The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-10-02
IA CURIOUS CAVE.
Nemarkabio discovery In CIin House IL
Arizona-Helics OF % Prehistoric Race.
CHICAGO Times Letter. =.

~-N'"''AA A>tsD'c ASahCOVcSS IA - VIII AIOuBo III
Arizona--nelics OF @ Prehistoric Race.
Chicago Tines Letter.
cave containing some interesting In
dian relics has recently been discovered
in the Burrol mountains, about twenty
five miles southwest from Silver CITY
Arizona. a ranchman, Mr. Metcalf
with his two sons, was out In the Noun
tains 8 few miles distant from the ranch
prospecting" for minea. In their wan
derings one day they found the tail of {
large bear. Following this for some timt
through canon, 1t at last led up thu
steep confines, which required no little
exertion and perseverance, to climb, tht
wall being about seventy.fve feet Ii
height and very rugged. Near the tor
they saw something that looked like {
largo black spot upon the red rock
which rose at this point like the facade
of great cathedral. Upon nearer ex,
animation this apparent blemish proved
thirty In width and about twelve or fif.
teen feet in height. The entrance was
comparatively large admitting the air
light. Part of tho cave near the door
had been partitioned off and been occu-
pied at one time as cliff dwelling.
Entering the cave, one of the young
mon began poking in the deep dust that
had accumulated upon the floor of the
cavern with O stick no carried in his
hand. This coming in contact with
something plant, his curiosity became
excited, and he hastily removed the mats
of woven or plated reeds or cane eigh-
teen inches in length and oblong in
shape; also some curious sandals. In
spired by this discovery, The party re-
turned for their picks and shovels, and
Degan work removing tbs SFGcssii:: 5SSiF,Gcssi: ;c The
fine dust, interspersed with layers Of
rock that had Clipped off in succeeding
years from the roof Of the cave. Having
excavated to the depth of five or six feet,
they found many mats like those de-
cribed, some in q perfect state Of per-
servation, most of them unornamented
while others were decorated with large
turquoises, one large stone in the center
OF the mat and one on each coFuar.
They were also embellished with strings
of small sea-shells and beads of uniform
size, cylindrical, and of delicate pink
tint, evidently sections of some bone.
Beside these were tiny baskets made from
the same pliable reeds or cane, which
were aiE inches high aud had coygrs
attached, and were filled with corn and
beans. They found also many bows and
arrows, supposed to have. been placed in
the cave as offerings to little children there
made from twisted fbres of the mapuey
Or some ether plant OF that species 60
common in this country, and atiil rs
rsrong and perfect as when frat attached
to chat war-like implement. Tho arrows
were not placed in quivers, ant bundle
was tied to each how by twisted cord
of coiored material, resembling cotton
in texture, but which burns like wool.
Large hanks Of this material, carefully
tied together, were found among other
relics. There were likewise bundles Of
reeds Of equal length, tied together.
Where some of the reeds had been shorter
than tho others they had been carefully
and deity splised. 5'.
Among the most curious things found
were sandals, which are totally unlike
anything heretofore seen among tho In.
dians, oramong any relicsof the aborigi-
nes. They were made from the plated
leaves Of the maguey, or Spanish 5ayo-
net, net !Ess.s.e.ea acrnaa The iant by atrinrs
manufactured from the fbres of the same
plant. Upon soma Of them the impress
of the heel and bail Of the foot is still
plainly discernible. Their feet were re-
markably small in their proportions.
Several wooden idols grotesqueley pain
ted, were unearthed, the largest Being
about three feet in height, with halo
around its head, painted in red, green
and yellow. the bauic ngu.p Ind m 4 8 EriIii5 EriIii55
attempt at TinGs, s%shieh were painted
like the halo. A sheperd's crook was also
discovered, crldely carved and illumina.
ted. All OF tho cutting aud car ing
done upon fhese relics was undoubt lily
accomplished by the use Of stone I'm lie.
ments.3 There were innumerable pieces
ped into circlea five or eix inches In diame.
Ter. The onlyspecimen OF pottery found
entire was an ella, osj jar. almost silied With
human teeth, and containing one-balf Of
q ajaw-bune, tho large. perfect teeth ntill
in their. sockets. Underneath oil Of
these relics, almost ak feet below the
present floor or level of tho cave, was O
line of cremated bone.dust from eight to
ten inches in depth, together with fTng-
ments of human bones, which soon crum-
bled whom sxposed to the air. The bore
dust wac grsvish-white color, with here
and there very da.k s:H.ee.s pete, The e n.ast n.ast
important Of these curiosities were
taE5ii atE5 by Afr. Hissttcs.iss &c &c ssseh. anA
wore seen there by Lieut.. Gatewood, of
the Sixth cavalry, then in tho mountains
commanding q scouting party of Apache
The Indians examined the relics ci-
nutely and with much curiosity, never
.:as:ats .:as:atss eae s;.S s;;..rsi..:ay sl.::y sesesbiin t!.
sandals aud some of the other relics, but
expressed some scar and q little indfgua-
ton that the place Of burial shouId have