The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-10-08
Oldest Cities
Strange New Discoveries
of WonperfuI Cliff Dwellings.

tlinate as to make some valuable addi-
tions to the little that is known about the
cliff men and their ways.
During the summer D. Cole and his
party visited cliff cities whose walled
gateways had been seen before only by
wandering miners or cattemen. Never
before had any white man climbed the
thousand-foot precipice on which stands
the largest Of all the cliff dwellers' habi-
tations yet known in the United States,
save only the prospector who had discov-
cred it three years before and who served
as the Cole party's guide This ruin,
fourteen miles from Espanola, n. NJ, IS
as yet without a name. but it promises to
become famous when explored.
The Cliff Dweller wished his home to
be inaccessible. He burrowed dwelling
in the face of a pricipice or built a COM
munal house on some mesa attaina BILE
only by closely guarded paths. The Amer
lean cliff dwellings are not easy to find.
It takes a keen eye to pick out the cave
openings Often a bunch of shrubs has
rooted on the bench Of the detritus from
the cliffs. The mesa summite are out Of
view from the valley and sheltered from
sight Of neighboring heights.
During Dr. Coles expedition-the fourth
which he has made for study of aborigin-
al antiquities-he spent some time among
the cliff ruins Of the Mancos, in Southern
Colorado.
Many years ago the Wetherel family es-
tablished itself near Mancos, Col, in the
cattle business. One day the Wetherel
vaqueros wandered over mesa in search
of maverlcks-unbranded stray cattle,
which belong to the man who picks them
lp They came by accident upon height
from which they could see masonry walls.
They clambered down and found the first
Of the AIancos cliff dwellings. Further
search revealed the existence Of villages
upon villages along the cliffs.
The news of the discovery spread, and
It was apparent that vandals would cary
away everything of interest and tear down
all the walls in search of buried relics.
So the Wetherels took visitors only to
the cliff dwellings nearest the house. If
they were persistent it was admitted that
there was another ruin. This second cliff
village was enough to satisfy the most
ardent sightseer, and the remaining cliff
dwellings were left undisturbed.
The cliff Palace" is strangest Of the
AIancos habitations. To reach it one must
have sinew and grit and a steady head
one may stand in the canyon bottom, sew
en- hundred feet below, and look up at the
bench on which the ruins stand. but only
balloons or kites would make the direct
ascent possible. To reach the balcony one
must descend several hundred feet from
the mesa above it. So there must be
detour of fifteen miles up the canyon to
a practicable bit of wall. and then back
along the mesa until the cliff Palace"
can again be seen.
When the attempt to descend begins re-
aIization comes of the wisdom with which
the Cliff Dwellers chose their home. Only
by a single difficult trail can the "Clitf
Palace" be approached. At last the
crumbling walls are in sight. A smooth
rock surface tilted at an angle of Is de-
grees, must be passed. Once there were
deep finger and toe holes but wind and
rain erosion have worn the edges. and
it is no easy matter to cling to the insult
hcient foothold For hundred feet this
is the highway.
Keep your face TO the cliff don't look
down. else the knowledge that 800 feet of
almost sheer declivity lies below may I'M
settle your nerves. Creep cautiously along
working on from one hole to another; sling
10 the finger holes until your nails are
worn-and now at last the platform is
reached.
The photographer of the party, Fay c.
Cole made the climb down the cliff. car
rying a heavy camera. Three times DR..
Cole himself started on the descent. twice
he was unable to go on. No doubt the
ancient inhabitants thought nothing of
that hair-raislng descent.
Once attalntd. the bench on which the
palace stood. was found of no great ex-
tent. The precipice dropped away so sud
denly that It seemed one could throw
stone into the canyon bottom. 200 feet
below. No trave was found of any means
of exit from the platform ecept the path.
It is surmised by Or. Cole however, that
she natives had ladders of yacca rope by
which, in emergency they could descend
to the valley.
The cliff Palace" 1t is most impressive
standing in lonely state on the high cliff
bench in the shadow Of the arched rocks.
A tail watch-tower stands near the en-
trance pathway, and behind is a tangle
of unroofed buildings, the walls stin mas
eive.
Behind the walls are chambers hewn
from the rock On a higher level are Wis
ible the earlier cliff dwellings-mere bur
rows in the precipice. All food had to be
carried from the mesa above or the valley
below.
Dr. Cole made a curious find. which
strengthens the theory that the Cliff
Dwellers were a distinct race.
In excavatlng AT the newly discovered
ruins near Espanola he uncovered skele-
tons buried in n sitting posture with face
70 the rising sun. Every skull had COM
plete set OF double teeth. There was not
n single incisor to be found.
At first he thought that the teeth might
have been worn by eating hard food, but
skulls Of individuals of both seves and diff
ferent ages all showed the same peculiar
ity.
The skulls were SHOWN 10 anatomlsls.
They knew Of no existing race which
shows the popularity. The front double
teeth We're shown 10 he different from the
incisors Of ordinary men. and character
istically molar. The explanation was that
these skulls had belonged TO a race OF
grain eaters.
The story OF the finding % the skele-
tons is curious. Three years ago a pros
rector stumbled upon the cliff dwellings.
His curiosity aroused. he scaled the can
yon wall. and found himself on a table
land a mile and a half long by three-Quar-
L.. L. =,