Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-07-16
AN ANCIENT CASTLE.
The Stronghold In the Cliffs of Arizona.

In any part Of the world. This castle
is not In Egypt or Assyria, but in our
home land and almost at our very
door. 1t Is easily reached In two
days either from Flagstaff or Pres
colt. The trip over mountains, though
wild and rough, is delightful. Every
moment is full of happy surprises, the
climax being reached when from the
crest Of the mountains you look of
over the charming Verde valley.
This valley is fianked on all sides
by imposing cliffs 500 to 1000 feet In
height. These cliffs have been wealth
cred and curved into the most fan
tastic shapes, bordered and variegated
with the strongest colors. Is it any
wonder that prehistoric man living
close to nature should be impressed
and attracted to this spot?
But the valley had more than beau
ty to offer; 1t had utility and practica-
bility. In many plac es by the action
Of the water deep recesses had been
cut into the limestone cliffs. Some OF
these recesses were from three to sew
en- feet in height, running back into
the cliff from ten to fifteen feet.
Some day Americans will awaken
and come to appreciate the matchless
wonders and unrivaled beauties Of ouI
home land. Some day perhaps the
archaeologist will turn his attention
this way, and aided by some generous
loyal American will cause the ruins OF
the Verde, the Gila and the great
southwest to yield up secrets that
have been too long hidden from man
kind.
Occasionally immense depressions
were carved out. Seeing these, the
ancient cliff dwellers took advantage
of what nature had prepared for them
and built them homes in the sides OF
the cliff. Montezuma's castle is built
in one of these natural depressions
1t is about $40 feet from the river to
the building, the last forty or fifty
feet being almost perpendicular. In
this forty feet there are three or foul
ledges Of rocks. We experienced con-
siderable difficulty in reaching the TOP
Of the first ledges. There was but
one place where we could make the
ascent and this left us on the north
side of deep chasm. We spanned
this with a small cedar. Then, fas-
tening the rope around the waist OF
my son, we watched him with great
deal cf solicitude as he crawled across
Reaching the opposite side. he made
the rope fast and we walked across
aided by this rope. Once on the top
Of the first ledge we were able to as
cend the other lodges by means OF
ladders with which we had provided
ourselves.
On the second ledge we found seve-
raj cayite lodges, small rooms cut
back into the cliff. Some Of these
were walled up in front. On the third
ledge we found several more, two or
three of which were inaccessible. La
ter we traced these cavite lodges In
the side of the cliff for a distance of
two or three miles either side Of the
building. The castle therefore is the
centre or central building of cliff
city. It has been called a fortress.
Its position, manner Of construction,
the difficulty in reaching the several
stories, the small portfolios in the
walls, the battlements in front Of the
second and upper story would seem
to support this suggestion. Be this as
1t Elay, it was great communal
dwelling, occupied perhaps by the
chief or governor and those associated
with him in authority. Or 1t may
have been the home Of the aristocra-
cy, while the cavite lodges were the
abodes Of the laboring classes. 1t was
a permanent dwelling.
Ascending the fourth ledge we come
to the first story Of the castle, a
square tower, one single room. How
we'll they built! The foundation rests
upon the cedar timbers placed upon
fiat stones. Some Of these timbers
project for beyond the building. If
you will examine carefully you will
discover the marks Of the stone axes
and be impressed with the excellent
work done with the labor and rude
implements at their command. The
walls are about two feet thick at the
base, narrowing to one foot at the top.
We entered the tower through a
small doorway two feet four inches
wide and three feet high. This Is
the only entrance. The room is nicely
olastered with a sort of fresco work.
We detected several tints upon the
wall. Iou can see the imprint OF the
hand Of the workman in several
places. Overhead are timbers, rafters
of cedar resting upon the wall. Across
these branches Of willow were laid.
These again were crossed by reeds and
rushes and then plastered over, max
ing a smooth, strong, durable floor
for the room above. Crawling through
a small opening In the ceiling we
come to the main floor Of the build
ing, containing seventeen or eighteen
rooms. The castle is five stories in
height; each story after the third re-
ceding about seven feet. In front Of
the second story is a small balcony.
The rooms in the fourth story are
larger and much better finished than
those Of the second and third stories.
One feature in the construction Of this
building is worthy Of special notice.
The back wall Of the third story Is
massive and rests upon the ledge Of
rocks which forms the floor of this
story. This wall Is twenty-eight feet
high and forms the front wall Of the
fourth story and battlement Of the
fifth. One can readily see how this
adds strength and stability to the
whole structure. In front Of the up
per story is a promenade seven feet