The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-16
MONTEzUMA's TREASURE.
Theory that 1t and IKingly Remains
Are Hidden Near ChapuIteDec.

City of Mexico Telegram.
1t is a singular fact that there are more
legends about the Rock OF Chapultepec than
about Mexico herself. a solemn sole truth that
Do those who drive there of q morning
realize that behind all this smoke there
must be some fire? Do they ask themselves
what that huge cypress could tell if a man
could but come upon 1t in the mood OF Ten
nysons talking oak? Were those. rude
sculptures upon the living rock ever bathed
with human blood and perfumed with gum
copal and human hearts? Apart from the
traditions, many of them exquisitely beauti-
full, which relate to the different races that
made the rock a palace fortress, the place
has much to say for itself. 1t was obvious
ly much stronger in the days of the Toltecs
than in the years of the Montezumas, for it
was according to the legend of Huemac, the
last of the old race, fortress so impregna-
be that the Xolotin of the Rabbits never
even assaulted it. Probably the southern
end was perfectly free from buildings and
from trees, so that the assaiiants of the cas-
them to the missiles of the archers and
singers. They could not assault from any
other side, both on the east and south, and
on the west the cliff was perpendicular.
On this side was certainly the main en-
trance. We know this by the disposition of
the trees, which were surely planted by the
hand of man. On this side also is the cave
which was obviously artificial II was made
by building strong fires to calcine to pow
der the natural cement winch binds tcgeth-
er the masses of porphyry, s. called, for
it is really trachyte. The powders could be
removed without any trouble. 1t has always
been known that there was sort OF cork
screw stairway leading up to the Alcazar
from this cave, for which reason the en-
trance to the passage was long ago barred
with iron rails Now the stairway has been
replaced by an Otis elevator, ana ConSe-
quently the cave has been closed to the pub
lie, because it has become part of the pal
ace, giving immediate access TO the private
apartments of Mexico's President. Every
one who has ever entered this cave has
wondered what was its object. OF course 1t
was a secret entrance and exit but to have
been so used it was necessary that the
passage should be masked in some way,
and this was not difficult, for II Is quite
small. This cave was perhaps used as a
tomb Most unfortunately the Spaniards of
the conquest did not take much interest in
such matters and il is only incidentally
that we learned that the dead bodies of the
great were kept in a room OF their palaces.
This was exceedingly Egyptian. and 1t may
also have been Carthaginian, for there are
no cemeteries of that people known to ex-
ist. The great question is: Was 1t the tomb
of the Inflated Montezuma? There is very
strong belief that he was buried in Cha
pultepec, and this belief is logical, as l will
show in a moment. There is also a belief,
still stronger. that his treasure after Its
his tomb. And this is also logical. But as
the treasure has not been found the unfor-
tunate monarch could not have found his
last resting place 30 this cave But there
may be another cave which has been hidden
with great art
AS soon as MoIeukhZoma (Montezuma)
was deposed and could be or no further
service To the Spaniards, they murdered
him and sent his body out of the palace In
the charge of a few mean men, who took
it TO the new Emperor He would not re-
ceiye it. which was correct according TO