The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1891-03-07
THE SUN wORSHIPPERS.
STONE ROADWAY BUILT BY
THEM UP A MOUND.
ns.srkssis Feat o. Esxissrrisr-rhs ksek Was
CT ~ slilis< ArtizAas-- ksidsstiS ths
wsrk 81 Aztec Sss uershipper
IA uesdsrfsi xssas.

"A Ho42nts4 3*~@@s
y Charles j. wlmple. one a the
xcalthicst miners OF Mexico. while In
San Francisco. told the following won
dcrful story: You have asked me 10
give an account OF the interesting
mountain my friend. Jesse ID Grant
and myself saw during our trip
through Mexico en- route 10 this city.
Well. that mountain Is AT once one OF
the most gigantic exhibitions OF mans
handiwork and something almost be-
yond credence were we not already
familiar with the works OF the Aztecs-
Just imagine a valley forty by
thirty miles in area and from It's cen
ter rising a mound over twelve hun
dred feet In height Then you can
realize the first effect created upon our
minds when we came before the hill
am 70 describe. My foreman was
with Us and had partly prepared US
for the surprise. but we had treated
his story with incredulous rcmurks
aud had by no means expected he had
but given q modest description OF the
mound.
I'VE gazed 10 the top and allowed
our eyes 10 follow the windings OF
road down TO the base W9 went
around the base .and conjectured
IL was about one and half miles In
circumference Then we started for
the summit The roadway was built
OF solid rock clear TO the pinnacle. aud
was from thirty TO forty feet in width.
A wall OF solid rock formed a founda-
lion and an inside wall at the same
time. The outer edge OF the road Was
uDguarded. These stones weigh all
the way up 10 ton each. and are not
cemented. The roadway is as level as
floor. and Is covered with broken
pieces OF earthenware water vessels
HALF way up the mountain Is an
altar cut In solid rock; In the niche Is
"A boulder which must weigh at least
six tons. The boulder l. OF different
stone from that used in the walls. The
rocks in the walls are dressed by skill
ed worxmeu. but are not polished. We
saw no inscriptions; In fact we had no
time TO spare In making a searching
investigation. We did look for arrow
heads or other warlike implements 10
satisfy ourselves that the mound bad
not been used for defensive or offensive
purposes Nor was there any evidence
10 prove that the roadway had been
built for the purpose OF witnessing
bull fights and other sports Ia the val
ley. could only conclude the Aztec
sun worshippers expended years OF
labor on the hill In order that they
might have an appropriate place 10
celebrate their imposing festivals. In
asmuch as the roadway was strewn
with broken earthcnware and those
scions OF bygone and notable race
were known TO carry at sunrise large
quantities Of water Ia earthenware
jars 10 an eminence. and there pour
out the liquid aud smash the vessels.
When we descended we brought
with US "a number OF small sea shells
which had petrifed. and II you look
ut these on my table you will see
how they have been perforated by the
Indians. We again took long look
ut the mountain aud saw IL was OBJ
long In shape. and that the upward
road commenced on the eastern side.
/ have travelled on both sides OF the
mountains from British Columbia TO
Central America, and on either side
OF tho sIerr, s5.Iadras. where the cliff
jewellers haN 9eft snch remarkable
mementoes OF their skill and customs.
but have never Witnessed anything
so wonderful and magnificent n the
mound which | have been telling you
about The valley Is about six hun
cred feet above the sea level. and is
about seventy miles from the coast
II is situated ia Sonora. between the
cities OF Altar add Magdalena, and
near the Magdalena river. We called
the curiosity Palissde Mountain. and
Ii Is we'll named"