New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-07-24


FEET-GREAT GRANITE COLUMNS CARVED
IN sEMBLANCE OF RATTLEsNAKE2-No
SIGN OF CEMENT IN THE WALLS.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.t
San Diego, Cal, July 23.-'The Colorado DESERT
is a land of mystery which no one has ever eX-
plored thoroughly, because of the cost ana dan
ger. All the roads are lined with skeletons Of
unfortunate prospectors who have perished or
thirst and at this season only the hardened desert
arab can endure the heat. Four old prospectors
who have just returned from trip on the desert
report the discovery of ruins of prehistoric
temple near the Mexican line, with columns carved
in semblance of rattesnal<es. Their find promises
10 Ee the most important archaeological discovery
made in this country.
About a month ago Hank" Ferguson Theo-
dore Price. Gus" Atherton and John Cline,
at Yuma, started on a prospecting trip and IN
cidentally to search for the Peg Leg mine lhey
crossed the Colorado and took new course
toward the northern spurs Of the Cocopah Noun
tains After several days they reached broken
country of granite and pOrphyry formation thaV
gave promise Of bearing gold. They found /"
water hole and, making camp, prepared lor
rrospccting the locality Systematically. One day
Ferguson came TO camp and reported that OUT
on the desert he had seen through his glass
what appeared to be row of stone columns
protruding above the sand several feet. Next
day he and Cline set out for the spot. IL was
| several miles away and the sand was deep, nut
on arriving they felt we'll repaid for their
trouble What appeared to be dIkes were hheis
carved granite columns about eighteen feet III
| height On top of these were huge rectangular
blocks of cut granite, weighing tons Realizing
| ,-.lu of
returned to camp and lnfoinleu t"ei 'o"i '"
| of the nature of their hnd. ,
Next morning the entire party went 10 .he
ruins They first endcavored to approximate tie
size and as nearly as could be ascertalned from
| tho nillars above the sand the dimensions were
! aeO bv $50 feet On one side. facing east, they
| found at the ton of two curiOusly carved Columns
exccllent rcprpscntations Of serpents heads. wlt
| a hugo carstone living across. On the other slne
of This capstone was some curiOusly carved
friezc. unlike any pattern they had ever seen
The oranite columns were slightly curved In
modified form Of the letter =. lhe men ueciueu
| that this must have been the entraflcn TO the
tempc. and all hands fell to clearing away the
sand They finally reached the foot Of the columns
and found they were made 10 resemble huge iao-
tlcsnakes There were tails carved TO represent
rattlcs and the huge pillars or columns were
| horrible in their semblance appearing to DC hug'
rattcrs eighteen feet long. standing on their talls
| though, of course out Of proportion as regards
thickness, 4 search of the ruins failed to dls-
close anything hut specimens Of unique ornamental
pottery. The walls have fallen and lie buried IN
th, sand. with the exception of portion OF the
north wall Here was found part Of what had
been a wall between the columns. II was bnilt
OF large blocks Of cut granite. accurately joined
laid one on another. without any. evidence Of
| cement or other adhesive material being used
| Digging further at the foot OF the pillars. tne
| rros,ectors uncovered three huge broad granite
| stems ard had not yet reachd the bottom HOW
| much of that once magnificent temple Is buried
| in fine sand cannot vet be told.
| Tho rro,pectors divided into two parties, one
| rc,urninc to San Diego and the other TO una,
| yith thr purpn.c to enlist moneyed men In the
| onterprisc of uncoverng the temple. lhe san
DIEGO marty obtained the assistance OF III. L. Tor,
don and John H. Gay, jr. both rlch men, ana
| these two men accompanied the ilnders 70 'le
desert hut the nten~, heat and feartui sihd-
! storm induced the San Diegoans TO turn pack.
| Meanwhile "A PARTY has started from yuma WIN
| large supply of food and water, ana fnlly pre-.
! nnrnd IN make excavations. Near the location OF
| thr tcmplr are the remains oi an ola lrrig'!uly
canal running acrcss th" desert for twenty miles,
and evidently showing that there was CIVILIZATION
| ce