The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-09-13
PEOPLE OF THE
ENCHANTED MESA
Relics of a Dead Race
Found in the Mystic
Tableland
Discoveries of Professor F. w.
Hodge of the Smithsonian
Institution.
Obtained Potsherds, StoneAxes and
Arrow Heads of the Prehis-
tOriC Tribe.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 12.-F. W.
Hodge OF the bureau of ethnology, Smith
sonian Institution, has just returned fr m
an expedition to the enchanted mesa Of
New Mexico, which has excited the inter-
est of scientists and the daring of explor-
ing parties. II was brought into promi.
nence few months ago by the expedition
of Professor William Libbey of Princeton
University, who took rope throwing NOR
lars, huge Kites, balloons and tons OF ap-
paratus to scale this hitherto inaccessible
lakeland. The purpose Of the investiga-
ton has been to determine whether the
summit of the mesa was at one time in
habited by the prehistoric Acoma In
dams Professor Libbey reported no evil
dences of early occupation.
Mr.. Hodges explorations have brought
different results, however, Tor after scaling
the mesa he spent some time Oil the sum-
NIT and found q numb.r of fragments of
pottery arrows, shells, bracelets, ston-
axes, ETC., establishing conclusively that
the top OF the mesa was at one time in
habted.
Mr.. Hodge was sent by the Bureau of
Z hnology to examine a series of ruins in
Western New Mexico and TO attend the
snake dance of the Moki Indians. This
done he was directed to proceed to the
Mesa Escanada and 10 scale its precip-
itous walls in any way he saw fit He
procured an extension ladder comprising
SIX sections of six feet each, toge Their with
an ample supply OF rope, and proceeded
to the Mesa on Saptem Der g. accom- panied
by Major George H. Pradt, Depu United
7 -
Is familiar with that section; A. c. Vro-
man of Pasadena, Cal, who acted as pho
tographer of the expedition; H. C. Hoyt
of Chicago and two La Guna Indians.
The Mesa was deter mined to be 431 feet
from the western plain to the top of the
highest pinnacle above the cleft, and the
talus at the base of the cleft 224 teet above
the plain. The climb was without any
serious difficulty until the party reached
great sandstone.
The ladders were hauled section by Sec
ton to this point by means OF the ropes,
then fitted together and raised against The
cliff. Mr.. Hodge assembled to the top, and
elm bing over the slope lmmed lately
above succeede in flashing the top OF the
ladder to a huge bowlder that had fallen
from above and Iod ed on the terrace
some twenty feet from the summit. The
ladder was then assembled by the re-
mainder OF tle party and the top easily
reached. The ascent consumed exactly
two hours and quarter.
The explorers had not been on the sum-
NIT OF the mesa i've m inutes before Major
Pradt picked up fragment of ancient
pottery. which indicated clearly that the
mesa had been visited, at any rate, in
former times and that Professor Libbey
was mistaken IL his conclusions. During
the afternoon and the night Mr.. Hodge
examined the ground critically while
Major PraGt made survey OF the mesa
aud Mr.. Vroman secured a number of
photographs.
Several potsherds, two stone axes
(broken), a fragment of a shell bracelet
and q stone ow-point were the chief
evidences OF former occupancy on the
storm swept crest, but abundant pots
herds, etc, were found in the talus swept
down from the summit All vestiges of
the ancient trail ascending the talus and
continued thence TO the sum nit by hand
and footholes in the solid rock, have been
obiteratef; but some traces OF the holes
remain. This vericaton OF an Indian
tradition notable for inherent evidence of
accuracy is peculiarly gratifying to stu
dents OF anthropology.
Professor Libbey's ladder was discev-
cred still dashed in place above the
crevasse.
Mr.. Hodge 8 researches will arouse great
interest among American ethnologists
and archRo.ogists, inasmuch as they are
said 10 show mat Indian tradition should
Tot be dismissed as mere myths after only
casual ex ploratiOn.