San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-09-13
Written for the Pass PsEss.
"reminiscences OF Texas Veteran'..The
Santa Fe Expedition, etc.
BIZ O. ERHARD.
[Copyrishied.
XXXVII.
xyspALL's NARRATIVE CONTINUED.

A ride of half an hour brought US 70
small and miserable hovel upon the banks
of the Rio Pecos, This is q beautiful swift
running stream of fresh water, rising IN the
mountains in the vicinity of Santa Fe, and
after fertilizing succession of narrow but
rich valleys, il supposed finally to empty
into the Puercos, tributary to the lilo
Grande. We rode up to the low and mar
row door of the hovel, at which stood nm
old grayhaired man and some three women
who were all evidently intimidated at the
sight of strangers. As this secluded spot is
entirely off the trail of the St. Louis traders,
these half civilized people had probably
never before seen other than their own
mixed race Us for ourselves it was the first
human habitation having any pretenslon
to civilization that we had seen for months
and was certainly welcome object to all
We did not dismount but while enqulrlng
for the most direct route to Anton Chico,
one of the women brought US some warm
tortiylss from the hovel, a little bowl OF
nateI species of molasses made from the
stalk of the common Indian corn, and three
or four slices of goats milk cheese. These,
to us, delicacies, they brought without
money or price-an earnest OF the unlver-
sal kindness and hospitality Of the women OF
New Mexico. We threw some silver into
their hands, wheeled our horses amid
shower of 'mauchas gracias' and adi0s ca6aIle-
7os, and left them.
A ride of another half hour brought us
in sight of the village of Anton Chico,
village seated upon a little hill over look
ing the Pecos and probably containing some
two or three hundred inhabitants AS we
caught first glimpse of the village, sus-
picious piratical looking Mexican, armed
with double -barreled gun, broad sword
and lance, and splendidly mounted upon O
dashing black horse, passed within ten
yards of us. Although lie did not even nod
at our approach, he still eyed us closely.
Had he not been confident that his horse
could easily outrun our jaded animals, l
doubt if he would have come within gun
SnOJ VI US. ht uioI'hSo Oh ehO 'i'iii6
slope of hill, another man, similarly arm
ed and mounted, was seen and he too, was
evidently watching our movements.
As we approached the little village all was
excitement and commotion. Women and
and children were seen, running in every
direction, climbing low houses and hiding
behind mud fences and walls large
horse mill, at which the inhabitants were
grinding cornstalks for the manufacture OF
mieL was deserted instantly, and everything
denoted that our sudden appearance had
created the greatest CONSERVATION. We
rode up steadily TO the first door, as though
, not noticing that we had caused the least
alarm, and sske man less afraid than the
! rest, whether we could purchase some fod.
der for our animals and bread for ourselves.
This question being in Spanish, was under.
stood by several of the frightened inhabi-
: tants who were peering at us through the
, chinks in the surrounding doors, and who,
der their lives and property at discretion,
gradually gained confidence, and began
slowly TO issue from their hiding places.
In three minutes we were surrounded By
half hundred men, women and children,
some inviting rs this way, others that, and
all apparently anXiOus 70 serve Us, eiihe'
from love Of money, or love Of life, foi
many, no doubt were impressed witt tss
idea that Ee had come On PuT-E : dc
murder. The women and girls we're 81. Il
~ clad and many of the children we're K
'e1. whils the r1en we're - co2ccalt1 i