Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-10-18
IN THE HOLY CITY
THE olscoVERiES WHICH HAVE BEEN
MADE IN JERUSALEM.
Settling the Localities of Sacred Places by
Laborious IRsestig igatIon-M Many Old
Traditions and Legends ErrOn-
eous-work Accomplished.
ICnr- New York Sun.l

Cor. New York SUM-
The discoveries which have been made in
Jerusalem during the last few years, and
the conclusions st which those who have
most deeply studied the subject have arrived
in consequence, render it extremely deSira-
ble that a new or revised description Of the
Holy City should be inserted in the tourists
hand books for Syria and Palestine. Travel
ers should be warned against dragomans
who waste their time taking them to see
Christian sites which have no relation to the
facts they are supposed to commemorate,
and posse S no interest of any kind beyond
the philosophical one that they illustrate
the extraordinary credulity and supersti
tionS which exist among the professors of
Christianity in the nineteenth century, and
which are certainly not exceeded, even If
they are paralleled, by those of any heathen
religion.
A Jerusalem handbook to be of any in
terest should deal with the conclusions re-
sultng from the excavations and re eaTches
OF Sir Charles Wilson, Sir Charles Warren,
Capt Conder, NJ. Clermont Ganneau, and
others during the last twenty-four years,
and leave the traditions of the Latin and
Greek churches out of the question alto
gether. Their researches have settled
nearly all the Typographical que 'ti0n' con-
nected with ancient Jerusalem, which had
previously been the subject of SO muCl con-
troversy and error, the doubts and difficult
ties connected with them arising from the
fact that the city had been more or less
destroyed and built over so many times that
the orig inal foundation of the walls and
temple could only he determined by extern
sive and laborious excavations; and in the
course Of these many collateral discoveries
were made.
DANGER AND DIFFICULTY.
These excavations were carried on under
difficulties of every kind, in face of the op-
position of the local government and in
spite OF continued fevers and lack OF funds
The mines were driven to extraordinary
depths; one at the southeast angle of the
Haram being eighty feet deep, and another,
near the northeast angle, being l2O feet be-
meath the surface, where it reaches the solid
rock In consequence of the great depths,
the scarcity of ths mining frames, and the
treacherouS character of the debris through
which the shafts and galleries were driven,
the work was one of unusual danger aud
difficulty, requiring much courage and de-
termination.
Sir Charles Warren and the noH-commis
stoned officers of his staff worked constantly
undertook operations from which the native
workmen recoiled. The prudence and dis
cipline of the party, however, sec ured val.
liable discoveries without an accident; and
it is generally acknowledged that the results
are of an Importance which fully repays the
labor and difficulty of the operations.
Sir Charles Warren was the officer who SO
courageously entered the desert of Sinai
after the late Egyptian war. when be sue
ceeded in capturing the murderers OF Pro
fe sor Palmer, Capt Gill, and Lieut. Shar-
rington, and bringing them to justice. He
has since been appointed TO the command of
the force operating in South Africa against
the Beers. The result of his labors in
Jerusalem and that OF his fellow ex-
plorers is a magnificent atlas published last
year by the Palestine exploration fund, con-
tainins a most elaborate series OF maps,
plans, elevations aud engravings, which re.
produce the sacred city in all its most strik-
ing features, accompanied by handsome
volume of descriptive matter We are thus
able to base an account of ths ancient topog-
raphy of the city on data more exact than
any previously acquired, and to read the
ancient historic acc Iunts by the light of as
certained facts. instead of guessing at prob
abilities by the aid of descriptions. which,
however carefully written, are still, as de-
scriptions must be, vague where the student
requires most exsctitude and deficient where
he most wishes for details
SET AT REST.
Blu. the really great work which recent
investigation has accomplished haS mainly
reference, not so much to such details as
these, which must always remain more or
less matters Of speculation, as to the settle
ment of controversies affecting the topo-
graphical questions connected with ancient
Jerusalem. First, in regard to points upon
which all are now agreed. There is no
doubt about the Mount of Olives and the
brook kedron. 1t is agreed that the temple
stood on the spur Immediately west of the
Kedron, and that the southern tongue of
this spur was called Ophel. 1t is also
agreed that the fiat valley west of this spur
is that to which Joseplus applies the nams
Tyropaau, though there was a diversity as
to the exact course of the valley, which has
now been set at rest by the collection Of the
rock levels within the city.
1t is also agreed by all authorities that
the high southwestern hill to which the
name Of Sion has been applied since the
fourth century, Is that which Josephus calls
the upper city or apper Market place. The
site of the pool Of Sloan is also un1isputed,
and certain natural features have been de-
tsrminei, which serve as data on which to
construct the walls of the ancient city and
fix the site ami area of the temple enclosure
in the time of Herod. There is still some
controversy in regard to the exact position
and course of the city walls prior TO it, de-
struction by Titus. but this is chiefly main
tanned by those who are fatally affected in
their religious sentiments There is also
difference of opinion In regard to the area of
the temple building. Practically, however,
this point has been settled by the great
weight OF authority on o side, which
afirlns that the pre- ,ent Haram enclosure,
in which are situated the mosque of Omar
and the sacred stone, represent the area Of
Hernd's temple, only one or two standing
out for re friction of this area.
II the Turkish government would only
allow eXplorationstJ be made under the plat |
form Of the dome of the rock, the very rock
upon which Abraham Is supposed to have
baen ordered to sacrifice Isaac, and if the
eKaminatio3 Of the closed chambers known |
to exist on the north and east sides of this |
platform could be carried out, the contro- |
versy might be set at rest by actual discov- |
cry. o. the temple Of Solomon little is |
known. though it is possible that the great |
scarps in the present British cemetery may |
be as old a. the time of David, or the elev- |
enth century before Christ They are,
without doubt, the Oldest existing remains |
in JsruSaIsm, and formed part Of the ram
parts of the upper city.
Monuments That Grow Anew.
Did you ever notice that little plat |
there" remarked a railroader at the |
Pittsburg, Fort Wayne s. Chicago cross