Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1912-03-09

/ Denver. Nolo., March N-lh luf
last five years more systematic work
has been carried on among the ruins
I OF the Souihwes, than for any prev
ious generation, and the forts anl
heavily barricaded cliff DWELLINGS
that have been restored would indi-
cate that the first Americans" were
constantly in a state OF siege.
The University Of Ctah has con-
I Quoted several field expeditions in
I the little known region of South
eastern Utah. where there have been
/ few white men. on ever hand are
/ found evidences that the aboriginal
/ people who we're the observation-disclosures
OF that lonely desert lair were con-
stantlv on the defensive Nearly all
the cliff ruins that have been found
have been planned for defense. Not
only are they located In compare
lively inaccessible places approached
by narrow trails that are easy TO de-
feud. bat the buildings themselves
have CgnnlEgly constructed barri-
oades These are narrow entries.
guarded by portfolios or lance thrust
In some cases. whore the buildings
are found In the open, no caye,ike
opening in the cliffs being available
for the early architects, there Is a
central tower which is vcritahle
fortress. In these towers the Clifi
people gathered, no doubt, when the
alarm was sounded, and offered stub
born resistance TO the attacks of an
Client enemies. One OF these towers
probably the finest specimen of its
kind In the world-was recently dis
covered In Ruin Canyon. Utah by a
party Of exploring scientists. The
CANYON in which the fortress Is To-
Gated Is filled with square stone
houses Of the pueblo type Most OF
those are mere heaps OF stone but
the walls OF several are standing
The tower, or fortress. which was
built stronger than any other build
ing In the canyon, is in q good state
OF preservation. Enough excavation
work has been done TO show that Oh
tower was intended for purposes of
defense. Arrow heads have been
found about Il IN great numbers a1d
weapons Of various sort have beer
recovered from the debris inside Oh
walls.
rroyisiopcd for Siege.
Tf. t0rff fled tower n Ruin Can
Won is food specimen OF the l1r'
bmlt u the owen boy the firs; dwell
ers in the Southwest The canyon
In this vicinity contain countless CIIf.
some of which can only br
approached De- means or ropes swura
from above. en- ao,o.nt oi tie fJc'
tha, TIE trails csel iy the ci'fi
Gwellals themselves have been wash
ed away through gradual processes
Of erosion. Il Is believed the brill- |
inrs adjoining the fortified towcr
were used during the harvest sea
son. when the cliff jewellers found II
necessary to remain near their grow
ne crops In the wider valleys. Look |
,uts stationed In adjoining cliffs.
.ould easily sound a warming In case
II the approach Of the enemy, and
nc haryesters and their families
.onld then assemble In the fort. Corn
las been found in the debris OF souc
II the rooms in the fort. indicating
hat the place was proyisioned for a
iege
when the work Of restoring la
.onv House. one of the three main
.uff ruin is the Mesa Verde, was be
.un two or three seasons Sgo, It wa
made certain that this eyrielike place
II Aahitation was a veritahle fortress !
Balcony House is built In cave In |
he rock face Of a cliff The cave Is
200 or 800 feet long and 90 or 80 |
eet deep. II can only be- reached by |
narrow trail leading mp the face OF
n, cliff from below, or oy swinging
,ycr the top OF the cliff and lower