Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-03-16
Discovered Long Before St. Au-
CUISINE Was Founded.
"CLIFF QUILT, CLOUD swept"
Famous Indian Village Visited by Ci
Mia and Coronado About 15Ss-Lo-
cation on Nleaa Is Nard to Reach.
Cathedral Ss;ll Standing, and An
cient Sports Are Held Annually.

Acoma, an Indian village in New
Mexico, has the distinction of being
the oldest inhabited settlement in the
United States. ST Augustine, the
first permanent European settlement
planted witnin the limits of the Unit
ed States. was founded in 1863
Acoma was mentioned as early as
1889 by Fra Marco di MIA ard was
visited by members of Coronatlo's ar
my in the following year, twenty five
years before st. Augustine's period OF
foundation. Early Spanish chroni-
clers have designated its population
at that period as high as 6,o0o.
Every traveller of greater or less de
gree trayersing the southwest has
heard of this 1.-The most wonderful
aboriginal city ON earth, cliff b,ii1t,
cloud swept, match!ess." 1t is built
on great oblong rocky pedestal ris-
ing nearly 400 feet above the plain.
The Indians built this pueblo evi-
IDENTITY with the intention of resisting
the attacks of the Navajos a1lGl
Apaches, who For many years mad
war upon this peaceful people. Ia
quistadors found this little village so
impregnable that 1T was only after a
long siege that he was able to accom-
plish it's capture.
Town In Terracss.
Ihe village proper consists of three
parallel rows of adobe houses, three
stories. terraced in form and about for
ty feet high. nearly hundred in all
In these dwellings lives population
OF about GOO people. Entrance to the
houses is made by ladders over the
roof, passlig through passa ageways to
the lower floor or into the second ter
race by doors or up to the third ter
race again by ladders.
1t is said that the senior members of
the family live in the first story; the
daughter first married gets the second
terrace and the second the third ter
race. All other members have to so
elsewhere or live with the old people.
The most conspicuous and interest
ing building in the pueblo is the an
cient adobe cathedral. which stands
near the edge on the east side of the
mesa. In this church u priest now
holds services occasionally. The church
is said to be several hundred years
old-bult some time in the year 1900
and until in recent years the tribe bur
led their dead under its tloor. Now
they use the court in front of the
church for that purpose.
The building is of Spanish mission
style, with two large towers faeing the
front, each OF which contains a mas
sive Spanish bell These bells upon
close inspection proved to be retained
In place by numerous bucksl1ln thongs.
In this church hang many paintings,
one of which has caused bloodshed and
strife. It's possession is believed by
the Indians to insure.good fortune and
plentiful crops, so 1t is naturally covet-
ed by other tribes. Several times 1t
has been captured by the Laguna In
dians and was recovered by the AGO
mas only after a bitter struggle
Saints Image Guards sports.
The two streets Of rock meet in a
sort of court where all festas and
tribal ceremonies take place. The
main dance which takes place early
In September, is preceded by services
in the church. Afterward the wooden
image of the sacred saint" borne by
four braves, Is carried in front of the
line of parade from the church to the
dancing ground. where it Is carefully
put under guard until the dance is
over, which is, at sundown Two sets
of dancers grotesquely attired, male
and female. dance alternately all day,
at the same time singing an extending
thanks to the Good Being for their
crops and prosperity and asking that
the coming year be favored with plen-
ty of rain and good crops.
During the day fruits, melons and
other edlbles are distributed freely to
all who are present Inside a tenn
porary inclosure of cornstalks and
green branches Is placed the sacred
saint" At the entrance to this hut
two Indians with loaded rifles stand
guard. During the parade from the
old church to the plaza where the
dance takes place there is continu-
GUS firing of guns and revolvers, said
to be for the purpose Of frightening
away evil spirits.
One of the events of this day Of cere-
monies is queer race by two sets
Of runners chosen from two factions
of the tribe. The Acoma Indians, like
the Hopis. are known for their endur-
ance and fleetness of foot These
races are usually from distance of
from ten to twenty-five miles, and
the time Is to bo wondered at when
one remembers that each set Of run
\ners have to keep ahead Of them
short stick.
They are not allowed to touch the
stick with their hands. They must
use their feet only. taking 1t forward
as they run by continually kicking 1t
with their toes. Each stick Is about
three and half inches long and one