Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-02-25
Nz5Szzs Aw MatnlYT foOn0
WE;lQ the R/I/NsS


An American Pompeii is destined TO
result from excavation OF ruins IN
Arizona being made by scientists OF
the Smithsonian institution. the
ruins mark the dwelling places OF pre-
historic peoples who lived there ages
ago. DR.. ]. Walter Fewks, on behaif
OF the Smithsonian institution, mas
spent the past two years in Arizona
and already huge palaces, great cere-
monial chambers and elaborate dwell
ing places have been unearthed ana
restored. Interest has been quickened
by the nearness with which these
reservations have brought the people
Of today to those that have gone be-
fore.
The restorations were begun at the
old Casa Grande ruins, which have
been a show place since white men
first went to the southwest. or the
hundreds OF ruins that are scattered
throughout the region. these were the
best preserved. In the story OF van
ishing race they had probably been
the stronghold of some stubborn chief
whose people had held out for hun.
dreds OF years after their fellows had
persisted, and as a. consequence had
been brought so much nearer to the
men of the present.
Great walls stood gaunt upon the
barren plains when scientists first Wis
tied this section. They still stand,
but little worn by the passing Of two
centuries, and form the basis Of the
thorough investigation that is now 60
ing on. About them was two years
ago begun the investigation by DR..
Fewkes, financed by the government.
Three separate ruins have been I'M
earthed in these two years, and the
manner Of the village life and the ex-
tent and grouping Of the houses are
definitely known, as Is the probable
character of the race that built them.
The principal buildings in any given
village occur in groups. In each OF
these groups there is one great CEN
trail building which must evidently
have been the seat of government and
the residence of the ruler. Near 1t
are the places of worship where the
people evidently met to perform cere-
monies to their deities. There were
Immediately adjacent other houses OF
considerable size that were unques-
tionably the homes of members OF the
rulers family or of other prominent
personages of state. There was an ad-
jacent open space evidently used as
a playground and possibly as a parade
ground for the drilling Of soldiers.
Certain 1t is that the open spaces also
had something to do with the cere-
monies Of the people, for they were
always toward the rising sun from the
houses OF worship, and these people
paid homage to the sun.
Then finally around this group ran
great wall that shut 1t In, gave II
projection from intruding rivals In
time of war, and privacy from the
rabble in times Of peace. Within this
wall was all that pertaine1 10 the al
fairs of the ruling families. Outside
of It were built the homes Of the COM
me- people, some e. them sufficiently
large to leave q ozark on the plain.
but the majority were but temporary
residences o. little size, as great
houses wers aot generally needed In
this warr climate.
The Casa Grande ruin attracted first
attention when restoration was con-
,idered because It was the best pre-
served Of all the ruins. II stood on
mound as do all the important ruins.
The presence of these mounds as the
;ite Of ruins Is partly due to the fact
that high places are chosen on which
to erect the great houses. but chiefly
to the fact that deserted buildings
catch the. drifting sands Of the desert
and great, falling walls OF adobe add
material bulk to the mound. Then
here was the practice Of building one
house on the ruins OF its fallen predO'