The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-26
REMAINS OF PREHISTORIC WALL
A Curious Pile of CrumbiinR Masonry
on the wild Plains OF Texas.

a Curious Pile of Crumbiing Masonry
on the W.ld Plains OF Texas.
From the Washington Star.
A Texas correspondent writes to one Of
the scientific departments of the govern
ment of strangely interesting prehistoric
wall discovered on the frontier OF the Lone
Star state. This marvellous ruin SURPRISES
in interest ell the other wonderful remains
hitherto found Of the people who once in
haolted the whole Mexican plateau and at
tained a high state OF civilization. II passes
through Milsno and has a total length of
about twenty miles. IL is built of solid
masonry, ten to fifteen feet nigh and as
many feet thick. Its hight and thickness
are thus almost as great as the famous
Chinese wall on the north OF China. Its
direction is northeast and south west.
1t is for the most part underground, aud
this is one Of the curious things that puzzle
those wise men who are supposed to know
all about prehistoric remains. 1t is IN
doubtedly very old.
One might suppose it TO be the sure
foundation of a gigantic fortress which rose
above the ground many feet. The towers
and other means Of defense With which it
might have been provided have had time to
orumble away in the years that have passed.
The long fortress may have been pulled
down by the conquering invaders. As the
people died out from the land the debris of
the old wall would in either case cover its
foundation.
PROBABLY BUILT BY AZTECs.
The Azuecs probably built this wall.
They have left some inscriptions on it, but
since their language is entirely lost no
scholar can ever hope to decipher them.
One covers a space eight feet square. The
characters are kindred to Indian inscrip-
tlons, but not so closely allied that their
mystery can be penetrated.
There was undoubtedly populous village
or city in the vicinity, for on a high hill
near Milano the remains of mighty temple
of worship are found. This was supported
| by more than 200 lofty pillars. Some Of
them are still standing. They we're made Of
| clay, which was well burned. This gave
| them the appearance of stone
| In this temple were placed many idols,
broken parts of which are preserved; one,
shaped like an owl, is preserved entire.
| Human sacrifices were made to these as well
as sacrifices of birds, beasts and reptiles.
| Skulls and bones have been preserved IN the
| clay. Some of these belonged to very large
animals Some are petrifed and 1t is
thought that these early Aztecs may have
Understood the art or petrifaction and thus
| preserved the bones of their sacrifices.
Many of the skulls show marks OF violence,
which was done perhaps when the human
victims were slain. Strange TO say, none of
| these skulls are larger than the head Of an
infant and they have molar teeth.
CURIoUsLY MARKED IDOLS.
The idols are all curiously marked.
Around each pillar small stones are piled up
in circles or squares, and inside each circle,
| underneath the pillar, there is a center or
foundation stone, fashioned to represent the
godhead.
Near the wall there also furnaces, in
which the natives smelted iron.
The locality and direction of the wall are
not easily accounted for. Perhaps IL 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 built above the ground on
tie same gigantic plan as the foundation.
Although there were toward million peo-
pie then living in that vicinity, the work
10 ust have extended over a considerable
perid of time. Unless this was some stra-
tegic point it is difficult to understand how
but few thousand could be interested in
its construction.
ORIGIN OF THE AZTECs.
An old tradition says that the Aztecs
were one OF seven powerful tribes that
emerged from seven caverns in a region
called AZtlan, or place of the heron. They
wandered away from their fellows after a
great confusion of tongues and settled in
the region they are known to have inhab-
tied. The tradition may be partly fabulous,
but it is sure that the Aztecs settled the
country before the eleventh or twelfth
century.
All the tribes lived In peace for q con-
siderable time until the strong began to en-
croach upon the territory OF the weaker.
Then fierce war for supremacy over the
whole territory ensued and lasted many
years. Under the leadership of their mill
tary chiefs the Aztecs obtained control of
the hole territory and established very
enlightened form of government. This
was consummated 10 1924 or 1875. 1t is
likely that the fortress was built during
this period OF war.