract anu LOT
the ne II miles the tra led rocks which were
any thing but easy to traverse. That night we camped
under some fororn cedars just beneath bluff thou
half ahsD-
luely vertical This the edge OF the tabe-and or
mesa which stretches oyer hundreds Of square miles
and cleft By these great cracks OF caons
which drainage Of the country hnds i way
into the great Colorado In wandering about after sup
DER We thought saw something Ike house away up
on the face this bluff and two OF US running the rsk
of being overtaken by Darkness clambered over the
taus of loose debris across great stratum OF pure
coal, and, by dnt OF ndnch pushing and haul
ing up to the ledge upon which IL stood,
we came down abundantly satisfied and next morning
carried up Photographic kit and got some superb
negatives There, 100 measured feet above the valley
perched on htte ledge only )uss large enough 70 hold
IT, was two-story house made Of fneiycut sandstone,
each block about xo inches, accurately Hted and ses
IN mortar harder than the stone itself The floor
was the ledge upon which rested, and the roof the
oyerhapgiue rock There were three rooms upon the
ground hOoy each one by feet, with partition walls
of faced stone Between the stories was originally
wood floor Of which stih remained, a. did aiso
the cedar sticks set IN the wall over the windows and
door; but Shs she front room only, the night
of the rocky poO behind not being sufficient to allow An
attic Each Of the stories was six feet m hight,
and rooms up stairs and down. were nicely pias
tered and pa,Dsed what looks o dull brickred
color with o white band along the floor hike
q Dashboard. There was Q low doorway from
the ledge into the lower story, aud another
above, showing that the upper chamber was entered
from without The windows were large square aper-
lures With indication Of any glazing or shutters
They commanded view of the whole valley for many
miles Rear bsase several convenient little inches
IN the buat INTO better shape as though they
had bean ased sapboaSds or caches; and behind
semtessaIar wall cbasug the angle OF the house and
cliff fosneA water reservoir holding two and han
bossheads The water was taken out OF this from
window Of TIE upper sOam and the outer wall was saE1
ned I'D ksah, to protect one % engaged nom
p,ates from below In trent Of the house. which Was
sbe hh Ode to enc facing the ban, an espanade had
bsss bak 10 widen ledge and probably TO-
n,sh . eoumsdiaus place knsben- The abutments
~,,sh suppssssd tesDded Spon steepy -iusA0aa
smooth fsos a sesh yss sonsaunsAte Was thek Rn
sousy not rksas sossnends ssA Stand. although =
wsuA sssm thai posA6s weight usahs side than e.
ISsuMn0AB1R 0aOUPs OF DRsrROYED EDIBsUs-
eesrsang susshsr vtsanssg found rensssns Of
uauy Asosos q ne sss bedss and pesfesf snes
above qs.ss naesssahse. The rocks Also bore some
teah.dhLs hesosypRses Tor shs aoss
paFe-Fentadsug Of lhOse given by Leas WhippAs
M ne sa,.d vslasns Of the Pacific Railroad Reports.
All shsss Assss were sarsfsss photographed ADD re-
cesded.
Leaving bers We soon same spa traces Of houses b
TIE bmesm Of s,s valley N the sreatest prcfusisa,
Dessly III u which snrety DESTROYED and sreksa
pstSery every whose sboo0dsd 1De nssaor,ty sf Ne
balsaass sqoars but many rsnnd Add one srt OF
ran always showed two squeeze bssialass vtsd very
deep cehaxs under them and Q round 70 Yer between
sheu seewiasay fsr vssch and defeose- In several
sasss rss part Of his ever vas ssi Standing Tssse
tos<.~ a-aa t-d-uu frou IA analogy a oAdor-