Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-31
ANCIENT DESERT WALL.
Ruins Found by ProsDectors In the
Mojaye.
Q.os Angeles (CaI) Letter.

(lIoS Angeles cali LetlerJ
In prospecting. small pieces of mineral
bearing rock, called float, are looked for,
and with theses as clues the search for
the original location of the float Is be-
gun. In this way are most Of the mines
discovered by prospectors. Sometimes
these clues prove tickle, and far differ
ent discoveries are made than those an
ticipated; and this is what happened TO
two lonely prospectors out on the alkali-
covered wastes of the BIojaye Desert
on Sunday. November LIST, these two
miners, having wandered about ten miles
east Of their camp In an almost vain
search for float, CHANGED, late In the al
ternoon, upon some pieces Of white
quartz, closely aggregated together. one
OF the pieces was carelessly turned over
and glittering spot attracted the trained
eyes. a close examination and inspec-
ton of all the pieces showed traces Of
fine pin-head gold in sufficient quanti-
ties to warrant a most careful and rigid
search. Nothing more being found, they
determined to do little digging on the
spot. The first stroke of the pick pene-
trated to depth Of about six inches, and
struck something very hard and solid.
Clearing away the sand and decomposed
granite as best they could the men dis
closed what seemed TO be a two-foot
quartz ledge. IL being so late in the
afternoon, further work was abandoned.
and the long. weary tramp back 70 camp
was commenced. Arriving there, sup
per was hastily prepared. and as hastily
eaten; and after everything had been
put into shape for the night a consul
tation was held. After a long delibera-
ton. Il was at last decided ~ move the
entire outfit to the new location the next
day. and resume operations, with the In
tention of investigating the extent and
probable value OF the supposed ledge.
Long before the sun appeared above
the horizon the prospectors were up
and moving, and, after hard trip over
the rough. rocky country, the scene or
tho previous days discovery was reach
ed: camp was once more arranged, ana
work was again commenced. AS a re-
suit OF a hard afternoons toll with pick
and shovel, sufficient OF the ledge was
uncovered to permit OF a more extended
examination. To their establishment
they saw. not a ledge Of mineral-bearing
quartz rock. as they had supposed, but
a ledge the shape and formation or which
showed conclusive and unmistakable
evidence Of human handiwork. They
had discovered an ancient wall. the pro-
duct Of some prehistoric people, mute
and lasting monument to the excellent
workmanship and engineering skill OF the
builders. All the stories and articles
concerning similar structures In various
sections OF Southeastern California and
Western Arizona that they had read
flashed through their minds, and the
question, us not this one OF those ancient
works." was asked OF each other. The
next day they resumed work soon after
sunrise. and kept il up day after day.
On account of the heavy character or the
debris to be removed, progress was, OF
necessity, very slow and tedious, end
work was all the more retarded by the
frequent thirty-mile trips for water they
had 10 make. and the intense heat OF the
sun. The heat OF the sun soon rendered the
water unfit for use, and this fact forced
one of the men to travel the fifteen miles
10 fresh water and back again ever other
day. This trip each man took alternate
w. leaving the other to work alone all
day In the solitude.
The whole surface of the desert Is
covered with huge boulders, half buried
In the ground. large pieces OF rock, and
| hilocks and mounds OF shifting sand,
and this unevenness rendered the depth
| of the wall top variable from one TO ten
feet. After three weeks OF the most
arduous labor 'and suffering from the
blistering heat of the sun, the scalding
alkali, and burning, cutting, sand-laden
winds Of the desert. the two hardy
workers had dug down through decom-
posed granite, conglomerate as hard al
most as rock, and drifting sand, and I'M
| covered the crest for about fifty square
/ feet, and the face OF the wall to depth
81 cot a
TO permit OF an examination. TO form an
opinion as to the real character or the
| structure and the material used, and 10
gain some idea as to the size, shape, ana
outlines.
In mountainous regions there Is GER
! tain formation Of rock, which Is coh-
slant In that particular locality or coun-
try. and this rock Is termed the "coun-
try rock" In the locality where this
wall Is situated the country rock Is or
granite formation, while great quanti-
ties Of white quartz are scattered In
profusiOn over the desert plains In
masses varying from boulders weighing
many tons TO chunks OF the size or a
mans fist. Granite, when exposed 10
| the air and the combined action or the
| sun, winds. and rain-storms IN time
| disintegrates or decomposes and hence
structure In this climate; but quartz is
peculiar. both for its hardness and last
| inc qualities. The combined assaults OF
tie sun, winds, and rains do not affect
II: only the grinding friction OF the
| shifting sands, irresistible alike 10 all
| exposed objects, leaves Its blight In the
form OF gradual wearing away OF the
rock. and II was OF this lasting material,
which existed in such plentiful profusion.
that the ancient product Of a primitive
nlaining the idea of a quartz ledge AZ
first sight.
the construction of the wall necessi-
tated the use Of some very large blocks
of the quartz. and a close examination
OF the face showed number as iargs
as three feet square. The blocks ara
dt,ed together, and the joints originally
were carefully filled with some kind OF
mortar or cement. The uncovered por'