Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-09-07
TO EXPLORE IN ARIZONA,
Expedition Will Seek Further
knowledge of Aztec Ruins.
FORMER SCOUT WILL BE LEADER,

he ProyiSioned For Long Siege.
John D. Credlebaugh of Chicago, an
ex-government scout and ex-chief by
adoption Of the Sioux Indian tribe, Is ar
ranging party to 60 in the late fall OF
early winter to Arizona and New Mex.
leo, there to investigate fully, says the
Chicago Record, what treasures or
mysteries may lie concealed in some Of
the abandoned towns and villages Of
the old Aztecs or some race of people
Of whom neither history nor tradition
has left any account.
That entire section Ia filed with
ruins of houses built before the advent
Of the Spaniards, showing wonderful
proficiency in the art Of masonry-a
proficiency not eXcelled and rarely
equaled by modern masons. For the
most part the towns and the houses Of
the cliff dwellers are found in the most
inaccessible places, as If the jewellers
therein were in constant expectation OF
attack from the enemy, although there
are places, such as the Casa Grande,
in southern Arizona, and the castlelike
ruins of the immense building on the
Las Animas river, in northern New
Mexico, which are on the plains. Re-
Gently there has been a reaWakened
interest in these ruins by scientific men
and by the government. and some in
teresting finds have been and are being
made.
Curiosity to know what IS contain
ed in large town In Arizona as
well as a desire to make it revenue
producer by making it accessible to
tourists and others has prompted MIR.
Credlebaush to go back to the country
through all of which he once secuted
and with every nook of which he Is
acquainted to reach q town capable or
containing apparently population or
5000 or 1000 people, which lies in the
Canyon de Chilley. in northeastern Ari-
IONA, the streets of which no white
man or red man either, unless the orig
inal inhabitants were red. has ever
tlod.
The town is built on a huge project
inc rock, which extends away over the
canyon. A huge shelving rock over
hangs the town. and 1t Is apparently
inaccessible. The town is situated
about 800 feet from the top of the CAN
Won and abort 900 feet from the bot
tom. AS will be seen, the overhanging
portion of the rock shelves or recedeS
and makes getting there" from the
top by means of rope, etc. impossible
as the town Is entirely covered with
| the rock.
| From the bottom the ascent appears
| equally hazardous, il not Impossible.
The sides of The canyon are OF such
shape and character as to make 1t nee
essary to have wings to reach the town
| from that direction. Standing on the
oDposite side Of the canyon one can,
without the aid of fieldglasses, see the
houses, streets, etc, of a dead town.
With the aid of the strongest field
glasses one is unable to see any steps
cut in the rocks in any direction lead
/ Ing to or from the village.
| Mr.. Credlcbaugh and others who
have seen the place estimate that 1t Is
1900 or more feet from the town
straiaht through the rocky side of the
canyou, to a level mesa on the east
side and il is Mr.. Credlebaugh's belief
that entrance to the town was effected
bv the builders through a tunnel from
this mesa.
He thinks the mouth was long since
filed up and that the Indians. with al
their wealth Of Evolutionary lore, never
knew or heard of it's existence and thai
the inhabitants Of what once was a
populous ana apparently prosperous
town disappeared from the earth with
out leaving thing to give posterlty an
inkling of what they were or what
national calamity 1t was that removed
them, unless, of course, something may
be found in the houses. If ever they are
reached.
The town lies in the Navajo Indian
reservation in Arizona. This reserva
ton is In the shape of boot, the leg
of which is in Arizona, the foot in New
Mexico. The canyon itself Is easily ac
cessble from either Gallup N. NJ, Fort
Defiance, Fort Wingate, N. NJ, or Du
rango, Colo, all railroad points. ant
The Navajo Indians are generally
friendly, their begging persistency be
ing their most annoying characteristic.
The Navajoes own this village as wei
az other reminders of former people
and. while they are Of no use to thu
present owners, it would be necessary
70 obtain a grant or some instrument
from them In order to make the village
a revenue producer by opening wa!
to its inspection by the canyons for
small fee. This concession, however
Mr. Credlebaugh is well equipped tt
obtain. He Is well acquainted Will
these Indians and with all Indians gen
orally and was paid the highest homo
ever bestowed by Indians upon Whit
man by the Sioux tribe. He was mad'
chief and offered life tenure, will
nil its emoluments, etc.
There will be four or five in the part.
of exnloration and acquisition, and pro
visions for several months siege will
he taken along 1t is the intention o
Mr.. Credlebaugh to reach the village
nv means of balloon, and once Their
he thinks there will be no trouble t.
find the mouth Of the tunnel at tina
end. to explore it and to locate witt
tolerably fair accuracy about wher
the mesa end should be located SO tina
work of excavating could be begun q
both ends.
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