The record-union., 1898-01-12
WONDERFUL STAIRWAY.
Ruins Recently Dis
covered in Central America.

Remarkable Ruins Recently Dis
covered in Central America.
George Byron Gordon, the explorer, in
the January Century gives an ac-
count of recent discoveries at Copan
under the title of THE Mysterious City
of Honduras" Mr.. Gordon says:
The most extraordinary feature that
our excavations have yet brought to
light is the hieroglyphic stairway al
ready referred to. Facing the plaza at
the southern end, it occupied a central
position on the western side Of the high
pyramidal elevation that forms the
northern wing of the main structure.
Even in the sad state of ruin in which
we behold it now, it affords a magnifi-
cent spectacle What must it have
been in the days when it was entire
and reached from the floor of the plaza
TO the entrance of the temple that stood
on the hight hundred feet above.
When discovered, in 1894, this stair
way was completely buried beneath the
debris fallen from the temple, of which
not one stone remained upon another
The upper part Of the stairway itself
had also been thrown from its place
as if by an earthquake, and lay strewn
upon the lower portion. When. at
length, after months of labor, on which
from fifty to 100 men were employed,
the fallen material was cleared away,
an acre of ground was covered with
broken sculptures removed during the
progress of the work, and the lower
steps We're found unframed In the
center Of the stairway, at the base. is
a throne or pedestal rising to the fifth
step. and projecting eight feet in front
The design upon its face is rich in
sculpture and delicate in detail. 1t Is
made up in part of handsome faces,
masks, death's-heads, and scrolls. beau
tifully carved, and disposed with per-
feet symmetry, but the ensemble is per-
fectly unintelligible. On the face Of
each step in the stairway is a row Of
hieroglyphics, carved In medium relief,
running the entire length. At inter-
walls in the ascent the center is occu-
pied by a human figure of noble and
commanding appearance, arrayed in
splendid attire, seated on the steps. The
upper parts of all these figures were
broken away, but the pieces of several
We're recovered and restored On each
side was a solid balustrade two feet
thick; the upper parts of these were
also broken away, but by careful study
and comparison, enough was recovered
to enable US to make out the curious
and complicated design. Portrait-like
busts issuing from the jaws of gro
tesque monsters, standing out upon
these balustrades. and repeated at reg
ular intervals, formed their principal
adornment.
Notwithstanding the arduous toll un-
der the fierce rays of tropical sun,
the exhuming Of the stairway, In the
construction of which the ancient
sculptors exhausted the resources of
their art, was a fascinating labor, and
was performed under the constant
stimulus of expectation, and the ex-
element Of discovery. When the last
days work was done, and l stood upon
the broken throne at the base Of the
stairway, to take a last look at the
scene of my labors, so familiar had I
grown with every feature of the place
that it seemed to cost but little effort
Of the mind to roll aside the mist that
hid the past and restore again the shat
tered fabric. From my position l could
see the whole plaza, with its monu-
ments and temple-crowned pyramids.
In front of me the smooth cemented
pavement stretches away westward to
a range of terraces that bounds ii in
that direction, but leaves unobstructed
the view of the mountains beyond the
valley. In other days the parting
shafts of the sun struck the temple.
and its sculptured walls, adorned with
paint and stucco. flashed in the light,
until the shadows, mounting the throne
and climbing the stairway. shot above
the highest tower, and left the city
wrapped in gloom. For a moment the
peaks stood dark and gigantic against
the dazzling sunset hues, crowned with
glory; then the colors faded rapidly,
giving way to pale glow above the
mountains, while sudden darkness fell
upon the valley
Musing on the scene. / was dimly
aware OF long array Of shadows pro-
jected from the past Nor was it alto
gether fancy. This plaza has wit
messed many a scene of august pomp,
and many glittering pageant. Many
priestly procession with solemn rites
has trod the sculptured stairs, and here.
doubtless, on many day famous in the
annals of the nation, the piumed war
riors of Co. returning with victorious
banners, bowed before the throne where
their monarch sat in state and proudly
reviewed them as they passed.