The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-03-31
AZTEC WRITINGS IN IOWA
FINDING INOTHER MlN UHCEII'T
 LEFT BY THAT RACE.

Written on Bark and Incloscd in a Chunk
 of Wood Believed to be at Least Four
 Hundred Years Old.
 The archaeological museum at the Ohio State University has been en- riched by find of great rarity and value. A fortunate chance has placed it in possession of an Aztec manu- script the fifth so far known to be in existence in the e1tire world, and the only one now in America, the others all being in European museums
 The story of the unearthing of this remarkable relic and the manner in which it came into the hands of the university is highly interesting On September ? last, J. Y. Griffith, a labor ing man of Fairfield, la, in tho employ of the water works of that city, while engaged in excavating. brought to light what was apparently an ordinary chunk of wood, except that it's surface was incrusted with a coating of pitch, The object was found about three feet below the surface, the dimensions be- ing a foot in length by eight inches in width and five or six inches in thick ness. A stroke with the pick caused it to break open, revealing space that had been scooped out of the center, in which lay a roll of birch bark, covered on one side with a strange looking bier oglyphics.
 The laborer was intelligent enough to realize that the find was of some value. and refrained from the vandalism of which many uneducated workmen might have been guilty. He carefully preserved the curious object. and later it was brought to the attention of Miss Emma Clarke of the same city, who be- came interested in having scientific judgment passed upon 1t She laid the matter before Professor Edwin Sparks of the University of Chicago. The lat ter gentleman, knowing of the valuable collection in the joint possession of the Ohio Archaeological society and the State University, and of the zeal of the curator of the same, Professor Warren Moorehead, to secure additions lO lIle illiotuHl, IeltlIbu IhlSS AioI hS lb him.
 From the description which the lady sent to Professor Moorehead, he con cluded that the find was nothing less than an Aztec manuscript, and with the instinct of the true archaeologiSt, his fingers itched to get hold of the treasure. Several letters passed be- tween the curator and Miss Clarke, with the result that the relic was final ly forwarded to the Ohio Archaeologi- cal society, being received at the col lege a few days ago.
 The bark is of extreme thinness. and Is Of the character which was ordinari- ly employed by the Aztecs in their wri- tings. The hieroglyphics are made with red pigment, and remain fresh and distinct The natural color of the bark is also well preserved. The three pieces into which the manuscript is di- vided are from three to four inches long and from two to three inches wide. The edges are broken in two or three places impairing a portion of the wri- ting. AS soon as Professor Moorehead received the relic he telegraphed to MT. Griffith, asking him to dig again and
  fragments The latter replied that he had made a search for them at the time of the discovery, but without success.
 The wooden case in which the man uscript was inclosed is in fair state of preservation. It is of hickory and the inside is charred, It had been rudely fashioned with a stone axe. But for the coating of pitch it must have iong since gone to decay and it's precious contents with it. Accompanying the relic were two photographs of the spot on which it was found. The scene is an open prairie. evidently the extreme suburbs of the little city. All doubt is set at rest as to the character of the relic. Its Aztec origin was speedily determined upon examination by Pro- lessor Moorehead. whose extensive re- searches in archaeology in connection with the Smithsonian Institution at Washington, D. C., makes him familiar with the signs employed by this race In their writings. Lest any suspicion should attach to the senuineness of the manuscript q letter was received with the latter, signed by number of prom inent citizens of Fairfield, testifying to ' ness. This is unnecessary, however, as the relic on the face of it Is what it purports to be In order to have per petrated such a fraud MT. Griffith must have been an Aztec scholar. There are but three works eXtant upon this branch of archaeological science, and the copies are very rare and expensive. It is unlikely that any laboring man would have had the knowledge of the existence of these books, let alone ac- cess to them. However, this point does not need to be discussed as imposture is removed beyond the bounds of possi- bility.
 Many interesting questions are aroused at sight of this fragmentary reminder of an extinct people. The one that most naturally suggests itself is in regard to the translation of the strange characters. What does the writing say? The most learned schol- ar is obliged to shake his head at this Inquiry. The sad fate of an eminent archaeologist of Philadelphia is re- called. Dr. H. D. Cresson was a grad uate of two schools of medicine and a painter of rare ability, who had exhibi- ted and won recognition as an artist in Paris He was also interested in other branches of science and art, and was