The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1893-04-11
A WONDERFUL RUIN.
A Prehistoric Underground Wall Found on
tho Texas Eorder.


Washington, April "A Tevas correspond
ent writes to one of the scientific departments
of the government OF n strangely interesting
prehistoric wall discovered on the frontier of
the Lone Star state, This marvellous ruin sur
passes in interest all the other wonderful re-
mains heretofore found of the people who once
inhabited the whole Mexican plateau and at
tanned high state of civilization. 1t passes
through NilaLo and has total length of
about twenty miles 1t is built Of solid mason
ry, ten to fifteen feet high and as many feet
thick Its height and thickness thus al
most as great as the famous Chinese wall
on the north Of China. The direction is north
east and southwest. II is for the most part
under ground. and this Is one Of the curious
things that puzzles those wise men who are
supposed TO know all about prehistoric re-
mains 1T is undoubtedly very Old One might
suppose it to be the sure foundation Of gil
ganttc fortress which rose above the ground
many feet The towers and other means of
defense which it might have been provided
have had time to crunble away in the years
that have passed. The long fortress may have
been pulled down hy the conq4erinE invaders.
as the people died out from the land the de-
bris Of the old wall would, in either case,
cover its foundation.
Probably Built by Aztecs.
The Aztecs probably built this wall. They
have left some inscription on it, but since
their language is entirely lost no scholar can
ever hope to decpher them. One covers a
space of eight feet square. The characters are
kindred to fndian inscriptions, but not 50 close
L. allied that their mystery can be penetrated.
There was undoubtedly a popUlous village or
city in the vicinity, for on high hill, near
Mano the remains Of a mighty temple of
worship are found. This was supported by
more than 100 lofty pillars. Some of them
are still standing They were rgade Of q
which was well burned. ~
appearance Of sta>@~A'
ken paTS~~,-..--
sacrifices We're madesto HEST,
rifces OF birds. beasts and reptiles. Stlui..
and bones have been preserved IN the clay
Some Of these belonged TO very large animals.
Some are petriiedand ii is thought that these
early AZtecs may have understood the art Of
pctrification and thus preserved the bones
OF their sacrifices
CuriousIy Marked Idols.
The idols are all curiously marked. Around
each pillar small stones are piled up in cir
cle9 or squares and inside each circle under
meath the pillar there is a center or founda.
ton stone. fa shioned 10 represent the god
head. Near the wall there are also furnaces
in which the natives smelted iron.
The locality and direction Of the wall are
not easily accounted for, Perhaps it marks
the boundary of certain tribal territory which
was exposed to the attacks Of the enemy.
An enormous amount OF labor and material
must have been required for its construction
IF buit above the ground on the same gigantic
plan as the foundation. Although there
were toward 4 million people then living in
the vicinity. the work must have extended
over IL considerable period of time Unless
this was some strategic point it is difficult
to understand how but few thousands could
be interested in its construction.
An Old Tradition.
An old tradition says that the Aztecs were
one of the seven powerful tribes that emerged
from the seven cayernS in region called
ed away from their fe ows after great con-
fusion of tongues and settled in the region
they are known to have Inhabited. This ira
dition may be partly fabulous, but it is sure
that the AzteGs settled the country before
the eleventh or twelfth century.
All the tribes lived in peace for considcra-
BILE time until the strong began to encTOach
upon the territory OF the weak Thcn L
fierce war for supremacy over the whole ter
The leadership of their military chiefs the
Aztecs obtained control Of the whole terri
tory, and establishGd very enlightened form
of government. This was ConSummated in
1921 or 1928, II is likely that the fortress
was built during this period OF war
Names Here and There.
From The New York Sun.
The beauty. the poetry, the extraordinary
felicity of these names delights everybody
who hears them. In Georgia, at least the
richness of nomenclature which has dsap-
peared from SO many other regions of the
country, seems to survive. Fifty or seventy
five wears ago the east was full OF lndepen-
dence Joneses and Liberty Woods and
America Smiths. Where are those good Old
names now? Regnads and Ralphs are COM
mon but the Old picturesque names are too
uncommon How many Jacks and Bills, and
how few preserveds and Borums and Thank
gods Georgia deserves well of the rest of
the world for maintaining n name-system so
autiouely noble and so sweet upon the tongue.
But one thing pains us. One name we
miss from the roster. Nhefe Is the great
tbo tIJustrious. the ever memorable, the
tiine-defying name of Quattlebum? Who
doesn't remember with mingled JOY and re-
.srqt the glorious Quattlebum. General Quat-
flebum OF South Carolina, the Napoleon of
The notification armies the chieftain whose
sonorous and strenuous name made even his
own forces melt away in fear? Where is the
great Quattlehum? Did the great Quattlebum
Inaye poSterity? Let US hunby hope 50.
His name was. and is. too good to lose
just where He Tried TO Kiss Her.
From the Philadelphia Record.
Megonniglc encdcled her waist with his
arm and endeavorcd to kiss her in the local
ity of sixteenth and Diamond streets.