"RICHARD WETHERILL: ANASAZI" by Frank McNitt
Univ of New Mexico Press, (c) 1957, 1966, 1978
We who grew up in the East or Mid-west learned our history and geography as doled out from the Eastern-gentleman point of view. The detailed events leading up to the Revolutionary War, and the War itself were studied minutely. Likewise for the French and Indian War, the War of 1812 and the Civil War. But somehow our precursors never seemed to recognize or teach us that anything of importance was transpiring in the Southwest U.S. A,, and so the S. W. remained as blank in our minds, as the big blank area shown on the maps in our geography books.
Now, at this late date it is with great delight to learn of the adventures, struggles end accomplishments of the many explorers, pioneers and developers of the West. Who were they? To begin with there were the likes of Coronado, De Soto, the long-ranging fur trappers. Then the Spanish padres, Escalante, Kino, Serra, etc, followed by Lewis and Clark with Sacajawea, Kit Carson, John C. Fremont, Brigham Young, George A. Custer, various outstanding Indians and tribes, and a thousand others.
But pray tell, where does Richard Wetherill fit in? Does any reader of this rag recognize that name? The name is, or should be pre-eminent in the minds of archeologists of the S. W. U. S. A. Indians. Amazingly, Richard Wetherill was the discoverer, developer and publicizer of a large number of ancient Indian communal ruins, including Mesa Verde, Grand Gulch, Kiet Siel, Pueblo Bonito and mary more. Having made these great discoveries, he, over a period of time1found it necessary to abandon his previously prosperous farm. Being utterly fascinated in this memorable endeavor, he consumed himself in bringing to light railroad cars full of Indian artifacts to enrich museums here and abroad.
Richard, although lacking formal education, learned quickly the skills and disciplines of archeology, was thorough in his recording of detail, and was constantly associated with outstanding scholars and museums. He was intelligent in his business dealings.
But Richard, fervent and unswerving, made serious enemies of important personages. Richard was greatly maligned, misunderstood and greatly deprecated, so much so that he was robbed of his fortune, his fame and his very life. In his unpopularity with white associates, an Indian with no particular enmity ended Richard' s life in an ambush shooting.
Frank McNitt does an excellent job of piecing together this whole episode, beginning in the 1880's and continuing through 1910. He recounts how Richard Wetherill and his associates transformed a mysterious and little known land into an intimate integral part of the geography of the United States.
The story is gripping and makes excellent reading.
