ARIZONA'S GLASS MOUNTAIN.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 357, 12 March 1903, Page 6

ARIZONA'S GLASS MOUNTAIN.

Remelaa of Tre hUtoric Feopl* Fo«« Hear am Extinct Vol«a»e la aa I'akaowM Ke*l«a. A party of archaeologists and antiquarians have made important discoveries in the hitherto unexplored region at the northern limit of the Harqua Hala range of mountains in Arizona. A great desert and the total absence of water have prevented any previous examination, and only the Indians know of the curiosities of these mountains, says the New York Sun. One side of one mountain rises in terraces, and presents many features recalling the Grand canyon of the Colirado. The whole mass is of obsidian, or volcanic glass, and glitters in colors of green, blue and black. It may be seen on clear mornings at great distances and the glitter of the mountain has lured many travelers in its direction. The exploring party found under a high shelving rock a narrow necked olla, or earthenware jar, bottom side up, containing human bones, a broken hammer and a. metate, or stone employed by the prehistoric races of Arizona probably for the same purposes as a similar utensil is used by the aborigines of to-day for grinding maize. Slabs, turquoise stones and other curiosities were revealed by digging, and there were marks on buried rocks which were supposed to be inscriptions. A careful study of the curiosities was not made, but another party will be organized for the purpose of unearthing all available relics in the mountain and to study them. The mountain of glass is a marvel of volcanic upheaval. It is pretty much as the last eruption left it, except that ■where fractures have occurred the varied and beautiful colors of the volcanic glass are brilliantly reflected. The mountain is dangerous and difficult of ascent, owing to the preeipitoui terraces and the ice-like smoothness of the surface.