The indicator., 1897-10-23
WAS INHABITED.
Tho Enohanted Mesa OF New Mex
loo Again Visited
Second Party of Explorers Find
Traces of Former Inhabitants
of the Elevated Noun
tain Plain.

1t has been proved that Indian tradi-
tions should not be dismissed as merely
mythical after only casual explora-
ton.
This has been demonstrated as the
result of the trip of f. w. Hodge, of
the bureau of ethnology, Smithsonian
Institution, who has just returned
from an expedition to the mesa. The
Enchanted Mesa of New Mexico has ex-
cited the interest of scientists and the
daring of exploring parties. 1t was
brought into prominence u few weeks
ago by the expedition of Prof. William
Libbey, of Princeton university, who
took rope-t throwing mortars, huge
kites, balloons and tons of apparatus
20 scale this hitherto inaccessible table
land.
The purpose of the Investigations has
been to determine whether the summit
of the mesa was at one time inhabited
by the prehistoric Acoma Indians. Prof.
Libbey reported no evidences of early
occupancy. Mr.. Hodges explorations
have brought different results, however,
for after scaling the mesa he spent
ber of fragments of pottery, arrows,
shell bracelets, stone axes, etc, estab-
fishing couclusively that the top of the
mesa was,at one time the home of hu-
mans.
Mr.. Hodge was sent by the bureau of
ethnology to examine Il 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
scale its precipitous walls in any way
he saw fit. He procured an extension
ladder, comprising six sections Of six
feet each together, with an ample sup
ply of rope, and proceeded to the mesa
September g. accompanied by Maj.
George II. Pradt, deputy United States
surveyor at Laguna, n. NJ, who is fa-
miliar with that section; A. &. Nroman,
of Pasadena, Cal, who acted as photog-
rapher of the expedition; H. c. Hoyt,
of Chicago, and two Laguna Indians.
The NEST was determined 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 feet above the plain. The climb was
without any serious difficulty until the
party reached great sandstone. The
ladders were hauled section by sec
tion to this point by means of the
ropes, then fitted together, and raised
against the cliff.
Mr. Hodge assembled to the top and
climbing over the slope Immediately
h. - ~
to II huge bowder that had fallen from
above and lodged on the terrace some
20 feet from the summit. The ladder
was then ascended by the remainder of
the party and the top easily reached.
The ascent consumed exactly 2H hours.
The explorers had not been on the
summit of the mesa five minutes be-
fore Maj. Pratht picked up a fragment
OF ancient pottery, which indicates
clearly that the mesa had been visited
at any rate, in former times, and that
Prof. Libbey was mistaken in his con-
illusions. During the afternoon and the
next day Mr.. Hodge examined the
ground critically, while Maj. Pradt
made a survey of the mesa, and Mr.. Nro-
man secured number of photographs.
Several potsherds, two stone axes
tbroken), fragment of a shell brace
let and stone arrow point were the
chief evidences of former occupancy
found on the narrow storm-swept crest,
but abundant potsherds, etc, were
found in the talus swept down from
the summit. All vestiges of the an
cient trail ascending the talus and
continued thence to the summit by hand
and foot holes in the solid rock, have
been obliterated, but some traces of
the hole remain. This verifcation of
an Indian tradition, notable for in
herent evidence of accuracy, is peculiar
ly gratifying to students of anthrop-
ology.
Prof. Libbey's ladder was discovered
still lashed in place above the crevasse,
Mr. Hodges researches will arouse
great interest among American ethnol-
ogists and archaeologists. - Chicago
Times-Ilerald.
The Candle Fish of Alaska.
With the discovery of the klondike,
with all its winterprivations comes also
the practical discovery of a fish found
said will furnish food, light, heat and
medicine to the prospectors who have
gone into the new Ell Dorado This
fish is of the smelt variety, but larger
and fatter. They are caught in nets
easily and on being caught are found
to be of rich green color on the back
variegated with blue and with golden
reflections on the belly. On being held
up to the light they are almost trans
parent. On being caught these fish are
dried and stored. When the Alaskan is
showed in and without n light he simply
inserts the tail of one of these fish in
crack in the table and touches match
to its nose. 1t gives out clear three
candle power light. The backbone is
largely formed of phosphorus, which
not only causes it to ignite easily. but
also accounts for the strength of the
flame and the heat developed. The sub
stance of the fish, largely fat, retards
the rapid burning, as the tallow acts
in an ordinary candle. The fish is also
valuable as food. Still another use to
which it may be put is as substitute
for cod liver oil, which, aiding the nat
ural heat of the body, serves to protect
against the severe cold 1t is to be
hoped that scientists will discover "a
way by which the skin of this fish may
be made into clothing and its backbone
sharpenet into miners picks.-Phila-
delphia Press.
THE HAYES HOMESTEAD.
The Prcsidenrs Father Wns Not horn
In the Vermont House.
So much has been said and written
concerning the historical Hayes home-
stead in West Brattleboro. which was