The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-08-10
A LONG EXTINCT PEOPLE.
JEWELLERS IN THE CAvERNS OF
THE FAR WESTERN CANYONS.
The Discoveries Made by a Colorado E1-

l1E FAX WIS eRN CANYONS.
The Discoveries Made by Colorado Ex-
plorcr in the Valley of tho Mancos
ver-Prchstoric skulls of Peculiar
F"rmation-A Remarkable Collection.
FROM the earliest ages of the past there
speaks today in the collection of relics found
within the newly formed county of Montezu-
ma lying about tifty-five miles southwest of
Durango, in the state of Colorado, world
of knowledge, silent though tue objects be,
of n people who there dwelt. "more," says
Mr.. Gushing, than 10000 years ago."
THE CLIFF DwELLERs."
The borders of this wonderland are found
10y following down the Mancos valley to the
MancnS river. which for about twenty-five
miles flows through a vertable city of ruins.
From the valley through which this river
flows divcrgc six canyons, and all along their
steep and rocky sides for the entire distance,
and more especially in the amphitheatre
| formed at the terminus of each of them, are
found the c,riously formed dwellings which
are built i'll the excavations made in the walls
of the canyons. How they were formed
must ever remain con jectural, save that the
elements have worn them smooth and with
marvellous dcSre OF uniformity.
"One of these dwellings," said Mr.. Nc
Lloyd, ''was at tho front or perpendicular
faco four stories in height, gradually sloping
from topmost point to the rear ut an angle of
about 45 degs. This space was once unques.
| tionahly filled with n house constructed of
stone masonry, which was provided with
wooden timbers much in the usual form used
in modern dwellings. Three stories of tho
crude masonry of this house yet remain"
In this house much of tho priceless treasure
secured by Mr. McLoyd was found In the
rear room, which was terminated by the
wedge formed of the slanting roof of solid
stone and the level floor of tho dwelling, and
sealed complete with masonry work, were
| found the perfect skeletons of two infants,
wound about with Il peculiar fabric to which
| the name IF Feather CLOTH has been given,
owing to the fact that it is formed of feathers
wound about separate strands Of Il peculiar
twre formed of some vegetable lint, and
these strings OF cords then woven or pleated
closely together SO as to form perfect piece
of cloth.
First i, wrapping of this fabric SO soft and
fine that tho down alone is felt when exam
incd, rs flexible us Il piece of silk. a coarser'
wrapping is over this, another and another
still until tho final and outer ono, which is
formed of thin Stats of polished wood and
and held together by II cord in Il manner
much resembling tho ordinary Venetian VIII
dow shade The houses are of ali forms and
sizes, from the one above described down to
| that of one small room.
The collection of skulls is very largo and
vary in size and in form, two distinct races
being evidenced by tho formation of tho
skulls. Those found in tho cliff dwellings in
almost every instance being i'll rooms scaled
up entire with work Of masonry, and evil
IDENTIFY the "cllf twellcrs" had n skull So
shaped that the oval or rear extended portion
Of the head is totally lacking, the organs of
'phl"progcnitivencss," us the phrcnologists
would term it, being entirely absent, and this
Is clt"lby some us Il reason for the extinction
cf the race In other words, the line is per-
tccily straight perpendicular. Another class
Of skulls found only Oh the river bottoms, ara
flat on ti.creal and upper portion of the head,
santin;, on uniform limo from the upper
portion of tho forehead to the rear as though
Some uniform pressure had been brought to
bear upon them. These skulls are low AMI
broad, the lateral portions of the head being
full and o"rrcspondnSly low, showing much
OF the bulldog quality in structural form.
Hundreds of bono instruments of almost
every conceivable form possible into which
| 'puHt b' NOlktl ilIS lltIt GAulDLtu,
most, if not all of them, being edged instru-
ments. a perfect drawing knife, knife
blades, avis needles with eyes, III some of
which the threads for sewing yet remain, and
many instruments, the probable use of which
could not he asccrtaincd from their FORM
Leather goods Of various textures from tho
soft and perfectly tanned buckskin to others
as fine and pablc as it would bc possible to
produce by any method known today.
Sandals formed Of the Skins of animals and
woven from the fiber of the soap weed, with
so!es 50 firm and durable as to doubtless bc q
perfect protection to tho feet in clumbering
over the slIari, rocks of that country. Others
formed Of corn husks, in us perfect a state of
preservation rs if but of n seasons growth,
while many are half finished or but Just be-
gun-a task, indeed, never to be finished.
Ma,,ings, sono of them perfect woven Of
the rushes which were found on the inner
floors, baskets of simple designs, but curious
ly wrought III colorinys some mlth designs
formed Of lines in simple combinations, no
figures whatever being made use Of, perfect
corn blades, yet green rs when pucked from
the growing stalk.
In an car,hen jar is yet preserved q.an
tily of dried corn. This jar has a perfect
fitting lid which prevented vermin from de-
stroyins it. Perfect turkey feathers arc
shown in tho form of n dust broom. Shields
formed Of the bark of trees, onc bein. ubout
fifteen inches high and about thrty-two
inches around, resembling birch bark, and
evidently worn as jacket, as the sides have
holes presumably for the purpose of lacing it
together
Pottery Of various forms from small mugs
and cups to large vases in the shape of bulg-
lag jars which would possibly hold from five
to eight gallons, some painted in u simple and
crude way. Splints almost rs suggestive of
use for broken limbs us any of the modern
articles for that purpose. Agatized pieces OF
polished wood, corn cobs, squash seed, and
the brown bean with white eye, similar to
the product of today. Raw fiber for ropes,
sandals, etc, ornaments of stone, horn, coal,
turkey bone, boads, with nuts between the
beads of bono II form of u necklace No
metal Instruments or metal of any kind were
found. \ large basin or reservoir appears
on the mesa about ten feet deep by l5O i'll
diameter. y double wall is about it, between
which had been tampcd stone and gravel
Denver News
Five Deadly Shots with One Bullet.
| There is an old gentleman in Forsyth
! county who is very fond of hunting When