The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1882-01-27
THE AMERICAN CLIFF JEWELLERS.
Discovery of Wonderful Old Ruined
City in New Mexico.
From the Tribup,

From the Tribune.
The Pueblo or village Indians are
scattered over an area in New Mexico
and Arizona stretching from Taos, on
the Rio Grande, south to Ysleta of Ell
Paso, q distance of abort 500 miles, and
in width about 400 miles. Within this
area there are now about thirty-four
Inhabited villages. There are also the
ruins of thousands of ancient villages
and towns situated in the valleys of the
streams, on the SUBMITS of the Mesas,
and many high up in the sides of the
cliffs and the walls of the canons, be-
ing carved out like swallows nests.
The ruins already known are sufficient
in number and extent to furnish homes
for at least half a million persons, and
were probably occupied by twice that
number. One noted instance of a
carved-out city is described by Mr..
Stevenson which must have been the
abode of at least 100000 souls, and
which these explorations are believed
to have first brought to the knowledge
of the civilized world. Mr.. Stevenson
first heard Of 1t from an old Indian
chief with whom he sat chatting in
Spanish one evening. The old man
was apparently somewhat disinclined
to be communicative, but finally as if
" put O1 1urllSI AIlVulIy SaAu
"You wish to find old houses, do
you. Well, I will show you some.
They are about twelve miles from
here"
Mounted upon mules the two started
out and made their way toward a range
of distant hills, from behind which
lowered an extinct volcano. AS they
approached tie foothills, Mr.. Steven
son saw large numbers of black spots
in rows, resembling swallows nests,
upon the face of cliff. He asked his
companion what they were.
"Houses," was the reply.
"No, not those on top" said Mr..
Stevenson. "I mean the black spots
on the cliff"
"Houses," rejoined the old chief ;
sshouses, tell you; very old houses" "
The old man told the truth. For GO
miles along the face of the winding
cliff, except where the elements had
cut them away, those ancient cave
dwellings extended two, three, four,
and sometimes five rows one upon an
other. Mr.. Stevenson examined this
deserted city during several days, per
sonally visiting portions distant forty
five miles from each other, and discov
ering with his glass that the eXcava
tions extended fifteen to twenty mile
further on. BY far the greater numbe
are inaccessible, but many of the ole
paths, worn many inches deep by thu
feet of the ancients who dwelt there
! are intact, and by them the explore
mounted to the old dwellings.
Upon the top of the mesa, or table
| land above these caves, there were
found large circular structures, now il
ruins, but with walls to the height o
ten or twelve feet still standing. They
were evidently places of worship. They
were built of square stones of nearly
uniform size, about twenty inches ir
length by six inches in width, and foul
in thickness, cut from the cliff. Meas
urcments were made of two OF thes'
structures, one of which was 100 ant
the other 200 feet in diameter, ant
might have held from 1000 to 200
people. The inference that these wer,
places of worship is drawn from tn
fact that the Pucblos of the presen
day, who are fire and sun worshippers
have similar temples.
The great age of this city is provet
by the vast accumulation of debri
from the upper portion of the cliff
which covers its base. In places wher
mountain brooks have cut their wa,
through the existence of one and some
times two rows of cave dwellings be
low the surface of the debris is dis
closed. Mr.. Stevenson thinks that sew
eral centuries have passed since thi
dead city was in its prime
HOW IT FEELS TO BE HANGED.