Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-12-03

WONDERFUL DISCOVERIES IN NEW MEXICO
NEW AND ZEN tRKABLr NEACES OF FEE
lSIIED PACE

| woNpEEFrL DISCOVERIES IN NEW MEXICO
NEW AND REMARKABLE NEACES OF FEE
IsnED RACE.
America, as well ~ Italy, has its Hercni-
aneum and Pompcii if we may believe the
reports of McssrS Patterson and Mackley,
two gentlemen engaged IN mining in New
Mexico, WHO have Just arrived at 81. LOUIS,
with remarkable specimens and moro re-
markable statements Some siupendons ruins
have been discovered at Abo City, IN the
Manzana or Apple Mountains, In alencla
county, about twenty miles west OF the Rio
Grande river, and nearly the same distance
from the Atchson. Topeka and Santa re
railroad The district was once very popul-
Gus, hut has now no Inhabitants. We learn
from long report in the Republican that
there is evidence of vas. volcanic eruptions
in the vicinity. which overwhelmed large
cities and buried them and their lnhahltants
in hot ashes There are lava beds fifty miles
in extent, and at one time the crater OF one
the mountains must have been sixty long
and from fifteen to twenty miles across l he
remains of temple, with walls sixty feet
high and ten feet thick and covering an acre
of ground, were found. The timber, which
is pinon wood, was as sound as when first
ut.
There is on one side of the piece OF timber
some rude figures one of the All Seeing Eye,
representing, probably the sun. Other fig
urcs are deeply indented in the wood as If
made by anything but a sharp-edged tool
Mr. Patterson says that he found stone ham
mcrs but nothing in the shape OF the sharp
edged or steel tools. There are small fur
rows seen in the wood, as if plowed out with
tl,lip will mt L. ~
longcd TO style of architecture anterior TO
the adobe and dried brick period. Mr. Pat
terson iLclinos to the opinion that the locali-
ty was the site of one of the seven cities
mentioned by the Spanish chronlclers, the
author of which tTaversed the country after
the conquest of Mexico, among which were
the cities OF Camelone, Grand Cavra, Santa
Cruz, Puerto dc Abo, the Abo, and the Old
PccoS, and another situated a few miles
west OF Abo, in the lava beds.
Another specimen is a human skull, evil
dently that OF Il young female, as shown by
the teeth, which was eXhumed about half
mile from the church. Skulls arc quite
plentiful among the old ruins in the vicinity,
About five miles from the AbO Springs they
have discovered some ancient silver diggings.
The smeltCrs We're built OF adobe or sun
dried bricks, and were elevated some twenty
In digging down they found the remains of
charcoal, which was used for fuel by the
old smeltcrs. There We're also seen the re-
mains of an aqucduct in which water was
conveyed from spring threc-iJurthS of
mile distant, 10 dam which diverted the
water into the smelling works. About five
acres was found covered with slap, which
Mr.. Patterson has taken up for millsite.
From the old furnaces a troll was found,
after considerable exploration, leading di-
rcclly from the smelling work to the mine
in the mountains, which here rise in peaks to
a height of 10000 feet. The ancient trail
pursucs a Zi.saE course, having 4 length OF
five mile which, i'll au air line, the distance
is not much exceeding one mile. Every
thing was transported IN those old mining
DAYS On mems shoulders 10 and from the
mountains Shcrc are now trees of the
''pnou" growing on the trail larger than a
mans body. showing he antiquity of the
path. Mr.. Patterson sli! he was two weeks
discovering the mines after finding the smclt-
ing works,
The mine from which the silver was taken
was concealed by fallen timber, some of
which had taken root. Il took nearly a fort
night to clear il away. 1t was found to be
seventy feet dep with several horizontal
shafts y lot Of pottery was also discovered
and also rich turquoise mine which boro
evidence Ci former working. The pottery
consists of drinking vessels used by these old
inhabitants OF the country. The vessels are of
various designs, representing several species
of birds and antelope. Some of the speci-
mems are stripped and spotted with a black
coloring An old miner named Baxter
found in dgGinr down II chamber about
ten i,.t sqrIntr. having on one side fire.
place. acres .,hich hung crane having
clay hook. and al III. cui of the hook was a
bone On the opposite side of the the fire
place WAS found the skeleton OF man in
sitting position. vino was evidently watching
the bone roasting for his meal, when he and
his habhalinn were ov ywhclmei in ruin ny
"a suatca discharge ut arI from the noun
tain