The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1884-09-28

A Walt 10 the Abandened Dwellings Of ths
Ban Frnncisc0 Georges.

A Wait 10 the Abandsned Dsvsliisgs Of tho
Ban Francisco Georges.
FLAGSTAFF. A. T., Sept l4.--It Ia over two
years since l first visited tho great plateau
lying west Of the Little Colorado or Flax River
in northern Arizona. At that time mail service
extended only to Government forts and mining
centres. Aside from tho mail coach. tho only
mode Of travel was on horseback over narrow
winding trails. The first United States mail
line established through this section in tho
spring Of 1882 was repeatedly robbed by masked
highwaymen. and was soon afterward discon-
tinued. Near the now thriving town OF Flag
stan. then . mere camp. fourteen highway
robberies were committed In Us many consecu-
| tive days. The widest disorder and lawless-
ness prevailed. The g, cGsmetery. on the gentle
contains more than q dozen graves OF outlaws
and dssperadoes who met u violent death In
II Th S Xpaahss on the south wers Standing
menace to the contractor and settler. and even
penetrated shis section kiliinG the settlers
Atlantic and Pacific Hallway. Mr., John ":
Mormonisn. who was then n prominent con:
tractor. constructed u fort for tho protection Of
ns s,ss so 81 sR Ths e
monism. 1t Is now the headquarters for an
grr Nth rns shS rssos 81
charchss and printing s%n oi1less. '"A"k Sen00'S
above the sea, has u delightful temperature.
~ KIND" Of wa na f.
races. In scenic beauty 1t has few equals.
speraue. on tho Atlantic aud Pacific Railway. is
Flagstaff. now u prosperous and growing town.
features q his section. The pri1. and beas.
eight miles cast OF tho village. Il is
io,'srinS and leisure Ey tic way Waysld l..
where the , Winding road leads shrGIsh alter
ser W furEsx
tn. Gin Dwo!"ngs Is frequently rewarded
the ancient pueblo until no stands on tho Very
deep dark. and fore6odlng: On descending
~ feels An oppressed sensation stealing over
World he sSon ths IN The ehe
temptation Of his surroundings. 1t is rs II he
were transferred for the hour into some coun.
sights Irotesque.. Tie trees and shrubs are Of
svariety wholly different from those lust LETT
song aud more brilliant plhmnge. with here the
| skeleton OF some monster beast, aud there
bottom he ilnds great rats Of for piled hisS
by the a"ods OF, OF former ysnrs. One OF these
the frowning cliff walls have crumbled and
mingled with the heaps OF ashes and blackened
halt-bured trunks OF trees.
Niched In the walls OF these cliffs, In broad
| or and more cheerful part OF the tortuous
gorge. are the ruins OF the eiifr jewellers. sonlo
freak Of nature has isii great saverns IN tho
| leaving for the clifr dweller tho simple task OF
dividing This space by walls according to fancy
stone, and bear evidence Of some skill in con- H
structlon and rare ingenuity in location. Every
foot OF space 80 covered Is enclosed. even though
| the Outsr walls stand upon the very brink OF
| the yawninx depths below. No enlightened
mother. perhaps, has ever visited this spot
TiffhsSns asking how these PEOPLE s0Hd rear
tend mile along the rugged. iuttiIg sides OF the
| canon. far down Its walls and yet are hundreds
| Of feet from tho bottom. They are constructed
| In tiers one above the other, and occupy each
side OF the gorge. There nre six tiers In all.
| This ancient city 10 accessible from only ono
or two points, and for only Two persons at .
| time. It is tho largest pueblo Known. Al
| though 1t has boon visited by tourists and
travellers from every Quarter OF the civilized
cayarns are yet q mystery and have never been
entered by = white man. Having once gained
| access to ono row or tier. II IL necessary to
travel to the end OF II before gaining access to
| the ono above or below II.
While II Is IN accepted theory that these
| ruins are the former homes and dwelling place
OF some race now extinct It seems more
reasonable TO suppose that they, were the re.
treat Of some yanau,shed people. who here
| that rosmod these wilds at q time 90 remote
| that history bears no record OF their Wara
Their descepdAnts may yet b. found In the
] Pueblos or MoQuls.