The Arizona champion., 1884-04-26
A Trip to the cave Dweliers

writers have the happy faculty of pre- senting sketches to us in which nature is reproduced. Whether it be of tha grand and striking character thai treats of extraordinary and unusua freaks of the elements or simple de scrip,ion of journey amid the rura scenes of life, we readily recognize the master hand.
 To such spirit we could recon mend no better subject than visit tt Lava Mountain and day of lettering and leisure amid the dust and ashes of its caves and caverns, including an hour spent in luncheon on its pine clad slopes.
 The drive from Flagstaff IS not tn: least enjoyable part of the short excur. sion, leading as it does along a road as broad and level and good as tha, from Winchester, and through pic. turesqe combination of woodland and plain skirting the Bonita mountain in circular course for nearly the entire distance, whose rugged sides present new features at almost every step, with the Frisco peaks on the west and the cone shaped and parched foothills to the east, it certainly may challenge in point of scenic beauty any portion of our own or any other continent. One of the most striking features of the trip Is Sunset mountain lying in the distance, and whose summit glow, and shoulders in the ight and shad- ow of ,he passing clouds, changing from pink 10 crimson, but always aglow with the brilliant colors from which the name is derived.
 The caves of the prehistoric race which were our objective point, are situated near the summit of one oi Il. cone shaped hills, lying some four mile; cast of the base of the San Fran cisco peaks and distant from Flagstaff eight miles. The extinct crater left the mountain literally honey combed near the summit which no doubt sug- ges,ed to the prehistoric man the idea of forming and fashioring them into shape for domiCil and retreat in time of danger. The rooms are of clrculer shape, varying but little in size, and are from twelve to eighteen feet in diameter. Arched doorwavs lead from one room to the other, and m this manner several apartments are connected together. The caves are situated one above the other at nearly an equal distance on the mountain side. IL is evident that at the time of their occupation each tier of domi- cils were strongly fortified by defen- sive will, so that at that time it must have been stronghold in times of tribal wars. The walls are now in ru- ins, but sufficient portions of them are yet standing to define their location without possibility of an error. There are probably one hundred of these ex. cavations. The entrance 0 many oi them have been filled up in such methodical manner as to leave no doubt that it was done systematically and for d purpose, and from the ab. s.nce of implements and relics of portable nature 1t IS believed that many implements, weapons and uten slls of this prehistoric race will event. ually be found within the caverns so enclosed. We learn that the Smith sonlan Institute, through tine efforts of Col. Stephenson, will make the neces- sary investigations the coming sum mer. A small. level plateau at the summit of the mountain formed the last stronghold of the place and con- handed view of open plain hills and woodland of lovely delis and rugged mountains, view that neither Italy nor far famed Switzerland can excel and which we cordially recommend to the tourists the traveller and our To- cal readers.