The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-31

and a travelling block" was attached to
the pulley, which had been previously
spliced to the main rope and pulled up to
the edge of the overhanging ledge
Then a rock weighing almost as much
as a man was placed in a "boatswain s
chair" rugged to the travelling block. and
the trial trip was made. 1t proved sue
cessful, and when the chair was once
more lowered to terra firma Prof. LlObey
prepared to ascend.
When he was finally ready to make the
trip he inquired as to who would be the
next to go TO the top There was no very
violent competition, but the reporter an
swered weakly that he would follow on
the next train.
The professor made the trip without the
slightest mishap, and shortly afterward
the reporter found himself sitting on the
little board twenty feet below the top of
the enchanted Mesa and $50 feet above the
rocks directly beneath Prof. Libbey.
The top of the Mesa was thoroughly In
vestigated and little evidence of any for
mer inhabitants was found. There was a
monument of rocks piled up, much after
the manner of the Indian monuments of
long ago.
The top of the rock Is about sixteen
acres In extent and about 1000 feet higher
than the immediate surrounding country.
and fully 700 higher than the valley Just
south of 1t.
Prof. Libbey was In no way dlsappolnt-
ed, as he did not believe any old ruins
would be found He simply wished to as
cend a rock which had hitherto been con-
sidered inaccessible.
He has done so. and is perfectly salts
fed. Prof Libbey and Mr. Bridgeman Will
go on to Flagstaff and viii visit the Grand
canon for a day or so. and will then re-
turn directly TO their homes.
IL is possible that new specimens of fora
have been found, but later examination
will have to be made to determine this.
The Mesa is a precipltous rock about one
and half or two miles northeast of the
Indian Pueblo of Acoma. The commonly
accepted story of the rock Is that il was.
about 100 years ago the site Of a very
large and populous Indian village
The inhabitants were said to depend
upon agricultural pursuits for their lveli-
hood. as are the Acoma Indians Of to-day
to leave their homes to cultivate the fields
lying iIl the valley far below them and sew
eral miles distant.
The top of the enchanted mesa, accord
ing to Charles +. Lummis, the student OF
Pueblo Indian folk lore, was accessible by
only one trail which was cut In the steep
side of detached pillar of stone which
had fallen over against the main rock.
One day, as the rainy season came on.
all Of the able-bodied men OF this alleged
city went down 10 their labor In the fields.
leaving only the aged and lnfrm, with
their caretakers, upon the rocky nights.
The rains came down In torrents and
cloudbursts. Many Of their houses were
washed down, and as the severity OF the
storm increased. one OF the few young
caretakers was sent to the place below TO
summon help from the fields.
He hardly more than reached the bot
tom of the fearful rock ladder" over
high fbe Ia mo tor
rents. than IL fell. The treacherous sands
at its bottom had been washed away, and
the mighty column that had served as the
only gateway to ancient Acoma for cen
turtles lay shattered at the base OF the
now inaccessible Mesa.
The little crowd at the bottom OF the
big rock then cast about for a new place
on which TO build their homes. The result
was the settlement OF the present village
Of Acoma- This is O roughly outlined
sketch of the legend OF the Mesa Encan-
tada."