Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-06-25
EVIDENCE THAT THE ANCIENT CLIFF
 JEWELLERS STILL IsXISE

Now Mexico Yet Retains Them, Ae.
 cnrdi"g to Hunters Atory-Hosv
 the Little People Were Traced to
 their il"m-s-Their Height suid to be
 About Three Feet.
 The following story Is told by writer in the N. Y. World:
 During a recent great snow storm which Black Rangers will remember for many years to come, 1 was out hunting on the headwaters of the Gila river" says the correspondent. "The evening was dark and gloomy, with that peculiar stiffness that prevails when snow is fall ing. l had stopped, being uncertain of my way, near an overhanging cliff which seemed to be hundreds of feet high when chancing to cast my eyes downward, 1 was literally paralyzed by seeing a tiny footprint in the snow. Knowing therc were no inhabitants within many miles of the place, almost doubted the evi- dence of my own eyes and vague and supcrstitous fear began to creep over me.
 But curiosity got the better of my fears and I resolved to follow the trail of the unknown being, which led by cir cuitous and toilsome route up the putting face of the cliff. It seemed I climbed for hours, passing over the narrow lodges tn at would have puzzled an experienced hunter to maintain his foothold, but in my excitement l scarcely noticed it. All fear had now left mo and my desire to see the little being which 1 had been follow ing had completely driven out all other thoughts from my mind.
 "I arrived at last on broad ledge of rock completely sheltered from the storm and as smooth as if it had been polished Its entire surface was carved with the most beautiful hieroglyphics. Pictures face of the cliff, done in the most artistic manner, but differing greatly from our style of drawing. It seemed to be cut in the rock and then filled in with some brilliant colorlng matter. In the cliff, about twelve feet from where came on to the ledge, was an almost round hole about large enough to admit a water bucket, which from constant use had been woru perfectly smooth, and in this hole had no doubt my mysterious friend had vanished.
 My interest was so great I had not noticed the flight of time, but now with diSmay l found the night closing around me, and @ night on that barren rock without blankets or fire meant almost certain death. But there I was, and there I must remain until the coming day would lend Its friendly light to guide me back to Mother Earth, provided had not perished with cold. The snow was still falling, and the pine trees far down beneath me had ceased their sigh ing and their boughs were bending un- der their glistening coat of mail A silence as profound as death wrapped all nature in a close embrace, when sud- denly there broke upon my ear the sweet est sound that 1t has ever heard-a low, n1oir a1o ol,yo mother would sing to soothe 6 fretting child.
 "The sound came from the opening previously mentioned, and, falling on my hands and knees, crawled as noieelessly | as possible towards the hole. Raising my face, looked in, ana the eight that | met my gaze will be forever stamped on my memory. The room was hewn from the solid rock, and there, seated on the | will call Clifftons, for they were undocbt- edly the relics of the ancient cliff dwell CTS of which you and I have seen so much sign. In height would judge them to be about 1-2 to 3 feet, dressed warm and snugly in skins, with the hair inside, fitting skin-tight, so as to give free use to all the limbs. formed the idea that they were father, mother and daughter. Their color was dark bronze-some- l and clean. Tho smallest one, which took to be the daughtee, was leaning affectionately on her mothers shoulder and humming soft, low melody that filled the little room with music without breaking into any definite sound, and 1t was undoubtedly she that I had first heard singing
 "In form and features they were the exact counterpart of ourselves, though l iY,,in fha}r clear and bright without that scared, l wild look that characterizes most wild nations. The cold had now become ex- | treme and was forced to seek exercise to keep my sluggish blood from congeal. ing in my veins, so I abandoned my vigil at the aperature and sought the other end of rock, where, pacing up and down, l spent that long, dreadful night, with no sound to relieve the terror of the night except the occasional scream of a wild cat, as he prowled his way through the drifting snow. At the first streak ot dawn hastened to leave my unwelcome perch, and after a long and perilous journey reached the place where had first seen the footprints. After carefully marking the place, I set out to try and Ond camp, and after travelling ali day stumbling through snow drifts and fall ing over hidden logs, l staggered into Cartwright's ranch, where I told my story.
 "They looked at each other and saiC That's all right, of course you saw them. You have been lost in the snow you are sick. Go to bed, old fellow, anC you will feel better in tho morning.
 "But it was no delusion. Iknow what l saw, and give you my word of honol it is no myth"
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