The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-03-22
nay PROVE D
Be ANCIENT RAGE
Finding of a Mummy by New
Mexican Hunter.
AMONG CLIFF DWELLINGS
Suppositions Which May Lead
to Valuable History.
AMONG CLIFF DWELLINGS

From time to time discoveries of more
or less importance are made by hunters
crossing the canyons, but their finds prov
ed of little value to either scientist OF
the layman. Not more than a month
ago, however, remarkable mummy was
found by a New Mexican hunter named
John Tex, and this mummy promises TO
change materially some OF the hypothesis
formed by archaeologists, while a care
full investigation of its characteristics and
the peculiarities of its century old resting
place suggest startling theories concern
ing the problem of this vanished race.
The mummy was discovered beneath
three separate layers of cement flooring.
which fact vouches for the extreme an
tiquity Of the well preserved body
John Tex says that the mummy is tall,
that its head is normal and its skin is
white and its hair thick and of a reddish
brown color. These points of difference
and the peculiar place in when the num-
my was found lead to strange SUPPOSE
tons.
Suppose that long before the reign of
the cliff dwellers, who practiced artificial
fattening of the head, there existed in
the same country a race of white people
whose craniums are perfectly normal.
Suppose that these creatures did not be-
long to the basket makers, who invaria-
bly, buried their dead beneath huge hemis-
pheres of decorate wickerwork. and who
are thought to antedate the cliff dwellers
Suppose that the prehistoric race re-
sembled white men more than Indians:
that their skin. instead of being a cop
perry hue, was quite fair; that their hair.
instead of being blue black, was soft
and red; that they We're taller than the
Indians Of today or the cliff jewellers of
yore; that they were large and power
ful, with small and well shaped hands
and feet.
Like Schiemann this exploring hunter
in the canyons of New Mexico went to
bedrock. Perhaps he as a pioneer, will
open up to the world an avenue leading
to as many remarkable antiquities as
did the famous explorer of the site of
ancient Troy
John Tex has lived among the descend
ants of the Pueblo tribes, that nation of
cliff dwelling builders, since before the
eighties. He often hunted with his In
dian friends. and at night they sat in
front of the camp and watched the moon
tened to strange and picturesque tales
which form the traditions Of the tribes.
one of his Tonic Apache companions,
called "Cha-li-pun." sometimes told the
story of his vanished ancestors, who were
said to be white men. 1t is one of the
few surviving traditions of this quaint
people, and as the plaintive tones of the
aged man rose and fell on the still night
air John Tex listened in rapt attention.
while his imagination peopled with tall
white men and women in caves which
here and there made dark holes in the
striped sandstone cliff walls.
Many lives ago said "Cha-li-pu'
there lived in this country white race
who were numerous and warlike. They
conquered many tribes and took many
slaves. These slaves they called 'Tinneh'
and we, the Apaches. are their descend
ants.
I'VE were forced to dig bitches. build
dwellings and plant corn. a time came
when our masters engaged in great war
far to the north When all the warriors
were gone away from home we Tinneh
took council among ourselves and iesuiN-
ed to seize this chance TO become free
On preconcerted day we arose and slew
all the women the old and young. We
then fed south into the Businesses of
the Great Mountains Sierra Madres)
where we hid from the vengeance of the
returned warriors.
we lived there long time until white
men (Snaniards) came from the South
and fought us. They also set other tribes
upon us. and after much war we came
to Arizona Then the americans found
US and after fierce fighting we were
beaten by the Old Fox General Crook |
and put upon his reservation"
so runs the story Of the Indian" says |
John Tex. but diligent inquiry among |
the Nevajos. the Pueblos, the Zunis and |
the AIokis failed TO find any memory or !
tradition of this race of white men, All |
they said was that when their ancestors |
came into this country they found the I
ruined towns and cli1 dwellings much |
as they are today.
This hint of prehistoric white race /
was ever in my mind and as guided my |
horse over the dry river beds that wind /
through the labyrinth of canyons in this i
part Of the country l speoulated on the /
foundation for the interesting Indian ira
dition. The perpendicular cliffs of red /
sandstone with their ruined dwellings
perched like an eagles eyrie half way
up the inaccessible walls l people1 with
q race of fair skinned men and women.
'One day in the last of January. as l
was riding slowly along through the
sedge brush which covers the plains of San
Augustine in Socorro county. y. NJ. my
eye fell upon what looked like the open
ing OF a cave in 4 wall OF one OF the lat
ersl CANYONS Of the Rio GCande del
Norte. 1t seemed 20 be about two hun
dred feet above the bed Of the canyon
and some fifty feet up in the perpendicu-
lar face OF the sandstone cli1.
Iron climbing up to the cave 1 found
that il had been inhabited and while
erosion had thrown down the outer walls
OF the dwelling and filed the interior with
quantities of broken sandstone. / was
able TO push my way into the aperture.
Finding no relics OF the past occu-
pants OF this curious abode lying about.
1t occurred TO me that I might discover
something of value by digging through
the heap Of dust and refuse.
Starting at a distance OF about forty
feet from the cave opening my shovel
went quickly through several inches OF
sand fallen from the roof Of the cave.
then with more difficulty l dug through
Elk or more feet Of refuse. when my :
shovel came in contact with a hard sub
stance. which took TO be e cave floor
After excavating l found this floor TO be
perfectly smooth and made Of the clay