The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-25
CAVE OF THE ANCIENTS
VAST UNDERGROUND sYsTEN OF
CHAMBERS ~ MEXICO.
Important Archaeological Discovery
Decorations That Indicate the
Place Was once "A Temple.

Ell PASO, Tex. Nov. 24-An important
archaeological discovery has just been made
by a mining -prospector named Henry Bier
man in Mexico. The discovery was OF a
vast subterranean system Of chambers rich
with ornamentation Of sculptures and mural
designs. 1t was evidently once a temple
of the ancient inhabitants OF Mexico, the
Mayas, or some Of those kindred races
whose power fourished and passed away
before the keels Of Columbus or Cortez
hoated in the waters OF the western world.
Mr.. Bierman made his discovery quite by
accident. He was in the beautiful Canyon
de los Novillos. not far from Ciudad Vic
toria, in the State of Tamaulipas. As he
made his way down the canyon looking for
evidence of gold or other metals he sud-
denly felt the ground giving way beneath
him, and the next he knew he was in one
Of those half concealed pits which are not
infrequently encountered in places where
there has once existed a center of prehis-
toric American civilization. Naturally the
first thing the prospector did was TO grope
about for some path OF escape from the
pitfall into which he had fallen. AS he did
so his eyes became more accustomed to the
dim light OF the place, and he saw that he
was in a cave about which were streWn
many ancient implements OF warfare and
cookery. and which was decorated with in
scriptions in the ancient and unreadable
h~ieroglyphics of the early inhabitants OF
Mexico and with many carvings of men
and animals.
At once he decided to explore the cave
further and take his chances Of coming
upon some old stairway which he might
ascend to the outer day again. He found
room after room in this great underground
temple or palace, whichever IL is. and while
some were Of ordinary size others We're or
vast dimensions. All Of them he found
stOrehOuseS of prehistoric relies which
would delight the hearts Of archaeologists.
The rooms were dimly ilumined by light
which came down here and there through
openings in the roof Of the cave. In some
apartments there was considerable light.
while in others the explorer could only
family make out the objects which sur
rounded him and the sculptures and in
scriptions on the walls. Here and there
were large drawings OF men, apparently in
ancient armor, and of others evidently
dressed as priests. In some rooms Mr..
Bierman found affairs with carved idols OF
stone standing back of them. He deter
mined to take away with him from the
cave, should he be fortunate in ever find
ing a way out, something which would
prove without any doubt that he was tell
ing the truth when he should come 10 re-
late the story of the wonderful things which
he had seen.
Finding an idol small enough to be car
ried by him without much difficulty, he
took this, and, placing IT under his arm, be-
a d6dAh Ao NaAAA AOA AIoAt AAtAt
and especially for a means OF exit, for,
looking at his watch he saw that ne had
already been several hours wandering
about the mysterious halls. whose floors
probably had not been trod by human
foot for so many centuries that civ
ilizations have arisen and deeayei
since the time when they last
echoed TO the sound of voice or football. IL
began to get a little ghostly and unoanuy
tramping about there in the twilight and
dusk, with lOng-lost gods looking down
from the affairs nnOn him and lOng-fnr-
gotten heroes shining in their dim paint
from the walls. Several times Mr.. Bierman
felt that the idol under his arm was set
ting heavy, and would not have been sur
prised TO have seen the god IL represented
appear TO him and protest against the pro-
fanation of his temple.
That the cave had been used as a place
of residence by many people was evident
from the number of cooking Implements
scattered about here and there in some Of
the rooms; and that the people who lived
In the cave had gone forth from IL 10 war
on the ground above was evident from the
large number of implements of war which
were found. The larger rooms, however,
seemed to have been used as temples or as
places Of public assembly. Even I'm the
living rooms the walls were profusely deco
rated, but more ornately, OF course, in the
| great halls or temples. Everywhere about
Mr.. Bierman saw the inscriptions, which
| deciphered will add a chapter TO the his
| tory of the world by telling us what Ameri-
ca was before Finally the Cx-
plorer came to a room from which a pass
age led out and up until il ended upon the
sides of the Canyon de los NovillOs. at a
point a considerable distance from the
| place where the prospector had fallen into
the hole.
The IDOL which Mr.. Bierman brought from
the cave he sent TO Monterey, where IL was
pronounced a most valuable find. and the
Smithsonian Institution was informed Of
it's discovery. IL probably Will go either
to the Smithsonian or the Peabody Muse
UNI at Cambridge. The Canyon de los Mo-
| villos, where Mr.. Bierman discovered his
wonderful cave, is rather difficult OF ac-
cess and II is hard work 10 explore tie
| gorge, even after one has reached it.