New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-20

WOMAN'S ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY
THROUGH COLORADO CANYONS

NARROW LEDGEs AND CLINGING TO
ROPE IN THE SEARCH FOR TIE
HOUSES OF VANISHED RACE.
Durango. Col, Oct IA trip to the CHI
dwellings in the Mancos Valley. Col. oilers 10
the tourist a novel experience. One hitherto az
customed TO viewing the grand scenery Oh one
western country from Pullman car "ihuo"
will feel when taking this trip that all former
experiences are us nothing compared ~ t' hot
only the variety and grandeur OF the scenery pu'
the mode OF travelling will he n delight, provld-
ing tho traveller has nerves and back strong
enough 70 endure the harlshps 70 DC met with on
the journey.
Forty.fvc miles southwest from Durango j
thc ranch from which the guide. horses an" PACK
mules are provided for the journey, ana IL Is aH1
the place where the necessary outIt IN tp' why
Of clothing is obtained On May II; lS'-' inc
cuidc my brother and l. each mounted on small
horse and accompanied by pack mule LETT the
ranch ut n quarter before o'clock, expecting
n roach the camp near where the first clin dwell
inc on the trip IS situated at about seven In The
evening n distance OF twenty-six miles For the
frat four miles tho riding was delightful, over
. mesa covered with sagr brush and then began
,ho ascent Of the first mountain. The iran ~
marrow and somewhat in disusc, ana the orilc"cS
NJ the nine trees meeting just above the hor"s
heads left many marks upon orr iacrS' bN VIC
tine We arhcl the summit we were IN dII'p-
dated and bruised condition generally. 10 wis
then that asked The guide il there were any moro
mountains on the way 10 tho camp similar 10 ''''
- 49,, Ld ,,e+ b,.tlo1 with . Yes eli ht more.
,ssuminq \ courage which did not feel
b,con the descent Truly il the ascent
vas bad tho dcsccnt wOrsc-in many places
= narrow crossing. with landslide extending
hundreds Of feet below ono side and on the
other n hiyh wall OF rock. After this the guide
WIS addressed very frequently when W" camc
10 anv steep rocky p'ac's. common remark was
" No vou thnl, that will be able TO do that?
And the reply was always the same "Certainlr.
r. Won can keep in The saddle the horse will go
all RIGHT And the horse always did. All
nrois, bc 10 the horsos for we deserve none. we
sirrlv clnnr with hands and feet TO the horses,
and cndnrod But we we'll repaid "arh
,i,,o va halted Tic views that we had OF The
"a, .Jnan md Moratorium Valleys from the sum-
m,,s ~ tho mountains were fine. To look down
unon the CANYONS these immense and, as II seemed
lotton'rss cracks in the "1rths suriace was CIT
family impressive and awe inspiring. one we"
fiat we had was of three pointed, s1uare-cu'
mountains called The Pyramids they are $50
-o,cd from other mountains, md In the haay us
,,ucc with the intensely blue SKY oN'r"'a''
formed n perfect Egyptian picture
VI praiec that we can civ" our morse" Io' '","
~cr,lcncss and care can br too great. They d'-
,.a :, All put in regard 10 the pack mule,
o,,,.,o, councls me 70 state that he was trlaI-
rc wonld not keep TO the trail hut kept wander
t. ~. and thc Guide was obliged 10 pursue
,h ,ruc and wc were Obliged to pursue the guide.
7, mot only retarded US orr journey, but II ne
o,..u,,c1 orr riding through very unpleasant
,,oc,s II rough forests of dead tre'9 WIN Snl'P
p,,ntcd branches. stabbing lis At every TURN INV
LA, time the mule deserted was apou'
o'clock I'm the evening. We lost the 'rHL ror
an hour and n half we rode with our heads ocn'
nearly tn the horses nccis To keep our eyes from
h,irr scratched out hy the branches OF me trees
AZ ono time when we halted the guide hghten Il
match and we discovered that we were withln
ten feet Of canyon. The guide assured us 'l'"'
the horses would never walk of the top OF
oo,,o, Ncvcrthelca, the sensation was not pleas
nnt H. was then We decided that II would De
safer TO remove the blankets from the horses. and
co,nn where we were. We about TO do so, out
frs, all three shouted for relief, and were glad
dered bv n response At first were fearful that
II micht hc an echo: but it proved TO be the
so,rd of human voices: they we're calling to ia
We rode I'm the direction Of the sound, and ut last
the tents Of the camp met our view. IL was nall
mast o o'clock. and when lifted from our horses,
although We could scarcely stand from fatigue, we
could have shouted hymn Of Thanksgiving, and a
long ut that.
The next morning We for the first time
tbc Spruce Tree Gin House. 1t directly
opposite the camp, half way up the wall of the
canyon in n deep ledge in the rock. IL is built
OF stone and mortar, and contains sevepty-two
rooms many Of them III Il good state OF prcserva-
ton, the size and shape OF the rooms III the
rear being limited by the space allowed by the
formation OF the rock Each room has ono open
Ing. which must have served for both door and
window From n distance tho structure pre-
sented the appearance OF n fort III ruins The
Sprucc Tree House il not inaccessible rs the
TWO other clin dwellings we visited, although
the last thing TO do before reaching the house
is 10 walk up n slantiug tIec For two hours we
explored the dwelling, and for that space OF
time we lived in the prehistoric past. OF course
We had many theories in regard TO the race OF
| people who occupied these dwellings,, theories
which | fear, historians Of the present day would
not consider valuable additions To the cause OF
modern research. Consequently they will never
be published but in regard TO the theory already
published. that these people migrated to the
Pucho farther south that the clia dwelling was
the first step. rather tho last step,
10 the Pueblo seems a., plausible one
But the mystery of IL Shall we ever know
ccssiblo plnccs houses that have lasted for CEN
turies And why did they desert them all and
lnavc no trace That they were n capable. IN
Gns,rious race Of barbarians is beyond a doubt.
The specimens of pottery and household uten-
sis discovered show that. Our guide. while
with US. unearthed the skeleton Of domestic
turkey and wooden nccdcAtwo articles which
illustrate that feet conclusvely.
The second clif dwelling we visited Is three
miles further on, and is called the Cliff Palace IL
contains ia rooms and from an architectural
and ornamental point Of view; far surpasses the
Spruce Tree House inasmuch rs IL has imposing
looking tower, three stories high. and in room
are the remains OF colorcd wall decorc tons-a
frlczc and dado in ornamental designs. Ii was
AZ the Clir Palace that we ate our lunch Of
nd dishes WI oStcd