The Wichita city eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1872-1883, 1881-06-02

| ~. Augustine, rloTiuS, WAS Iounueu some
% yea later. The student Of antiquity can
here end a wonderfully fruitful field for re.
search, many landmarks still remaining
which carry us back quite $50 years, which
period embraces the occupancy of the c0un-
try by the Mexican and Spanard. ndmany
indeed. are the evidences that their position
was never one of security. Numerous forti.
ficatons are yet to be seen surrounding the
| city, and although time and action Of the ell
| emcnts have almost obliterated every vestige
indicative of their character, yet they forci-
bly, remind the observer that in the dim Wis
tas OF the past, around these very walls and
buttrasses, were enacted deeds Of valOr
wherein the pride and chiyalry of Spain were
unable 10 successfully cope with the savage
and cunning Pueblos. Here and there are
| still to be seen little mounds OF stone, which
/ cover the wlitened bones of some scion OF
nobility, who was tempted 20 brave the dam
| gers of Old ocean, and under the leadership
of Cabcsa lie Baca or Coronado, to seek linz
itlcss wealth. which it was believed awaited
them in this ..New I'll Dorado But instead
OF finding race OF people with disposition
L
the most determined opposition.
The most entertaining Of all old landmarks
arc the churches, the oldest of which is San
| Miguers (St MiclIacl's), the erection Of which
| native tradition places in the year 1897. But
| if Bancroft is taken for authority, occurred
| in 1882, which would give Us 800 years as the
present age of the walls, rs they remained
fatx
by the Pueblo Indians, in 1850. This is a
very reasonable suppo,ition, in view Of the
fact that the Pueblo. like the Mexican, is
none too fond of the hard labor incident to
tearing down the thick heavy walls Of adobe.
The truth is, undoubtedly, that after burn
ing every thing inilammable in the building.
including the roof, they considered their
work of destruction complete. The siege OF
the town lasting for fifteen days gave the be-
sieged ample time for the collection of all
their personal effects, which, as 4 consequence
were saved. The old church was restored
by the Spaniards under Governor DE Vargas.
in the year 1910. at which time IL i supposed
the two oil paintings of the "Enunciation,"
together with mulch of the paraphernalia Of
in their Old positions. The authenticity Of
the paintings is >hroudcd in mystery. But
that they date back TO the very early painting
in oil is unquest;onablc.
lone Of the "Chrisiian Brothers" men,
Der of the society which is still using the
chapel, when taking down the pictures, some
tine since. to dust them, discovered upon
f.,rl. ~ II
49," The most plausible translation being
that y. L. are the initial. OF the painter,
while a. -. 2s1 indicate Anno Domini l2S1.
as ii il well established that il was customary
to omit the thousands. So the reader wiz
observe that aside from their being among
the first productions OF Il school of painters
established nearly Coo years ago, adds largely
10 the interest had in their examination.
There is but little doubt that they were
brought from Spain by missionaries who ac-
Antonio dc Espijo TO this country
in the year l5ss. The beam supporting the
gallery will also claim attention. 1t was cv-
identity brought from Spain, as its size would
indicate cedar tree Of much larger dimcn-
sions than its species is known 10 grow in
aud bears the following inscription: 1.-The |
Marquis de Ia renuela erected this building. |
The Royal Ensign, Don Augustine Flores |
Nerrara, his servant, $780," The date, it |
will be observed, corresponds with the res
toration. The seeming discrepancy is ex-
planned on the following hypothesis: The
Ensign no doubt combined the profession OF
xxi, IA shat, If sn, ii..r MI /
was perfectly natural that greater
honor would be granted both 10 him and his
master by future generations should they
nominate themselves builders rather than re-
,.orers. Every indication points to the fol-
owing dates correct: Either the year I5S2,
Bancroft. or 1885,. (natiyc tradiiion), rs the
late of erection. The roof destroyed by In-
in 1910. The present age of the
.allery aud beam over the chaneel, 40 years.
There are also two other churches which
will repay the trouble the visitor incurs in
hear examination. The first is st. Francis.
is huge pile, composed Of adobe in the
hapc OF a cross, having three affairs, one oc-
upyiny large alcoye ut the head of the
/
nd OF what would constitute the arm of the
ross. The affairs are embelished with the
slal paraphernalia OF the Catholic service,
,sethcr with many unique designs of aititi-
ial flowers in wax, the work OF desout,
ark-eyed senoritas, who seek the blessings
e,iyion. kneeliug upon the bare hard dirt !
oo-. The walls are decorated with thirty
M ipr af lara la, .xi- 4
cnt antiquity, the most noticeable being
The Homage Of the Wise Men of the East" G
Christ Blessing Little Children and 1.-The {
scersion' A group OF fourteen presents
complete study Of the vicarous sufferings
Christ, from the agony ia the Garden of !
cthsemane 10 the one wildly por,raying I
e surprise and fear of the soldiery ''whcn c
e stone was rolled away and they behcld .
e Resurrection and the Life.
NO satisfactory data by which TO deter I,
inc the age OF either paintings or building il
n be obtained. The building has four C.
autifulIy toned bells Inscribed, LIN honor o
81. Joseph" mouptel on the mud roof Il
This '.old timer edilce. however. viii
on lose its identity. II is being surround Il
by an elegant stone structure, which has Y
'eady been in process Of erection for six
N years. The time e contract extends yet q,
the future for forty years. &C
There is still another time honored chapel
Dictated TO Our Lady Of Guadalupe. which M
5 always been used by the po,erty-stricken 70
tivcs Nothing Of interes: can be sscn in
about it save two oil paintings said 10 be ba
}, or more, years old. The building is des- ci'