The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-02-24
AMERICAS POMPElI.'
INTERESTING DISCOVERIES MADE BY
AN ALASKAN TRAVELLER.

an Asaihncue-Ihe w ais Oh w nat MAY Il
BE a Prehistoric City Laid Bare some
Beautiful Specimens of Pottery.
One of the most interesting theories |
in regard to the ancient colonization OF |
America is that relating TO its Asiatic |
origin These theories We're supported
by tribal traditions, chiefly among the |
highly civilized races of Mexico as they |
were discovered by the Spaniards, from
an analysis of which it would appear
that the first settlements of this CONT
nent were Asiatic-for the time of Il
high degree of cultivation, in time over
run and subjugated by more warlike and
powerful invaders, who like themselves,
came from the north.
Archaeological discoveries in New
Mexico, Arizona and California have
tended to confirm these obscure legends,
and now a correspondent of The Glole
Democrat of st. Louis presents the lat
| est claims in the evidence of Professor
| Alfred Eldrige of Montreal as to recent
discoveries made by him in Alaska.
| Professor Eldriges statements to the
| correspondent were, in brief, as follows:
Eat the mouth of the Kuwalik river,
on the shore of Kotzebue sound, l en-
| countered q small settlement of Indial-s,
who were much surprised at my desire
10 proceed up the stream.
| "The chief did all in his power 10
persuade me to abandon my project, eX-
| planning unbearable perils galore which
(, would be certain To encounter The
savages seemed 10 think the district
cursed by the Great Spirit, and nothing
could tempt them to set foot OH it.
II did not feel uneasy, however, I'M
til / arrived at the mouth of the Ku
Walk. As entered the mouth of this
frozen river it seemed as though l could
read, Abandon hope, all We who enter
here written across its horizon, and
the vision of possible Dantean Infer
no. beyond amazed me.
son the border Of little lake where
I stopped my attention was drawn to
spot half way up a steep peak, which
had evidently suffered some recent dis
turbance. On arriving at the situation
saw that great body of earth had
broken away and rolled down the noun
tain.
1.-THE first thing to attract me was
the discovery Of small piece of broken
earthenware, light brown in color, with
an artistically worked trimming of
Greek design worked in black pigment.
1t was just such piece as those had
found in New Mexico some years be-
fore, and any enc can imagine my
amazement at its discovery in that
quarter.
81 turned quickly to scan the sides q
the earth where the avalanche had tori
it apart, and in the midst Of the crevice
not 800 yards away from where l stood
: | saw the protrusiCn of a wall OF dull
= gray masonry, crumbling aud broken
but showing beyond all doubt, even a
;. that distance. that the builder was hu
:, man. On making further investigation
/ found evidences Of numerous othe
walls at distance of so or more fee
! apart, and some Of them revealed COZ
ners Of masonry.
: "It soon became evident to me that
: had discovered an American Pompei
= through the work of the avalanche. Ih
"a remains of houses saw were undoubt
u With a. Of o prehistoric city, covere
s, Io,, - ;4ad debris, which had hid
+. n nos duriiDjh some yoieanic action
:, afiei, -. l-..a,.tion. ctsGast likely Ion
"a ries ago. ~
~ "All Of the masonry was Of beautif'
:. symmetry, constructed of hewn sane
" stone blocks CT an approximately eve
- size, laid in strong mortar beds al
:, 10 with the joints broken. There we
:" many pieces of broken pottery and 9th
articles of domestic use lying around Il
ruins.
"But I sought higher game, and aft
y preparing wooden handle to copp
cp spade which 1 picked up ON the scel
''s went to digging most industriousl
DIS Almost Immediately my antiquat'
se' spade unearthed few more fragmen
ne Of pottery, which seemed an omino
~ sign. AS I reached about six feet
'iy meath the surface pots, vases. ~tSt
oA plates, jugs, pipes and NUMEROUS brin
lht of doubtful use and toS-SRSd with a
DE- away with me were Tspade. The lae
81 most every thrust. avealed were nike
w articles my MS, spears OF odd desigf
ay sizes Ct J-dchets and drills.
III SCI dys into square room which IA
", no widows in the walls. Here 1oun
ed some Of the finest specimens OF potter
I'll AVE ever seen. They were beautiful
s'si v decorated and finished in wa
mt Ithat is lost art to modern potter'
edl There were many exquisitely shaped jars
+ about 8 feet tall and as perfectly pre-
re served as the china just delivered froi
the hands of our nineteenth centur
AZ potters-if anything, more artisticaii
q proportioned.
''It does not require much thought
D. study to see an undeniable connecuo
between the evidence of prehistoric II
habitation in Spanish-America an
those which have unearthed in nortl
On ern Alaska, fact which opens an el
ry tirely new and extensive field for arcns
'r- illogical study.
,er Always Running.
no "Your wife has such liquid voice
,e- ea;d Mr.. Fosdick to Mr.. Tin.