The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1897-08-28
The MESA
Ascent and Exploration of the IA
nous Rock

AEccnT ana exploration OF the EN0
nous Rock.
For the first time in the history OF
man the celebrated Mesa has bees
mounted. The honor belongs to Prog
William Libbey, OF Princeton universe
". New Jersey, and the fact has been
scientifically established hat the sum-
init is uninhabited, and, as far as tho
party could discover, has ever been.
There were absolutely 10 traces OF ami
NAL life.
II may De that new specimens OF fora
have been found that existed in the
prehistoric world, but sufficient exam
iEation has not yet been made 10 de-
termine this fact The Mesa Encan-
tada IS said 70 be the only spot on the
face OF the globe where the flowers Of
the period OF long ago can exist without
the contamination and wal OF plant life
with the world Of the present day.
Prot. Libbey succeeded il making his
ruch-taIked-of aScent of the encantada
q few days ago. The trip to the summit
was fraught with great perils. and the
result is OF little value from an arch
geological standpoint.
The party consisted of Prof. Libbey,
H. L. Bridgeman, OF Brooklyn. and the
correspondent OF the Times-Herald-
Every preparation had been made for
the ascent, there were great kites and
balloons ready for use. but It was decid-
ed TO throw 4 line across the top of the
Mesa with q yum. borrowed for the pur-
pose from the United States ~life-saving
service.
The first shot was o low. The sec
ord, carrying a steel wire. went over
the summit, but took two days 20 draw
the cord which was attached TO a long
er rope over the rough, rocky surface
Of the spot described by Coronado in
his report to the king of Spain nearly
three centuries ago as being the strong
est natural fertilization in the known
world.
When the ropes were made fast a
block was arranged. and a great chain
d boards. - feet across. was fastened
TO it. \ huge rock was sent 10 the sum
nit without tipping, and then Prof.
Libbey made the ascent. II was dan
geroUs. exceedingly so. As the pro-
iesSor came close 10 the summit he had
to hang on by one hand. while with the
other, he diseEgaged the ropes of the
chair. which had caught II the rough
rocks. The remainder Of the party then
made the ascent. and were assisted On
the surface by the professor.
Next 4 great difficulty presented IL
self in the form OF 4 gaping chasm. This
vas crossed on the ropes. and the ten
acres OF the surface OF the rock were ex-
plored by the daring scientists.
They spent the entire day there,
searching for The evidences OF the viii
lage, said 20 have existed 500 years ago,
but there was nothing 10 indicate that
it ever had existed in reality. There
were monuments OF rock, such as the
Indians built in the ages that have
gOae by. but that was all.
There were some pools of water that
had collected, but whether they were
worn by the action OF small particles
OF rock carried by the winds or whether
they were in reality constructed by the
Acoma Indians in the centuries that
have gone down into the silence Of the
past is not known.
Search was made FOR the bones OF the
human beings whom the legend Of the
haunted rock describes as having been
starved 10 death there. but they were
rot found.
II is assumed by botanists that this
great rock. which rises over ECO feet
from the surface of 4 desert OF sand,
protruded out OF the ancient sea that
covered this section OF the world in the
distant past, and that the flora is the
same to-day as il was in those days,
when the world was young and of which
history has 10 account. Specimens,
such as there were. were collected, but
Whether they belong to this day ard
age or TO the realms Of the prehistoric
world is not known.
This rock. enchanted or haunted. as il
has been called by the Acoma Indians,
has been the center OF scientific inter
est for years. Numerous attempts have
been made to mount it, only 10 be
doomed TO failure.
The legend OF the Indians is that the
summit of the rock was once reached
by a natural ladder in a pillar. On this
place the old and decrepit were kept &c
shield them from the attacks of hostile
foes. while the men were in the valley
at work. Once q great tOrrential rain
came. like a cloudburst. and ate away
the sandy foundations of the pillar.
fell. and the inhabitants on the
rock. several hundred in number,
to death.
1t has even been asserted that the
place was ~inha5ited. and the ascent by
the Libbey party was made to set at
rest the rumors and determine once and
for all whether or not the stories as
told were true.-Chicago Times-Herald.
Cooked by Cold
Auyoue who has eyer Dicked IN with |