Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-07-25
A CITY IN THE AIR.
A Wonderful Pueblo in Western New
Mexico.

Correspondence of the Lawrence Journal.
The pueblo of Acoma, situated ninety miles
west of Albubuerque, Is one of the most re-
markable communities in New Mexico or the
United States. To reach 1t take the Atlantic
and Pacific railway to Mccarthy station, and
then transfer to an Indian pony and ride
eighteen miles south and east. When near your
| journeys end you descend almost impercepti-
bly, into the valley, six miles in width, in the
middle of which stands butte and on the top
of this is Acoma. Eight hundred people live
| there, and they and their ancestors have gath
cred the sum of their possessions for nearly
three centuries. This butte is one of many
worn away by the erosion Of the ages, and sur
wives only in flat-topped mountains here and
there. The valleys between are fertile, and
| untold generations of men have seen them
covered with waving grain md focks of sheep.
some time In the seventeenth century the
| Acomas for the possession of the country, and
the latter being the weaker, occupied the butte
as n defensive position, believed to be impreg-
nable. Their Judgment has been abundantly
vindicated. 1t has proved Gibraltar of
strength and safety. The comparison is not
north was struck with the resemblance to the
pictures have seen of that grim fortress that
1rowns over the straits to the Mediterranean.
The height above the valley is nearly 400 feet,
and the walls In several places very perden-
dicuar. There are two means of ascent, one
by flight of steps cut into the face of the wall
the other by a fissure in the rocks leading up
into the heart OF the mountain. Both ways
have been trOdden by human feet until the
steps are followed out like shallow troughs.
Either one Is exceedingly difficult. and neither
assure. One has to stride over the flssure, one
foot on the right-hand side and the other on
the left, and Mt the same time press the hands
alternately, against the rocks for support. An
Indian will throw a live sheep around his neck
and go up quite rapidly without touching
either hand to the rocks; but am satisfied l
could never do it.
They told us of pathetic incident that oc.
CURED on the outer stairway several genera
tiOnS ago. Several men started up, each with
a sheep on bis back. When nearly to the top
the sheep carried by the foremost man became
restless. and the shepherd, in trying to hold it
fast, lost his footing, and in falling swept his
companions over the precipice, and they-all fell
on the rock ut the foot in a lfeless heap. The
Indians have carved Il rcpreSen tatiOn of the &C.
cident on rock near where it occurred, which
scarcely serves to steady the nerves Of those
who go by that route.
The top of the elevation is level, and con-
tains an area of sixty or seventy acres. At one
side stands the pueblo, blunt pyramid Of
the other the church and graveyard, and near
the center pond of pure water thirty feet in
depth and several rods in extent.
The priest was made acquainted with the OBJ
ject of our visit, and the ringing of the church
bell brought the inhabitants of the village
around us. When they understood that the
title to their land was in question. and we had
come to take testimony, they showed great in
tere>t, and discussed the various points involved
limited opportunities for a knowledge of law
AS nighti;ill came Oh a number of the men who
had been at work in the valley came up, bring
ing delicious peaches and grapes, which we
were glad to accept in view of the meagre prepa-
ratiOnS for supper.
We slept in the church, wrapped up in our
Navajo blankets, and never felt more secure or
happier in our lives When the gray dawn
peeped through the little mica windOw-panes it
revealed great roof beams more than q foot in
diameter and thirty forty feet long, and
through the open tower Il bell that was cast in
ITO. How these immense timbers and this
bell were brought up to the top OF this cliff no
one living knows. The Indians shake their
heads and the priest shakes his, but no one VEN
lures an opinion. The timbers are there, how
ever, as witnesses, and morning and night, as
the seasons come and go and generations pass
away the bell speaks tor itself in the Silvery
tones that pleased it's founder in the tar off
Spain when King George was on the throne.
The adObcs-Or earth of which they were made
were brought up from the valley also, for the
top of the butte was Il bald rock in the BEGIN
ing. And the earth for the graves came the
same way, requiring forty years. the priest
SAID, to complete the graveyard 1t is the only
completed grave yard have ever seen, The
old priest seemed very happy in the charge of
his flock and his flock seemed happy in the
possession of him.
When the time for our departure came there
was Misunderstanding and Misunderstanding and Il
gracious blessing from the old man, and q mes
sage to Father DcFouri, and we climbed down
from the city in the air and rode back in silence
to the railroad.