Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-10-10
IN THE cHAco COUNTRY.
Ruins Of the Habitations Of a Race
Long Since Forgotten.

Mrs. A. p. Camp, Mrs. o. f. Boyle
Mrs. j. l.. Mcneil. OF Denver, and Mrs
X. G. Prewitt. who stopped on at
Farmington. have lately returned
| from Chaco canon, where they ex.
plored the famous ruins and seized
the opportunity to study the Indian in
his native haunts.
The gentlemen in the party, Messrs.
Camp, Mcneil and X. C. Prewitt, re.
manned but day or two. while the la.
dies visit extended through ten days.
After spending "A day at the Farm
ington fair. the party started for
Putnam Springs. about 10 miles dis
tant. The country was somewhat
monotonous. Sand, alliali patches.
sage brush and chico weed formed the
principal attractions. to say nothing
of the sun. who did his duty righC no
bly,. But then the king of day is
rather partial to New Mexico any
way.
At ojo Alamo, in the Bad Lands
district, where Mr.. John Wetherell re
sides. there were two trees one of
them being splendid cottonwood.
Near the other flowed n pretty little
spring. Seen under other tondi-
tions. these two denizens OF the for
est so far away from their natural
habitat. might well have lived on.
their natural span. unnoticed and ul,
admired. Surrounded by others Of
their kind they would have raalie'l
as individuals OF their species, moth.
ng more.
To the travellers, weary after their
long ride through the weary waste
behind them and anticipating the trip
through lands even more desolate. the
green trees were welcome and re-
freshing sight. More than that, they
were subjects Of admiration. While
the members of the party hal always
liked trees, never had they realized
their beauty TO so great an extent
before. AS Lne of the ladies' said:
"Ojo Alamo is an oasis in the des-
err"
The road to Pueblo Buenito passes
directly through the bad lands which
take their name from their charac.
teristics or lack OF them. The dis
tinguishing features OF the Bad Lands
are mainly negative There is nc
water and no shade, no vegetation. nc
animals-not even Lizards or insects
No life OF any kind Is to be found
all is desert and desolation unspeak
able.
Evidences of prolific life existing in
past ages are not wanting. The re
mains of enormous petrified trees are
still to be seen, while many pre-his
toric animals have been discovered
What geological change occurred to
transform the once fertile and -four
ishing section, with Its exuberant life
into the nothingness of the present
waste is interesting to conjecture.
While the guests OF Mr.. Wetherell
the party picnicked in the Bad Lands
being the first to accomplish that
feat. AS Mrs. Camp said, with a
laugh. There was no shelter from the
fierce rays OF the sun. but on the
shady side OF the horses and under
the wagon
Travelling was II tedious process on
account of the sand, which drifted In
view at times was very picturesque
and attractive from It's novelty. The
sandstone bluffs, the mesas and the
quaint ruins which extended for miles
up and down the Chaco river. looked
beautiful by moonlight or in the ear
lily morning Just AZ attractive
though in a different manner. was the
twilight effect.
Huerfano mesa. viewed in the light
OF the setting sun. seemed to the la
dies like huge white battleship
with guns pointed ready for action.
The Chaco river. sometimes SO
called, is In reality not river at all
but a water course without drop o
water In It, That the river waf
once there. OF course, there Is abun
| dant evidence, In the canon it has
left behind But in all probability The
| music OF Its waters ripping over III
sandy bed. gladdened the ears Of th'
Aztecs-a maybe many generations
of whom no trace remains since
then
II is just a little puzzling at hrs
|
are at. They start from their re
spectiye destinations to visit the ruin
which outsiders call Chaco. Resi-
dents of Chaco call the post Puebl
Buenito. while the postofiice IL cal
ed Putnam. N. NJ. Now. do you bam
them for being trifie mixed at first
The ruins are very large and nj
merous. They are OF the same orde
of those at Aztec, and contain ey
dences OF skilled workmanship tina
is wonderful when 1t is remembers
with what tools they labored.
Mrs. Camp possesses some I'm
views OF the ruins. One pictur
showing n portion OF the wall In on
OF the pueblos Is particularly interes
ing. since It exhibits the work in d.
tail Such wall modern worl
man need not be ashamed to produf
with tools OF the present day.
Immense quantities OF treasul
have been taken from Estufas 20,0'
pieces of turquoise alone, beside
......,, .ad i,nplanapto Tho psfuf,