The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-21

as. a narrator of myths when he said
that some of his soldiers had counted
10000 skulls at one Of the places of sac
rifice, but the discoveries recently made
confirm its truth. 1t is said that at the
dedication of the great temple of Huitzil-
potohi, in 1856, the ruins of which have
been examined by Mr.. Nivens, the prison
ers used for the sacrifice had been saved
up for two years and had been drawn
from all quarters Of the empire. The GER
emory of sacrifice consumed several days.
and 10000 captives are said to have been
killed. The procession of victims was two
miles long. No less than twenty of these
temples, or pyramids of sacrifice, have
been found by Mr. Niven and each has
an enormous heap os human bones near it.
The Montezuma whose treasure house
Mr.. Niven thinks he has Uncovered was
Montezuma II. He was more of a priest
than statesman, and, when notified Of
his election as emperor, he was found
sweeping the stairs of The great temple Of
the war god. A year after his accession,
however, there was a decided change in
Montezuma. He had become noted for
his success in battle and also for his AFRO
gance, pomp and luxury. He carried his
campaigns as far as Honduras and Mica
ragua and looted those countries, as well
as Mexico. of their wealth. He learned
the secret of the mines Of the Toltecs, the
predecessors OF the Aztees, and II is said
that at one time had 1900 men working
in the gold mines. He was at the height
of his glory when Cortez entered MexicD,
in 1913. Montezuula was not in the least
glad to hear Of the coming OF the Span
lard, for there had been strange portents
in the sky, and his soothsayers had told
him that they foreshadowed the over
throw of the empire.
Among the other gifts which Coftez or
iginally sent TO Montezuma was big
steel helmet of Spanish manufacture.
Montezuma sent it back, filed TO the
bTim with grains OF gold. He also sent
an aligator's head. life size, of gold. and
two great circular plates Of gold and Sill
Yer "of the bigness OF a coach wheel
as the Spanish chr0nicler said One was
worth t234. Goo. The presents were enough
70 i'll one OF the Spanish ships, and were
nearly all OF gold. There was never any
suspicion that the metal had been
brought from other countries. Il seems
10 have been looked upon as an excIu-
sively home product. and cheap one AZ
that Cortez. having seen the gold. would
rot 60 away. and Montezunla was afraid
70 use force 20 drive the Invader out. Ow-
ing 10 a disturbance which occurred at
Vera Cruz, Cortez made i appear that
he was the friend OF Sfontezuma, ard IL
duced the emperor 70 meet him unsccom-
panied by guards. When the emperor
went TO the meeting place ne was made
prisoner by Cortez ard was taken 10 the
Spanish headquarters IN June. 159a. the
people Of ne capital rose in -evo,r and
beseged the Spa1isris ii their quarters.
Things looked 50 had tor the Span1a-1s
nat Cortez. hoping % influence the Mex
leans. induced M0ntezuna 70 address rs
subjects from the battlements ard plead
for peace
A. first Montszurla was Listened - y1ta
respect. but a. length his ap7saas OF BE-
half q the white men 80 sxssPerated ths
Mexiczns that they refused u lasfsn A
shower % missiles was discharged az afnl
a stone struck bin on the temple. and ~
feu sanseiess. He refused az regze5 - tore T
the bandases from as wounds ard did n
few days
Wn- NIyen. he man WAC aas found TIE
eEupe-or's treasure place, K native y
Glasgow He came 20 America & hss
youth, ard gpen, tire yea-z from Its 70
IsS4 prospecting IN Colorado. Se~ No1ieo. I
Ar.zcna and Mexicb. He was ASSISTANT