The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1905-02-23
ancient masons was performed. In a

set on end, and even at this day, prob
ably thousands of years since their con-
it requires a deal of work
and effort to break a stone loose with
the aid OF pickax and crowbar. Any
where on the face of the walls plumb
line dropped from the top shows the
absolute perfection of the work. Most
of the buildings are four and five
stories high, and built to accommodate
many people, being divided into rooms
for large number of families. The
plan of all the pueblos is to have
one vast enclosed dwelling for all the
inhabitants, and in all the ruins viewed
by me there were one or sometimes two
detached buildings, but for what pur-
pose one could only conjecture.
One of the largest of these ruins is
located on Eagle Greek, about thirty
miles from here, and has been exhaus-
lively explored by Uncle Sam. and a
wall nearly four miles in length has
been uncovered, showing that this was
a town of considerable population. The
Apache has no tradition or legends of
this people, and he avoids the old ruins
with superstitious dread. He will leave
no trace behind him of his time or peo-
pie; no ruined cities or pottery will
cause future generations to wonder
over the noble red man or his work; his
wants are filled by grass tepee, and
his utensils consist of the battered tin
cans picked up in the wake of the white
man.
A friend of ours, Sergeant Miller Of
the 5th Cavalry, who is a most enthu-
siastic relic hunter, unearthed a rich
find of pottery, several of the plain
cooking rots, and four of the most
beautiful glazed and decorated pots,
which were evidently burial urns, being
filled with small bones, probably of
some animal used for food, it being the
custom to have urps filled with food
placed in the grave, one with flesh at
the departed's right hand, one with
grain at the left, and one at the head
of the body.
Two of these pots were of a shallow
saucer-like form, of rich red color
with heavy black geometrical figures,
showing the triangle which is invari-
ably on all the pottery designed by
them. Three of the vessels were of a
vase-Iike form, also in red, black and
white, all Of them being highly glazed,
the colors and glazing apparently as
fresh as when buried thousands of
years ago.
The Moqui Indians of to-day make a
feeble imitation of this pottery, but
are unable to glaze, and the symme-
try of the work is rough and crude
compared with that of these ancient
craftsmen.
The Apache tribe, some thousands of
whom are on this reservation, and
whose agency is at White River about
four miles from the fort, are known as
the White Mountain Apaches, the fierc
est and most bloodthirsty and cruel of
the Apache nation. Long and fierce
campaigns against them by the govern
ment, and the inroads of civilization,
have subdued them, and, unkindest cut
of all, Uncle Sam says they must work
in order to eat. Only aged members of
the tribe and little children are issued
rationS now.
1t is sad to see a noble warrior who
has cut many Threats and boosted his
score of scalps, directing his squaws to
cut wood and hay for sale to the fort
and agency. The strain on him is terri
Die, but he has to do it in order to OBJ
tain the mighty dollar to purchase to-
bacco and ''chow."
were with Geronimo their head chief
and they laugh incredulously when told
he still lives, though in exile. Geroni
mo was on view at the st. Louis EXPOSE
ton this summer, but is now back at
Fort Sill, l. 7. He pines for the cactus
and sands Of his native deserts, but
Uncle Sam has had too much costly
trouble with the old wretch to turn
him loose again.
Some of the bucks have been away in
cities; one scout told me he
had stopped for some time at st. Au-
justine, Florida, and his wonder was
still great at the things he had seen
Turing his travels.
Many are yearly sent awayt to schools,
there being among them many gradu-
ates from Carlisle University, Penn.
There is fine school at San Carlo, and
'ne for the smaller children at the Ag-
ency, also three miles up the valley
here are mission buildings, school,
md home for the young German Lu-
heran minister, the teacher, and the
German aunt who keeps house for
hem. They do much good among the
indians, caring for them when sick,
clothing and feeding the needy, and try
ng to draw them away from the in
luence of their medicine men, by their |
'eligious teachings. There is always