Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-05-30
eearchips Ancient City OF Isabslia fol
Relics for Worlds Fair.

WASHINGTON, May 29.--While Admiral
Gherardi was in the West Indies the Sec
retary OF the navy instructed him to cause
An examination to be made OF the ruins OF
the ancient city of Isabella 10 San Domingo,
the first city founded on ihe hemisphere by
Europeans. The purpose was to ascertain
whether the ruins could be transported to
Chicago for exhibition at the Worlds Fair.
The Enterprise WAS ordered to make the
journey. and Commander Converse has
submitted his report Of the examination to
the navy department. Lieut.. Colvo- Cores
ses, Surgeon Simmons and Cadet Taylor
made the explorations. The report says :
"For many years Isabella hss been port
of shipment for mahogany and lignum vi'm
woods which grew in abundance in the
neighborhood. No habitations are to be
found within 9 mile and half Of the ruins,
but the native woodcutters that we met
verified the statements Of the pilot as to the
traditional genuineness Of the site which he
pointed out. On landing we turned to the
right and ascended q gentle slope to little
plain about two acres iu area. Ira
dition points to this little plateau
as the site of the ancient city and
here were found, scattered at intervals,
various small, ill-defne heaps Of stones,
remnants of walls built of small, uuhewn
stones, evidently laid in mortar, pieces of
old tiles and potsherds, some Of the latter
glazed. and fragments of broad, rough y
made bricks. There were half dozen or
more brick blocks of dressed limestone that
may have been part of the walls Of build
ings soms what finished and permanent 10
character. The application of pick and
spade brought to light nothing OF particular
interest. but enabled us to follow the traces
of walls in some instances. Ii should be
stated that the piles of stones that we saw
convey very little idea Of the original
forms Of the structures to which they be-
longed. and give no indication Of their
uses.
We overturned all the cut blocks Of stone
and examined them carefully in the hope OF
finding some marks or dates, but without
success and ii is our belief that nothing OF
the kind exists. OF the surface remains at
Isabella it is our opinion that there is moth
ing Of sufficient interest to be removed, ex
cept, perhaps, the few blocks Of cut lime
stone, and there is nothing that wout
clnvey an idea Of the architecture and
workmanship Of the building erected BY
the Fl ret settlers. 1t does not appear to u
that any extended excavations would be
rewsrded.with better results. Isabella was
occupied for only about two years by the
original settlers. The rough and unfinished
character of the work is manifest in the
ruins, and further research could accom-
p!ish nothing more than perhaps to deter
mine more clearly the ground plan Of the
place.
''Shnuld futher exploration be made, il
would be OF uudoubted scientific interest tt
examine the fauna and fora of this region
and there are evidences of interesting fossi
| remains. The caves in the cliffs Of Cape
T.sbella and vicinity would probably yielt
interesting relics of the aborigines-the nov
extinct Cs,ibs. These cliff, are fall Of
caves. and from the description given by
| the pilot Of stones found in them they pro
baby contain metals, rollers, &c