New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-03
AN ATTIC lis. FOUND IN IOWA
THE ONLY ONE NOW IN THIS COUNTRY
AND THE FIFTH so FAR DISCOVERED.

From The Columbus COhio) Dispatch
The archaeological museum at the Ohio State
rarity and value. a fortunate chance has placed
II in possession Of Aztec manuscript the MN
go far known to be in existence In the en'lre wo'du
and the only one now in America, the others all
being in European museums 49,. ,or,,oh,o
The story of the unearhng OF TINS reniarhap l
relic and the manner in which it came into the
hands of the university Is highly interesting. o
EapPsaiS Iowa in the employ of the waterworks
of that city. while engaged IN excaVatihs piEue ~
ri wood except that its surface was incrused Win
coating of pitch. The object was Iounu a h;nS
three feet below the surface the dimensions OeIhs
a foot in length by eight inches In width ana nVe
or six inches in thickness stroke win tne plch
had been scooped out of the centre, In which Jay
q roll of birch bark covered on one sue VII"
strange looking hieroslyphics ,o
The laborer Was intelligent enough TO reaIze
that the find was of some value, and reIralhea
workman might have been guilty. lie careiulIy
preserved the curious object and Iater II wa a.
brought 10 the attention of Miss Emma Clarke, vi
the Same city. who became interested in having
scientific Judgment passed upon IT. she laid me
iTniversitv of Chicago. The latter gentleman
knowing of the valuable collection IN the JONI
3pa STATE University, and of the zeal Of the cura-
tor of the same Professor Warren Moorenea1; 10
secure additions TO the museum referred MISS
From the description which the lady sent to Pro
lessor Moorehead he concluded that the ma was
nothing less than Aztec manuscript ana; win
the instinct of the true archaeologlst. ms Hneers
nassed between the curator and Miss Clarke with
the result that the relic was finally forwarded 70
the Ohio Archaeological Society. being received al
me co hr Is of extreme thinness and is of
character which was ordinarily employed by the
Aztecs in their writings The hierogHpmcs are
made with red pigment and remain tresh ana uis
preserved The three pieces into which the manu-,
script divided are from TO inches b long ana ia
two three places imPairng p3r'loh Of the s
writing AS soon as Professor Mo SI,r,h s re
Ing him 10 dig again and see If he could not find
the missing fragments. The latter replied that he
original discovery. but without success.
ITS WOODEN BINDING.
Tho wooden case in which the manuscript was
Enclosed is in fair state OF preservation IL Is OF
hickory and the inside Is charred IL had Deen
fudely fashioned with stone axe But Tor the
coating Of pitch II must nave long since gone 10
psnying the relic were two photographs of the
spot on which 1t found The scene Is an open
city All doubt is set at rest as TO the character
Of the relic. Its Aztec origin was speedily deter
mined upon examination by Professor Moorehead,
whose extensive researches In archaeology in con-
nection with the Smithsonian Institution at Wash
emspIoyed by this race in their writings Lest any
suspicion should attach to the genuineness OF the
manuscript a letter was received with the latter,
signed by a number OF prominent citizens OF Fair
field, testfying TO Mr.. Griffths veracity and trust
vorfhness This is unnecessary, however. as the
relic on the face Of IL is what II purports TO be.
In order to have perpetrated such fraud Mr.
Csrinith must have been an Aztec scholar. There
are but three works extant upon this branch OF
archaeological science and the copies are rare and
expensive II is unlikely that any laboring man
would have had the knowledge OF the existence OF
these books let alone access 10 them. However,
this point does not need 10 be discussed, as i'm
posture is removed beyond the bounds OF posi-
bility. 49,.
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 char
acfers What does the writing say? The most
lear scholar Is obliged 20 shake his head at
This inquiry In this connection the sad tate OF
an eminent archaeooGist of Philadelphia Is re-
called DR. H. ID. Cresson was a graduate or TWO
schools of medicine and painter Of rare ability.
Win had exhibited and won recognition as an
artist in Paris He also interested In other
branches of science and art, and was connected
Nth the Smithsonian Institution at the same time
Professor Moorehead was there. The doctor TOOK
m the study of an Aztec manuscript and spent
wars in the vain attempt to decpher IT, TOO close
snnjication TO the work finally unbalanced his
mind and while suffering from mental alteration
he shot himself In Central Park. New-fork, IN loi
Professor Moorehead will send the manuscript
40 the Smithsonian and have It passed upon by
the archaeological authorities there lie does not
exnect though that they will be able 10 read 1t. as
this feat has not been accomplished IN the case Of
yGO ks.s - ------ go -