Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1902-09-23
Story Of Prehistoric Civilization
Of America Told by Scientist.
DIR. BAUM VISITS SALT LAKE
Travelled ON Horseback, Accompanied
By 3 savsnis, For 700 Diiles Ia West
On Archaeological Research.

traveller. scholar and ethnologist
OF distinction lsa guest at the Cullen,
en- route east from a tour OF scientlhc
investigation In Arizona and New
mexico in Rev. Henry NJ. Baum, who
has been honored with the degree II
Doctor of Canon Law by oxford uni-
lersIty, and is editor OF Records Of the
Past OF Washington, y, c. q periodical
devoted to archaeological research and
investigation. The doctor has been out
west with a party OF eight savants in
yestlgating evidences and indications
of prehistoric civilization. He has
Travelled horseback over 700 miles, and
given local chronological evidences
careful examination which will add mn
terially to the folk lore for which the
great southwest has long been noted,
Dr. Baum noted fragments Of prehis-
toric pottery scattered all along the
great mesas as well as In the canyons.
and critical study of these as well
as careful investigation OF the
mounds, have convinced him that from
1000 TO 5000 years ago, vast popua-
ron Of several millions OF people la
habited the country now embraced in
Arizona, New Mexico, Central America
and the western coast OF South Ameri-
ca. These peoples originally emigrated
to this hemisphere from Aslatic coun-
tries across what is now the South Pa
cltic ocean, but which at that time wns
undoubtedly dotted with numerous isl.
ands and small continents extending
from the western TO the eastern shores
OF the Pacific. These lands were, az
far as evidences go, finally submerged
In series of seismis cataclysms. some
what similar to what is now
going on In the West indies,
end speaking Of the West Indies
the doctor remarked that 1t was only
a matter of time before they, too, went
the way of the submerged lands Of the
Southern Pacific. He said II was fair
~ well established now that the pre-
historic races Of the American CONT
nents never reached this country by
the way OF the Behring straits, and
that theory is exploded. Moreover he
has found evidence of this prehistoric
civilization which make 1t practically
certain that II was part of or close
~ allied TO ancient Egyptian civiliza-
lon; and In illustration of this the
doctor stated that he had discovered
cloth In ancient mounds In Arizona Of
precisely the same texture and quality
as the mummy cloths of ancient Egypt.
Moreover, he found distinct traces of
extensive systems of temples and pub
lie buildings and systems of land cul-
uyation identical with those obtaining
In ancient Egypt 1900 to 5000 years
ago Then from local evidences the
investigator Learned that the same
seismic disturbances which destroyed
the Pacific Islands and lesser CONT
nents resulted In violent china tic
changes on the American continents
and the spread Of a series of terrible
pestilences which swept these vast
populations completely out of existence.
The following native races proved far
inferior to their predecessors--wer
mOngrels in fact when compared with
the high order Of civilization existing
among the prehistoric peoples. Or,
Baume found evidences that there had
been a succession of lava overtlows,
and as proof that these overilows came
after the original settlement of the
country, he noted that irrlgating ditch
es had been filed with these lava over
flows. He holds that about this time
the position OF the earth changed with
reference to the plane OF the Ecliptic,
which meant the shifting Of the poles.
The whole subject IL one of absorbing
interest, more engaging than the Wild
est romance.
DR.. Baume spent some time among
the Navajos, and ne says that they are
III for civilization. and that the gov
eminent ought to build them reservoirs
so that they can reclaim the arid vast
es and make Roadway In the world. At
present the government educates, or
pretends to educate the young Indians,
ana then these are turned loose, only
TO return to their old ways Of living.
1t is impossible TO advance the Nava-
los unless the government helps them
a, ,ba renla ms tlnu Of the arid lands