The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-27
LIBBEY'S GREAT SUCCESS.
MORE FACTS AMOUR Hrs ASCENT
OF MESA ENOANTlD A.

A Team OF Horses Failed the Rope Thnt Lifted
the Professor 500 Feet 20 tho Top o. the
mtg Sandstone Diock-No Evidence That
Any Human BeinE Had Ever licen These.
JAGuNA, n. M, July 26.-Prof. William Lab-
bey's ascent on Friday, the first by man OF the
hitherto unscalable Mesa Encnntada, was .
brilliant success in every detail and produo-
tive of Immediate and important resultA. 10
dlsposcs completely and finally OF the myth
cal rumors of Its former inhabitants and do
termines precisely and scientifically Its eco
logical history and character.
From the time the station was established
on Wednesday at tho base Of the mesa, o per-
pcndicular pile OF sandstone q mile long, 800
feet high, and roughly shaped like n wedge ~
Ing on It's side, until he stood successfully Al
its crest on Friday afternoon. Prof. Libbey was
necessarily at work and every obstacle was
surmountcd by his skill and persistence. The
work was undertaken with ON outfit largely
from the United States lifc.saving service and
in its general principles resembles the methods
of that corps.
The first line was shot over the mesa near III
southeastern angle on Wednesday,, two at
tempts being necessary. The first shot, hitting
the faco Of tho cliff 100 feet below its crest, broke
sharply In two. The second shot, at an angle 81
45o elevation, took the limo clear over and int
very favorable track. IA
From Wednesday until Friday noon a goS
deal of hard work was necessary in working Up
the line from tho quartor.inch cord attached to
the shot to the throc.inch hawser to carry the
traveller.
After all was completed and tested, Prof.
Libbey dashed himself In the hoatswain's chaiH
and with his camera and Princeton colors,
which have camped In every State and Terri
tory but:one, started on his aerial journey. The
motive power, an ordinary farm team, walked
straight.out across the plain 700 feet. until Prof.
Libbey's voice could be hoard distinctly at the
top "Stopl' He had reached the fixed pulley
In just 2Ss minutes. the hosting apparatus had
worked to perfection, and disengaglng himself
and his parcels from the chair, he scrambled in
three or four minutes more easily to tho top Of
the rock.
A deep and impossible lssure divided the
mesa into two sections not far from the place
of landing, and to overcome this IL was neces-
sary to send to the Indian village OF Acoma
for a ladder. With this. for which two valua.
BILE hours were required, Prof. Libbey effected
the hazardous crossing of the crevasse, and dur.
ing the remaining hours of daylight thorough
ly explored every portion Of the mesa.
No traces whatever Of former inhabitants or
habitations were found. nor any evidence that
the top Of the mesa had ever been seen before
by human eyes. Water in poo 8 from recent
t shoWia' sp wSs "O %as Similar Hn' to on That eS q ot6et
mesas and buttes in the vicinity. Animal Life
was also found in protusion.
The elevation OF the mesa .bove the sur,
rounding plain was determine. to be $50 feet
and above sea level 6, $50. and its superficial
area approximated fifteen acres. The rock In
OF sandstone, and is identical in general char
acteriatics with that On which the ilGian vii.
lage of Acoma Is built, and 1t Is common In all
this region.
Prof. Libbey, desiring to do some photo
graphing by, the early, morning light. decided to
remain, without food, fire, or shelter, on the
summit of the mesa all night, and had directed
the return to camp OF the party, but heavy
threatening showers compelled a change of
purpose and the descent was safely made,
though in pitch darkness. Altogether. Prof
Libbey hae the greater part OF the afternoon
on the mesa, and his examination was most
thorough and exhaustive.
On Saturday the hoisting plant which 70
quired 80 much labor to install was readily re-
moved, and this morning Prof. Libbey arrived
here, having made a night march in from hil
camp at the mesa. The Indians Of Acoma cut
no figure whatever In the transaction, appar.
emily being moro anxious to sell supplies OF
high prices than to add to their knowledge d
their ancestors. The credit of this achieve
ment, hitherto pronounced impossible, ts sole
ly due to the man who planned and accom-
plished It without a hitch or mishap. Of any
kind. and without accident TO life, limb. OF
property to impair satisfaction In its complete
and memorable success.