Oldest Paper in Phoenix—Twenty-Ninth Year.
EXPLORATIONS IN GRAND CANYON
Mysteries of Immense Rich Cavern Being Brought to Light. JORDAN IS ENTHUSED
Remarkable Finds Indicate Ancient People Migrated From Orient.
The latest news of the progress of the explorations of what is now re- garded by scientists as not only the oldest archeological discovery in the United States, but one of the most valuable in the world, which was men- tioned some time ago in the Gazette, was brought to the city yesterday by G. E. Kinkaid, the explorer who found the great underground citadel of the Grand Canyon during a trip from Green river, Wyoming, down the Colorado, in a wooden boat, to Yuma, several months ago. According to the story related the discovery was made by Mr. Kinkaid, the archaeologist for the Smithsonian Institute, who, making the journey alone, searching for mineral, reached a point about forty-two miles up the river from the El Tovar Crystal canyon, and went into the canyon on a small boat, with a view of making photographs.
Some forty-two miles up the river, above a point where a small stream enters from the west, a great wall of rock appeared which seemed to be about two thousand feet above the river bed. There were no trails leading to this wall, but an hour’s climb on a shelf that projected from the river, by means of steps which some ancient people had cut in the rock, landed him on a ledge which ran at a slight angle with the canyon wall. He went along this ledge about a hundred and twenty feet from the point he had landed, when he found the mouth of the cave. There are steps leading from this entrance some thirty yards to what was, at the time the cavern was inhabited, the level of the river. When he first saw the cavern mouth he became interested, and peered in. The entrance was several feet high, but so dark that he had to use his flashlight to make out anything.
As Mr. Kinkaid advanced he noticed that the floor of the cavern sloped at an angle of about fifteen degrees, and ran back some distance on a main passage, which he followed for several hundred feet, when he came to the cross chambers of varying sizes, all of them showing the handiwork of human hands. Along the passageway to the main chamber, about 125 feet from the entrance, he found the carved figures of idols, or images, the smallest being about a foot high and the largest sitting cross-legged, with the lotus flower or lily in each hand, of cast copper, and as perfect a piece of oriental art as any found in India. The idols apparently are the cast of priests, and all are remarkable for the distinct Oriental cast of the faces.
The Passage.
The main passageway is about 12 feet wide, narrower at the start, and broadens to a width of 75 feet near the farther end. About 57 feet from the entrance is the first side-passage on the right, branching off to the south, and another on the left. Along these are found chambers about 12 by 18 feet square, in which are found copper tools and pieces of grayish metal. Some of these show nearly black from age. The hall of the right angle to the main passageway is about 100 feet from the entrance, and on entering it is found the image of a figure carved from solid rock, and extending about six feet from the wall. It was a figure that may have represented Buddha, though the scientists are not certain.
Mr. Kinkaid’s Report.
Mr. Kinkaid was the first white child born in Idaho and has been an explorer and hunter all his life, thirty years having been in the service of the Smithsonian Institution. Even briefly recounted, his history sounds fabulous, almost grotesque.
“First, I would impress that the cavern is nearly inaccessible. The entrance is 1,486 feet down the sheer canyon wall. It is located on government land and no visitor will be allowed there under penalty of trespass. The scientists wish to work unmolested, without fear of archeological discoverers. A trip there would be fruitless, and the visitor would be sent on his way. The story of how I found the cavern has been repeated above. In view of the fact that 1,486 feet of this cavern has been explored, and several hundred feet more have been measured, I would estimate that it will be about three miles long.”
He also states that the chambers are ventilated by some natural means. The ventilation, he said, was perfect. There is a steady flow of air through the main passage, which is sufficient to carry away all the fumes from the torches.
“The main passageway,” he said, “is about twelve feet wide and eighty- five feet high. About 120 feet from the entrance is a cross-hall, several hundred feet long, in which is found the idol, or image, of the god sitting cross-legged with a lotus flower or lily in each hand. The cast of the face is oriental, and the carving shows a fine hand and great skill. The ceiling of this chamber is about 700 feet high. The walls, the angles, the work done, everything shows that the hands that fashioned this were skilled craftsmen.
“The idols, the pottery, the copper instruments, and all the artifacts are remarkably well preserved.”
EXPLORATIONS IN GRAND CANYON
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which indicates that some sort of lab- or was employed. The granite walls are rounded, and the materials which were carried down the river have smoothed them until they glisten as though polished. The ceiling of the caverns, some of them nearly 40 feet overhead, are of a beautiful grey, encrusted with a glistening patina, but the walls show a very hard water stain. When the place was first visited the walls were blackened with smoke and dust, but later they were washed, and then the walls gleamed with the polish of ages.
The Hieroglyphics.
“On all the urns, on walls over door- ways, and tablets of stone, are carved mysterious hieroglyphics, the key to which the Smithsonian Institute hopes yet to discover. The engraving on the tables probably has something to do with the religion of the people. Sim- ilar hieroglyphics have been found in southern Arizona. Among the pictur- es of animals are several cats—perhaps lions, and one picture resembles a prehistoric animal.”
The Crypt.
“The tomb or crypt in which the mummies were found is one of the contains a deadly gas or chemicals used by the ancients. No sounds are heard, but it smells snakey just the same. The whole underground insti- tution gives one a shaky nerve the creeps. The darkness is like a weight on one’s shoulders, and our flashlights and candles only make the darkness blacker. Imagination can revel in con- jectures and ungodly day-dreams back through the ages that have elapsed till the mind reels dizzily in space.”
An Indian Legend.
“In connection with this story, it is notable that among the Hopi Indians the tradition is told that their ances- tors once lived in an underworld in the Grand Canyon till dissension arose between the good and the bad, the people with one heart and the people of two hearts. Machetto, who was chief, counseled them to leave the un- derworld, but there was no way out. The chief caused a tree to grow and pierce the roof and then the people with one heart climbed out, leaving the wicked people below. They set- tled by Paalatkwapi, near the head of the Colorado river, which they re- named Paalatkwapi, meaning the red land. The Hopi people have a tradi- tion that their ancestors came from the underworld, the inside of the earth.”
“Another legend of the Navahos, their tradition being similar to that of the Hopis, has it that their ancestors lived in the underworld of the Grand Canyon and that they came up through a cave which is located in the Canyon wall.”
“Another legend, in which all tribes are believed to have a common origin, has it that they were all once under water except the good, who came to the surface on a reed, and they found a dry place.”
“Then there are legends of the Aztecs that say that their ancestors came from the north, guided by the hand of God, and settled in Mexico, to build up the great nation of the Aztecs.”
“There are still other traditions found among the Pueblos, which say that the ancestors of all the Indians came from a far north country, and descended into the canyon, where they lived many ages and gradually moved southward. They believe that this cavern was the underworld where they lived in happiness for ages.”
“Among the engravings of the mummies are found the image of a cross with the circle at the top. This symbol is also found in the East.”
