The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-16
A WONDERFUL STAIRWAY.
Remarkable Ruins Recently DIscOv-
cred In Central America


George Byron Gordon. the explorer, in
the January Century gives an account Of
recent discoveries at Copan, under the til
tie of "the Mysterious City of Honduras. ="
Mr.. Gordon says:
The most extraordinary feature that our
excavations have yet brought 10 light is
the hieroglyphic stairway already referred
to. Facing the plaza at the southern end ;
1t occupied central position on the west
ern 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
magnificent 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 a hundred feet aboVei
When discovered, in 1894, this stairway
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 earth
quake. and lay strewn upon the lower por-
ton. When, at length, after months of la
Dor, on which from fifty to one hundred
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 were found unharmed. 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 de-
sign upon its face is rich in sculpture and
delicate in detail 1t is made up in part
of handsome faces, masks. Deaths heads
and scrolls, beautifully carved, and dis
posed with perfect symmetry, but the en-
semble is perfectly unintellgible. On the
face of each step in the stairway is a row
of hieroglyphs, carved in medium relief
running the entire length. At intervals in
the ascent the center is occupied by a hui
man figure of noble and commanding an
pearance, arrayed in splendid attire. seat.
ed on the steps. The upper parts of all
these figures were broken aWav but the
pieces of several were recovered and re-
stored. On each side was a solid balus-
trades two feet thick; the upper parts OF
these were also broken away, but by care
full study and comparison, enough was re-
covered TO enable us to make out the Gu.
rious and complicated design. Portrait-lilSt
busts issuing from the jaws of grotesqut
monsters, standing out upon these balus.
trades, and repeated at regular intervals
formed their principal adornment
notwithstanding the arduous toll under
the fiery rays of a tropical sun. the cx.
huming of this stairway, in the construc.
ton of which the ancient scuptors ex.
hausted the resources of their art was
a fascinating labor, and was performed
under the constant stimulus of expecta.
ton, and the excitement of discovery
When the last days work was done anC
l stood upon the broken throne at the base
of the stairway, to take last look al
the scene of my labors,so familiar had
grown with every feature of the place thai
it seemed to cost but little effort of The
mind roll aside tha CT fIat hi 81
past, and restore again the shattered fab.
ric. From my position / could see the
whole plaza, with its monuments and TEN.
pe-crowned pyramids. In front of me tho
smooth-cemented pavement stretched
away westward to a range of terraces thai
bounds it in that direction. but leaves un
INSTRUCTED the view of the mountains be
yond the valley. In other days the part
ing shafts of the sun struck the temple
and its sculptured walls, adorned with
paint and stucco flashed in the light, un
til the shadows, mounting the throne nnC
climbing the stairway, shot above tn,
highest tower, and left the city wrapped
in gloom. For moment the peaks $1,000
dark and gigantic against the dazzling
sunset hues, crowned with glory; then tn,
colors faded rapidly, giving way to a pal'
glow above the mountains. while sudder
darkness fell upon the valley.
Musing on the scene | was dimly aware
of long array of shadows projected from
the past. Nor was it altogether fancy
This plaza has witnessed many a scene
of august pomp, and many a glitterni
pageant. Many a priestly procession will
solemn rites has trod these sculptureC
stairs, and here, doubtless, on many
day famous in the annals of the nation
the plumed warriors of Co. returning
with victorious banners, bowed before th'
throne where their monarch sat in stat'
and proudly reviewed them as they pass