The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-07-28
RUINED TEMPLE FOUND.
Nearly Buried in the Sands of the
Colorado Desert,
GREAT GRANITE COLUMNS CARVED
In somblance OF Rattlesaakes-No
Sign of Cement in the walls-Its
Dimensions Estimated to be 400 by
200 Feet-NO.ablo Discovery of a
Party of rospeotors in Colorado,

Special IN Eev York Tribune
The Colorado desert is a land OF mys.
tory which no one has ever explored
thoroughly, because of the cost aud
danger. All the roads ore lined with
skeletons of unfortunate prospectors
whohave persisted from thirst, and at
this season only the hardened desert
arab car endure the heat. Four old
%proapectors, who have just returned
from a trip on the desert report the
discovery OF ruins OF q prehistoric tenn
pie near the Mexican line, with columns
carved in semblance OF rattlesnakes.
Their find promises to be the most i'm
portant archaeological discovery made
in this country,
About a month ago blank" Fergu-
son, Theodore Price Gus" Anterior
and John Cline, at Yuma, started on q
prospecting trip, and incidentally to
search for the Peg Leg mine. They
crossed the Colorado and took q now
course toward the northern spurs Of
the Cocopah Mountains. After several
days they reached q broken country OF
granite and porphyry formation that
gave promise Of bearing gold. They
found a water hole, and, making camp,
prepared for prospecting the To-
cality systematically. One day Fergu-
son came to camp and reported that out
on the desert he had seen through his
glass what appeared to be a row OF
stone columns protrudtng above the
sand several feet. Next day he and
Cline set out for the spot. 1t was Sow
eral miles away and the sand was deep,
but on arriving they felt well repaid for
their trouble. What appeared to be
dikes were carved granite columns
about eighteen feet in height. On top
OF these were huge rectangular blocks
OF cut granite, weighing tons. Realiz.
ing the great historical value OF this
discovery, they returned TO camp aud
Informed their comrades OF the nature
Of their find.
Next morning the entire party went
to the ruins. They first endeavored to
approximate the size, and as nearly rs
could be a%scertained from the pillars
above the sand the dimensions we're
400 by 260 feet. On n side, facing
east, they found at the top Of two curl
ously carved columns excellent repre-
sensations OF serpents' heads, with q
huge capstone lying across. One the
other side OF this Capstone was some
c~uriously carved trieze, unlike any pat
tern they had ever seen. The granite col
umns were slightly curved in a modified
form of the letter S. The men decided
that this must have been the entrance
to the temple, and all hands fell to
clearing away the sand. They finally
reached the foot OF the columns and
found they were madet to resemble huge
rattlesnakes. There were tails carved
to represent rattles, and the huge pill
lars or columns were horrible in their
semblance, appearing to be huge rat
tiers, eighteen feet long, standing on
their tails, though, Of course, out of pro-
portion as regards thickness. A search
OF the ruins failed to discover anything
but specimens OF unique ornamental
pottery. The walls have fallen and lie
buried in tho sand, with tho exception
OF a portion OF the north wall. Here
was found u part Of what had been n
wall between the columns. 1t was
built Of a large blocks OF cut granite,
accurately joined, and laid ono on an-
other, without any evidence OF cement
or other adhesive material being used.
Digging further at the foot OF the pill
lars, tho prospectors uncovered three
huge broad granite steps, and had not
yet reached the bottom. How much OF
that once magnificent temple is buried
In the sand cannot yet be told
The prospectors divided into two
parties, one returning to San Diego and
the other to Yuma, with the purpose
to enlist moneyed men in the enter.
prise OF u%ncovering the temple, The
San Diego party obtained tho assistance
OF II. @. Gordon and John II. Gay, jr.,
both rich men, and these two men ac-
companied the finders to the desert;
but the intense heat and a fearful sand
storm induced the San DiegoRns to turn
back. Meanwhile q party has started
from Yuma with n large supply Of food
and water, and fully prepared to make
excavations. Near the location Of tho
tomple arc the remains OF an old irri-
eating canal, running across tho desert
for twenty miles, and evidently show
ing that there was civilization centuries