Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-26
ARIzoNA's ANCIENT RELICS.
Last Finds in the Ancient Land of
CIifY-DyycIIers, Aztecs. and TOItecS.

Last Finds in the Ancient Land OF
CIin-DwcIlers, Aztecs, and Toltecs'
Some interesting discoveries Of relics
of the cave-dwellers and cliff-dwellers in
Arizona have been made recently. Dwell
mgs OF several kinds and other relics
Of these prehistoric peoples, have been
found all over the northeastern part OF
Arizona, in Apache. and Coconino
counties, and III the adjoining parts
Of New Mexico. and now and then
some prOspector or other chance traveller
who has been wandering in that region
comes across highly interesting relics not
previously known. The whole region is
believed by those who have travelled in
IL to offer a remarkably rich field for ar
Genealogical research.
Two amateur explOrers-George Camp
bell and Everett Howell-returned TO
Flagstaff, Ariz., a week or more ago
from tour In the region northeast or
that town, and reported some highly
interesting finds OF well-preserved cliff
dwellings. In the immediate neighbOr-
hood of Turkey Tanks, eighteen miles
northeast Of Flagstaff, they found the
finest collection Of dwellings yet discov-
cred in. that region. The dwellings
were built in the walls Of narrow and
AUAhy AdADIs OLA hNtlAlIES III OAtt klNhU
were practically intact. the walls be-
ing in an almost perfect state of preser-
walton, and presented in every way a
much more habitable appearance than
do other cliff-dWelings in Arizona with
which the two explorers We're familiar
Several unusual features Of the dwellings,
seemed TO indicate that they might
have been occupied by chiefs, or the fami-
Iy Of a ruler.
Near the dwellings was a large tunnel.
Of natural formation, running far into
the side Of the canon, In the tunnel
were remains Of walls, showing that IL at
some time had been divided into roomy
apartments. There appeared TO be scat
tered about the tunnel many relics Of
the people who had lived in II, but
the explorers were not provided with
lights adequate for any extended eXpl0ra-
ton Of the tunnel or its contents. A
bone ring Of good workmanship was pick
ed up on the floor.
Along the valley OF the Rio Colorado
Chiquito. in Apache county, there are
many ruins Of the habitations OF cliff
dwellers. and also Of Aztecs and Toltecs,
who lived I'm walled towns. Near ST.
Johns. the county-seat Of Apache coun-
~. there are extensive ruins Of two con-
siderable towns that apparently al one
time contained a population OF several
thousand each.
A writer in the Holbrook Argus tells
OF several explorations in that region
which yielded highly important results.
Near one extensive group of ruins. some
twelve miles south Of ST. Johns, he found.
several years ago, a storehouse OF Indian
antiquities. on the summit Of a rocky
eminence rising from the river bank op-
pOsite one OF the ruined towns he found
a HearIra nNfanIfuu or
into the hillside. The entrance was mar
Nv, but the interior was quite large.
Heaped on the floor u this cave were
hundreds, perhaps thousands. Of bows and
arrows Many OF the bows were deco
rated with lizards and snakes. painted In
bright cOlors that seemed TO have kept
all OF their original freshness. There
were also stone axes and hammers. bas-
kets. and n variety Of ornaments OF shell
and stone. The discovery OF these relics
was made on a chance visit, and the ex-
plorer was not provided with facilities for
extended investigation. He had one or
two candles. and he examined the cave
while these lasted. The articles I'm the
cave seemed TO have been thrown in
there In confusion, as II in great haste
and excitement. When the writer was
able. some time later. TO visit the cave
again. he found that either Indians or
Mexicans-and judging from the traces
left. he thinks probably Mexicans-had
sheltered in the cave. and set fire TO the
whole mass Of arrows. bows, baskets, and
other relies. The antiquities had been de-
stroyed either purpOsely, i'm ignorance OF
their value, or accidentally had caught
fire from campfire kindled I'm the cave.
There were enough non-in1ammable relies
remaining. however, to form an interest
ing collection.
4 recent visit to the neghborhood Of
the cave shows that the little hill in
which II is situated was at one time
a fortified stronghold. Near the sum-
nit are remains OF a wall which ap-
parently encircleJ the extreme summit,
enclosing a space some % feet in diane
ter In the middle OF Ths space was a
perfect globe, u inches in diameter, cut
out OF basalt. Twenty yards above the
base OF the hill are the remains Of an
other wall, which also appears TO have
encircled the hill originally. The ground
al around the base OF the hill IS covered
with small broken stones AMI there arc
many indications that these stones We're
thrown from some primitive weapons,
probably sings, in defence Of the fortified
hill.
Further south from this place and still
near the river. the Argus writer found
OkUeF runs ol piAtliEdaif tNt cdilt
characteristics. And all over that part
OF Arizona there are known to exist ruins
OF the same class Expert archaeologists
from American and European colleges
have made many remarkable discoveries
In this very old yet very new region OF
Northern Arizona, and much Is known
and still more Is indicated, Of the high
intelligence Of the people who occupied
the region long before the advent OF the
Spanards. But the stories brought In
every little while by chance travellers
mostly mining prospectors, Of finds OF
rare interest. show that the region Is a
book of wonderful human interest. Of
which but the first few pages have yet
been turned. The water problem, which
is now solving by irrigaton-works, was
solved ages ago In the same way by
this people. ana many Of the canals and
reservoirs they built are In process OF
repair and others are in use as they were
centuries ago Becker lake. an immense
reservoir. near Springerville. not many
miles from st. Johns, was built by an
ancient people, and IL used for irrigation
purposes by the people living thereabout
to-day, and the canal, by which It is
filled from the Little Colorado river, Is
the one built by the anclents. and Is In
practically the same condition to-day as
when they built IL