One of the most pleasing natural curiosities in the Territory of
Arizona is the pool of water known as Montezuma’s well. It is situated
fifteen miles northeast of the old abandoned military post known as
Cape Verde. It is 25 feet in diameter, and the clear, pure water is
about sixty feet below the surface of the surrounding country. Some
years ago certain military officers sounded the pool and found that
it had a uniform depth of eighty feet of water, except in one place,
apparently about six feet square, where the sounding line went down
about 500 feet without touching bottom.
The well empties into Beaver Creek, only about 100 yards distant,
the water gushing forth from the rocks as though it were under great
pressure. The well is undoubtedly supplied from subterranean sources,
possibly through the hole sounded by the army officers years ago. The
sides of the well are honeycombed with caves and tunnels, permitting
sightseers to descend to the water’s edge.
Montezuma’s well contains no fish. The flow of water from it is the
same throughout the season. Popular opinion has attributed the origin
of the well to volcanic action, but as the rock surrounding it is
limestone, it is more than probable that the action of the water is
responsible for its creation.--_Native American._