New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-13
NEW. MEXICO'S ENCHANTED MESA.
POTTERY, ARRowHEADs AND STONE AXES
FOUND on THE PLATEAU BY SMITH

Washington Sept. l2-F. W. Hodge. OF the Bureau
OF Ethnoogy Smithsonian Institution. has just re-
turned from expedition TO the Enchanted Mesa
o. New Mexico. which has excited the interest OF
scientists and the daring OF exploring parties IL
brought into prominence a few months ago ny
the expedition OF Professor William l@boey' oil
Princeton University. who took rope-throwing NOR
tars huge kites balloons and tons Of apparatus 10
scale this hitherto inaccessible ableland Inc pur-
pose Of the Investigations has been TO determine
whether the summit OF the mesa was at one time
inhabited by the prehistoric Acoma Indians
Professor Li5bey reported no evidences OF early
occupancy. but the explorations OF Mr.. Hodge have
brought different results. After scaling the mesa
be spent some time on the summit, ana fouhd
number OF fragments OF pottery, arrows sneH
bracelets and stone axes, establishing conciusively
that the top OF the was at one time inhaDlten
M Hodge sent by the Bureau OF Ethnology
TO examine 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
Mesa Escanaba and scale its precipitous walls
in any way he saw fit. He procured an extension
ladder comprising six sections OF six feet each with
an ample supply of rope. and proceeded to the mesa
on September 3. accompanied by Major George H.
Pradt, Deputy United States Surveyor at laguna'
y NJ. who Is familiar with that section a; =,
Nroman OF Pasadena, Cal, who acted as bho,os-
rapher Of the expedition; II. C. Hayt OF Chiciso'
and two Laguna Indians.
The mesa was determined to be +3 feet from me
western plain to the top or the ngnest
above the cleft. and the tains At the base or tne
cleft 24 feet above the plain. The CLIMB was WIN,
any serious difficulty, until the party reached
a great sandstone. The ladders were hauled. sec
ton by section this point by means of the ropes
then fitted together and raised against the ceit
Mr.. Hodge assembled 10 the top. and climbing over
the slope Immediately above, succeeded IN lasnlhg
the top of the ladder to huge bowlder that had
fallen from above and lodged on the terrace about
twenty feet from the summit. The ladder was then
assembled by the remainder OF the party and the TOP
easily reached The ascent 10 the summit look
exactly two hours and quarter.
The explorer had not been on the summit or the
mesa five minutes before Major Pradt picked up a
fragment OF ancient pottery, which indicated clearly
that the had been visited. at any rate IN
former times. and that Professor l.ibbey was mis-
taken In his conclusions In the afternoon ana the
next day Mr.. Hodge examined the ground critically;
while Major I'radt made survey or tho me-a ana
Mr.. Nroman secured number OF photoGrapns
Several pOtsher1s. two broken stone axes, a rag
mcni OF n shell bracelet and stone arrowpoini
were the chief evidences OF former occupancy round
the narrow crest. but abundant poiShords ana
other relics found In the talus swept down
from the summit All vestiges OF the ancient tran
ascending the ialus and continuing thence 10 the
summit by hand and foot holds in the solid rock
have been oberated. but some traces OF the holes
remain Professor Iibbcy's ladder was discovered
stu lashcI in place above the creVasse.
Mr.. Hodges researches arc likely 20 arouse great
interest among American cthnoloEisis and archaol-
oCists. inasmuch they are said to show mat
Indian tradition should not be dismissed as merely
mythical after only casual exploration.