Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-04-30
From the st. Louis Reveille.
CirCumStantial Narrative of the late lnSur,
reCtiOn and Atrocities in New Mexico
SANTA FE. FEBRUARY Is,


On the morning Of the 9th of January large
number of Pueblo Indians assembled in one of
the villages of the valley Of Taos, and demand
ed of Stephen Lee, formerly of St. Louis, who
was Sheriff Of the county, the release of three
Pueblo Indians, notorious thieves, who were con-
fined in the calaboose for stealing. Lee, seeing
no means Of resistance, was about to comply with
this demand, and, having gone to the calaboose,
was in the act of taking off the irons from the
prisoners, when Conrada Vigil, a Mexican, and
the Prefecto, came in and objected, denouncing
the Indians as thieves and scoundres. The In
dians at once killed Vig in the calaboose, and cut
his body to pieces, severing all the limbs from it,
and then released the prisoners. Meantime,
Lee, believe, had gone 10 his own house.
Governor Charles Bent hoo gone to Taos on
visit, and was at his house in the village. The
Indians went from the calaboose to the house of
the Governor, crowded in till they filled it, and
told him that they did not intend to leave an A.
merican alive in New Mexico; and as he was
Governor, they would kill him first. The Gov
ernor appealed to their honor and manhood, but
they treated his appeal with derision, and soon
began to shoot him with arrows, taking 6endish
care that the arrows should torture, not kill him.
They shot him in the face and breast, and even
tried to hit his eyes. Leaving him some time in
this condition, they came back and shot him in
the breast with guns, killing him dead. They
took off his scalp, stretched il on board with
brass nails, and carried it in triumph through the
streets.
In the meantime they killed Stephen Lee, in
what manner have not learned. General Eli
OFT Lee, of ST. Louis, who came out last fall 10
visit his brother Stephen, fled to the house of the
Priest, who concealed him under some wheat, so
that the Indians did not find him for some time;
when they discovered him, they took him out to
kill him, but the Priest nterceded for him so
strongly that they abandoned their purpose
General Lee remained at the Priests house for
some time, and every few days the Indians would
take him out to kill him, but would desst on the
interference of the Priest. General Lee is still
in Taos, endeavoring to take care of the proper
ty left by his brother. He feels safe now, for
the troops have been there.
James White Leal, private in the Laclede
Rangers, who was on furlough, and had been ap-
pointed Prosecuting Attorney for the Northern
District, was also victim, and suffered horri-
BILE death. The Indians, soon after killing the
Governor, went to the house where Mr.. Leal
was, stripped off all his clothes, and then made
him march through the streets of thevillage, they
singing and amusing themselves by shooting ar
rows little way into his flesh 10 torture him.
After this they took him to the house, shot num-
Der Of arrows into his face, taking aim at his
eyes, nose, mouth, &C., and then scalped him
while yet alive. They then left him in this mis-
cradle condition for some time; at length they
returned, and shot him with arrows till he died.
His body was thrown out, and the hogs ate part
of it, when, in the afternoon, Mrs. Beaubeu, a
Spanish woman, wife Of Judge Beaubleu, sent
some men to bury it. Mr.. Leal was several
hours dying. One cannot butshudder to think
Of his suAerngs,
The Indians went to the house of Judge Beau
beu, it is thought,'in searchof Robert Carey, an
other private in the Rangers, who was on fur
Tough, and had been appointed Clerk Of the Court
in the North District. son of Judge Beaubieu,
a very interesting youth of about twenty years OF
age, who Just returned last fall from the States,
whittier his father had sent him to be educated,
was found in the house and murdered. 1t is
thought, when the Indians first asSaed him. that
they supposed him to be Carey.
Such is correct account, from the best ufor.
nation can get, Of the murderers. Judge Beau.
bieu, Hugh N. Smith (Auorney General of the
Territory and Robert Carey started the day be.
fore these murders, for Santa Fe, all being quiet
then, and no mischief suspected. Had they re-
maincd one day longer they would all have been
murdered
Charles Town, formerly of St. Louis, mana
ged to escape to the mountains, and made his
way to Santa Fe.
The bodies of Governor Bent and Mr.. Leal
have since been brought to Santa Fe, and were
buried on the 18th inst, with appropriate honors
masonic and military.
The intelligence of these horrible tragedies
created intense excitement in Santa Fe. Every
American seemed to be thirsting for vengeance.