Arizona republican., 1902-07-13
NEWS OF THE W
II O r I III
JEROME
THE MIDDLE VERDE.

change Of scenery we accordingly |
mounted car why mustang on the
morning of July and with a kodak
swung over our shoulder started for
the Middle Verde country, some |
twenty miles distant. with the inten-
ton of taking in the sights Of the
prehistoric MonteZuma we'll and cas-
ties on Beaver creek before our return |
to the smoky city.
We found everything on the Middle |
Verde in u iourshins condition and |
most all the farmers very busily en- !
gagged putting up their second crop of
hay. which is reported to be very good. |
The cool weather and excess o. wind |
we are now having are conditions /
never before known in the history OF
Arizona at this time of the year. and
are the occasion fer much comment by
the old settlers. Ii is reported that
Middle Verde suffered from u light
frost on the morning CT July I. which
is indeed a remarkable occurrence, and
one which causes some of these old
Arizona weather prophets to look as
green as young persimmons.
The Middle Verde people cele5rat ted
the Fourth with a basket dinner at the
school house and all enjoyed them
selves in a good old-fashioned way. A
few pony races and some foot races
were about all the sports INDUCED in.
The greater part Of Monday was
spent doing in the shade of the cot
tonYoods at our old home. Tuesday
morning we started in company with Il
friend. Tor the .MonteZurna We'll. which
is ten miles distant from Middle Verde.
on Beaver creek. We arrived at the
well shortly after noon. and at once
sought the cO"i shade of the large
sycamore tree where the water from
the well sushes from the side OF a
solid rock bluff. and makes an ideal
place for lunching. The huge trunk of
the sycamore. as well as the rock bluff,
is covered with names of people from
all parts of the United States. who
have visited this place. and no doubt
NEST of them have eaten lunch here
| and slipped the sparkling water. We
noticed the names OF many Phoenix
people. among others. and some OF
| them showed they had visited the pla &C
more than once.
| After eating our lunch we climbed
| the hill to The top of the we'll and it
| is indeed Il pleasing sight viewed from
| the rim at this time Of the year. The
| ricil green CT the grass and water
| crosses which surround the waters
edge blend perfectly with the lighter
| green of the water. while deep down
| IL ne water car DC seen long strings Of
| BEAUTIFULLY green moss and floating
| about large lunches of moss of a
| hroWner hue. At the entrance of the
! cave, which extends from the waters
cd2" several hundred :eet back into
! The mountain. stand several thrifty
willow trees that furnish Il shady rest
ing place fcr the adventurous sight
! seer hefor IL enters the recesses of
this dark. uncanny cavern.
Hcre. toe. we noticed hundreds of
| names written. carved and painted on
! The face of the cliff
AS we gazed upon the many different
/ beautiful colcrs. beth in the water and
around the waters edge. we sincerely
| " ished to he Wieider of the brush
that we might transfer those pleasing
! effects Of nature to canvas. out not be-
| ing such. we had TO be contented with
a Few snapshots of the kodak. which
we obtained from different points. and
| then started for the castles. which are
about five miles farther down the
! creek.
After an exciting ride through mes
quite and catcldW. and over rocks and
canyons. we arrived at the foot of the
| castles. which frowned down upon us
from the face of a perpendicular cliff
several hundred feet high. The rooms
of the castles are approached by means
OF series CT ladders. we'll anchored
at the top to prevent them from falling
backwards. \ few years ago this cas-
tie was taken into consideration by
and under the supervision OF the pres
ident. DR.. ]. Miller. all the rooms We're
thoroughly cleaned. new ladders put ir
place. and several breaks in the wal
repaired.
: The first room we came to was small
about six b. eight feet. In this room
is Kept the register. where all person
are requested to put their names. Il NJ
net deface the wallis of the rooms
this request has not been Yer.
strictly observed. fer almost ever!
available space on the walls and cell
inGs is covered with names. We ais
, noticed q well-worn broom in this frs
, room, but the absence of an usher an,
Il chamberlnaid caused US to feel yer.
, much at home, so after putting GU
o names on the register we very leis
! urely proceeded to investigate the DIFF
j ferent apartments. 1t would be Use
. less to give minute description of tn
various rooms, because they have bee
visited by almost everybody in Arizon
and by people from every state in tn
union as well. but it is a noticea bl
feature, and one which greatly inter
csted us. TO see those huge logs whic
r form the foundat lions for the floors an
ceilings of the different rooms. Th
9 means used by these peculiar people i
n eleNating such huge logs TO so Sres
height is indeed d subject for niue
:, theorizing, and one. | fear, which wi
= never be explained. Another amusin
feature is the haggled appearance ,
II the butts of these logs, indicating I'll
r. crudeness of the tools used in cuttin
them down. They very much resclnbl
= tree that has been chcwed down h
l., = beaver. and very likely these pcni.
depended upon this industrious littl
animal to fell thor timber fer then
Be that as it may we had 20 time
spare reasoning out such problems
Ia and after taking a snapshot and a fare