The morning news., 1897-07-08
Arizona CIiR DweIlers.



Flagstaff, riz.-Special-For the first
time in modern history a dwelling that
was formerly peopled by the cliff dwellers
is to be made accessible to the public, and
not only that but 1t is to be restored
as nearly as possible to its original APP
pearance, and travellers will at last be
able to see just exactly the sort Of place
in which those famous people who dWelt
in inaccessible places really lived.
The dwelling which Is to be restored is
known as Montezuma castle. 1t Is locat-
ed about three miles from the abandoned
military post Of Camp Verde, Ark, and
is perched high in a sheltering niche of
a huge limestone cliff which towers up
from the left bank Of Beaver creek. It Is
one of the largest and finest cliff dwell
ings in the United States and certainly
the most picturesque ruin in Arizona.
The precipice into whose walls this hu-
man eyrie is built Is an imposing one-a
fit setting for the quaint antiquarian gem
lmbedded In Its breast. 1t is a much more
pleasing experience to look upon this old
cliff than II is to scale IL on an afternoon
when the sun shines full upon IL W ith
blisterng heat. once attained the build
ing is found to be composed OF Ave terrac-
ed stories, and measures forty-eight feet
In hight. The walls are Of adobe, built
much after the fashion of the present
homes Of the Pueblo Indians, and en-
trance as In these latter, was originally
gained from the top. The roofs are con-
structed Of good-slzed tmbers set in the
walls, across which, transversely are
placed poles. and these covered with reeds
and mud. Twenty large rooms and eight
small ones In all are found In the castle.
The upper terrace OF the building Is roof
ed only by the projecting rock Of the Cliff
a space Of perhaps three feet being left
open between the top OF the outer wall and
the rock above. From two chambers In
the inner wall OF this terrace the half
mummiied bodies OF two small children
were exhumed last summer.
Last summer the friends OF Montezuma
castle, alarmed by the damage done 20
It's walls by reckless excavations. deter
mined 70 make the effort for the preserva-
ton Of this and the other antiquities OF
the southwest. A number OF endeavors
had been previously made 70 obtain some
general legislation Of similar nature but
without success. The only result attain
ed, and this after some haggilng. was an
amendment 10 the Indian appropriation
bill prohibiting the removal OF relics from
the public lands without permission from
the Secretary OF the Interior. and do not
know II even this finally became a law.
Then the Arizona Antiquarian Aasocia-
ton assalled the Arizona legislature with
petitions for similar measure. but the
request was denied. The ARIZONA Anti
quarlan Association was not 30 easily de-
feated Subscription papers were clrcu-
lated In Prescott and Flagstaff, and the
necessary amount 90 put the ruin In re-
pair was soon raised. The work IL now
In progress and IN a short time the aaHo-
cintion can have the satisfaction OF know
ing that through its efforts this, perhaps
the finest single ruin within our national
borders, will be preserved for future gem
eratlons.
The plan IL 10 anchor the building IN the
elf by means OF long iron rods, replace
a portion OF the foundation. protect with
the castle throughout and erect and So
curoly fastcn In place good approaches
This will make n not only secure but
easy of access Tor an visitors.