, 1877-07-14
4 Forgotten Race.

McElmo Canon Is one OF the widest
and most romantic canons on the globe
but OF all its manifold attractions is the
fact that that part OF southwestern Colo
RADIO was once densely populated with hu-
man beings, the ancient ruins OF whose
abiding places stand on al sides TO be
viewed with the solemnity and awe one
must feel at the uneoyering OF POmpelI.
Commencing explorations In the park-ike
valley Of MaEcos, between the Mesa and
the mountains, the low benches which
border the stream upon either SIDE bore
FAINT vesiige Of having at some very re-
mote time, been covered with dwellings,
grouped apparently IN communities a
little careful investigation revealed found
ations Of great square blocks, and also OF
smile buildings and circular enclosures,
the latter generally with expressed centre,
showing excavations for some purpose
The greater portion of mound-hke runs
were so overgrown with aTtemisla, pinlon
pine and cedar AS to be almost entirely
concealed from casual observation. Such
indication of their proximity, however,
was the great quantity of broken pottery
which covered the ground in their neigh
borhood- curiously indented, painted and
glazed ware, nquestionably CT early Mex
lean origin Not piece could be found
larger than a silver dollar, and all evi-
IDENTIFY broken up and scattered about
snce tie demolition Of the homes OF the
makers. Entering the canon at its upper
end, grouped along IN clusters and slnsly
were indications Of former habltatlOns
very nearly obiiterated, and consisting
mostly, IN the first four OF five miles, OF
similar mounds 10 those already referred
to, and accompanied always by the scat
tered broken pottery. Among them one
building was found of square and careful
ly laid stone one face only exposed, of
three or four courses above the mass of
debris which covered everything. This
building laying within few yards of the
banks Of stream was apparently about
ten feet by eight, the usual size, as near
as be determined, OF nearly al the sepa-
rate rooms or houses in the larger blocks,
there being no houses larger, and many
not more than four feet square. Tie
stones exposed We're each about seven by
twelve inches square and four inches thick,
those in their original position retaining
correct angles, but when thrown down,
worn away and rounded by attriton to
shapeless boulders. Beng so exposed to
the elements, the cementing material
which bound the masonry together was
entirely worn away from the surface, but
upon tearing away few courses it was
found binding the rocks quite firmly to-
gether. 1t vas Hot however, anything
more than clay cement. Further up the
canon, ruins were found on all sides, the
great majority consisting of heaps Of de-
bris, with always central mass consider
ably higher and more massive than the
surrounding lines of subdivided squares.
Square buildings not mere than eight feet
square, were often found standing alone
apparently; no trace Of any other being
detected IN the immediate neighborhood.
Another peculiar feature was now noted.
To the right the long slopes of pTotIudine
strata and debris formed promontorie.
extending out into the canon. UpoI
! these and not more than fifty feet above
the stream, frequent indications are found
of having been occupied by some sort d
works, the foundations of which, in every
case, were circular, with a deep depres
sion in the centre, and generally occupy
ing in pairs, side by side, ranging from
ten to twenty feet in diameter. No ma
sonry of any kind was visible, but, thick
! Strewn all about, WAS any quantity d
broken pottery. Above We're marked in,
dications of habitation IN tie face Of the
clif-ROcLy NOu:tdia Tourist.