The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-04


and it has been so during these terrible
days of Madero and Huerta. In this let
ter | write of the bloody times of the
past. | have just come from the National
museum where | have photographed the
Sacrificial stone which was in use when
cortez came, and which was one of the
bloodiest shrines upon earth
The Worlds Greatest Battle Ground
] say bloody shrine, and | mean 1t.
This stone, so small that it would not
fill the parlor of flat renting for $50 a
month, has been the site of more battles
than any other spot of its size in the
world Upon it have flowed streams OF
blood greater than those of the recent
war between Bulgaria and Turkey, and
all the deaths of the present revolution
here are nothing in comparison with
those who have died on this block of
granite. 1t was upon it that the Span
iards saw the Aztecs kill their captured
brothers. The fight between the Span
iards and the Mexicans was at It's height
when Cortez saw the Aztec priests lead
the Spanish captives up the steps of the
mighty mound which stood just above
upon it, preparatory to cutting out their
hearts The captives were stripped to
. their waists and Cortez could tell them
by the contrast of their white skins
against those of their copper colored
masters. The Spaniards heads were
adorned with feathers, and they were
made to dance as they went up. AS soon
as they were stripped. their naked bodies
we're laid upon this stone. Then came
flash of the knife and moment later the
priests held UP their bloody hearts and
thew them to that horrid idol, the Aztec
god of war, which you may see here
against the wall in this same museum.
The archeologists are now working on
the hMtory of these ancient times. They
are finding new tablets bearing hero
glyphics and the exploration is going on
among the ruined cities as far south as
Guatemala. I have already written OF
the work our archaeological society Is
doing at Quirigua. That relates to the
Mayans. The Aztecs came later and We
have better information as to them
Their records show that 1900 captives
were killed on this sacrificial stone in one
discovered America. The prisoners were
selected by lot, and they formed pro-
cession about two miles long. In one of
the buildings near the Teocali, the great
altar of the Aztecs, the Spaniards with
cortez found 10000 skulls, taken from
those who had been thus killed. Among
them were men, women and children.
On the Sacrificial Stone
But let me tell you how the stone
looks We know it is authentic for the
records say that ii was thrown down
~ Cortez. and thus became a part of
tie ruins of Montezumas capital. That
MAS over 400 years ago. The stone
Law buried for more than three centuries,
bet about 100 years ago it was dug UP
and the authorities ordered it to be
broaen to pieces, that it might be used
Tor paving the city. one of the priests
objected. however. and is was saved
There is nothing that brings one
closer to the Aztecs. The stone is per
fectly round, and its rim is covered
With carvings. In the center of the
.op is a hole big as a tin wash
basin. with a groove running out 70
the rim. That hole was used to catch
the blood of the victims which flowed
over through the groove into great
stone bowl which also is here TO be
seen.
The Aztecs had ritual concerning
their sacrifices, and the most distin-
euished of the captives were often
given a chance to fight for their lives
separate and apart from the stone with
a ring in Its top.upon which the cap
tive, stripped to the skin. fought upder
the eyes of the king and other specta-
tors. He was chained to the stone and
given a wooden sword and shield. Thus
equipped, he contended with soldier.
who was armed with a sword of obsid-
ian, glass like substance made from
q kind of volcanic lava. The obsidian
weapon had a razor like edge. and the
contest consequently was very unequal.
Nevertheless the wooden sword some
times prevailed, and the man won
his freedom. If he failed or was
wounded his body was carried to the
stone of sacrifice and there offered
10 the war gods of the Aztecs.
Aztec Cruelties Past and Present
Standing beside this stone and look
ing back into the past. the cruelties
nerpetrated by the rebels of today in
some of the mountain districts are not
strange. The stories have not been
published in the American papers, but
they come from reliable sources. In one
instance, some brieands, having cap
tured their enemy striped him to the
skin, tied him to a tree and then shot
him again and again. They were care
fui of their aim so as TO wound but
not kill After the man was cut al
most to pieces by the bullets he was
taken down and, his legs being tied by
ropes to two different horses, he was
torn apart That was the work of the
half breed descendants of the Aztecs
C,pdia ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 1scaseo n nm
The full blooded Aztecs of four cen
turies ago had tortures equally cruel and
their most famous sacrifice was typical of
them This occurred once every year
when the most handsome youth that could
be found was the victim. 1t was neces-
sary that he should be physically perfect,
and the priests who made the selection
insisted on his being without bemish and
in possession Of all the graces of youth.
lie was chosen year prior to the sacri-
flee and from that time until his death
lie lived like prince. lie was wined and
dined and had -four OF the most beautiful
girls in the land as his mistress. He
was the great young man of his time, and
nd f.aS I'M fl.,uf