The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-31
HE C0NQUERS THE MESA.
PROF. LIBBEY REACHES THE TOP
OF THE FAMOUS HIGHT.

VT n MINUS HIGHT.
A Line Is shot Over 1t by Cannon
and Then the Professor Is Helped
to the summit by "a PuIIey-He
Finds No Trace of the Indian Vii
Iage That Is said to Have Been
There.
From the New York Sun
Albuquerque, N. Mon last Friday aft
ernoon Prof. William Libbey of Princeton
University succeeded in scaling the fam
Gus Mesa Encantada," which is near the
Indian village of Acoma, this territory
BY means of a 21a-inch bore brass cannon,
a steel cylinder with a soft iron shank
and a ring in the end, to which a cord
was attached, was finally shot over the
Mesa after several Intellectual efforts, and
by means of this shot cord the ropes re-
quired in making the ascent We're pulled
W..
Fifteen hundred feet of rope was re-
Quired to reach from one side to the other,
and when it was all in readiness travel
ing block was attached to the pulley which
had previously been spliced to the main
rope, and pulled up to the edge of the
overhanging ledge. A mans weight Of
rock was then placed In the chair rugged
on the travelling block, and an expert
mental trip was made, which proved sue
cessfCl
Prof. Libbey then took his place in the
chair and was raised to the top of the
Mesa. Gordon Pearce, a newspaper man
of this city, was the only other man in the
party TO make the dangerous ascent.
An that was found on the top of the
Mesa which indicated that it might have
been inhabited was a monument of rocks
which looked as If 1t We're created by
man. With this exception there were alb
solutely no indications that it. had ever
been inhabited by race of men. and
Prof. Libbey Is convinced that the roman
tic legends which was connected with it
are nothing more than fairy tales.
A later report of Libbey's ascent says
that early on last Monday morning Prof.
Libbey and Mr.. II. l.. Bridgman, business
manager of the Standard Union of Brook
Ign, with something over a ton of bag
gage left Baguna for the tabled site Of
Ancient Acoma. They took with them a
cook and couple of teamsters and were
also accompanied by a special correspond
ent.
On Thursday morning, after careful
reconnaissance of the apparently impreg-
nable walls Of the haunted Mesa. a spot
near the southeast corner was selected
as the point OF attack and a permanent
camping place was pitched near to IL
as the wagons could be conveniently
brought.
Soon after the Interesting process of un-
packing the professors numerous books
was begun. one OF the first articles was
a 2Is bore brass cannon. This was de-
stined to carry TO the top OF the Mesa.
Then came the numerous gun equip
ments, consisting of blocks and tackle.
pulleys etc. The larger part OF the lug
gage consisted Of rope. There were sew
eral miles Of rope and cord, varying
In size from one inch down to delicate
little braided linen cord.
The cannon and It's equipment were bor-
rowed from the life-saving service Of
the United states The cords 81 differ-
ent sizes were those used by The corps OF
the service under varying circumstances,
the lightest used when a great distance
Is TO be covered.
The shot which carried the limo weighed
twenty-five pounds and was steel cyl
indcr with a soft iron crank TO which the
cord was attached. The line TO be thrown
is placed IN a peculiar manner In box
called taking box" II Is laced back
and forth loosely over wooden pegs.
After the lacing is completed cover Is
placed over Il. The box IL turned upside
down, the pegs lifted out, and the line
lies as lightly and loosely as box OF
snowhakcs.
on Wednesday morning the campaign
opened IN earnest. The line was prepared
and al about o'clock the first shot with
a medium-slzed line was fired.
The gun was not aimed high enough ana
the shot struck the rocks about 100 feet
from the top The line was carefully
gathered up and al was made IN readi-
ness for a second trial
IL was almost noon when the second
shot was fred. This time The cannon was
aimed at an elevation Of about 40 degrees
and the steel cylinder rose ike a sky
rocket over the mesa, then down and on
the other side.
This was the first success. but by no
means the end Of the story. The shot
cord was not strong enough 10 pull The
rope used Va the ascent
Tho rest OF Wednesday ana all day
Thursday and large part OF Friday were
spent IN pulling uD the large ropes, ln
gradual sizes. Every time II splice caught
the ropes on top. 10 meant the pulling back
Of tho rope and beginning over again.
Fifteen hundred feet of line was rcquir.
"a 90 reach from one side 20 tho other,
and tho pulling back and forth before the
last rope WIS adjusted aNl0Unfod 10 hand
ling something over two ana one.hnlf
miles OF rope
AZ noon on Friday al was IN readiness.