Omaha daily bee., 1889-06-16
E sUNbAY, 1ssa-sIxTEEN PAGES

natives, who said they came from the
north, and told dazzling stories OF the
richness OF the mines OF that region.
Those ola Spanish invaders were not
TO America for their health. They
we're after gold, always gold, and they
didn't seem to mind thousand mile
walk to seek it. First among the
European explorers Of the north was
Nunez. He was followed by Espejo
r'LooRing Glass; family name), Cor
onado ("The Crowned"), Cabeza de
Vaca c'Cow's Head"l, and others.
AN INDIAN LEGEND.
Judge Savage, OF Omaha, has related
In a paper before the Nebraska State
Historical society one OF the traditions
OF that time. According TO that legend
an Indian came to Coronado with tale
OF a country far to the northward ruled
by mighty monarch named Tartarax,
who lived in marvellous splendor. The
Indiar said that gold was so common rs
to be used for cooking utensils, and the
warriors OF the northern king wore he'll
NETS and bore shields made Of the
precious metal. Fired by the tale OF
golden .splendor. Coronado collected n
band OF 800 men and marched across the
sandy plains OF New Mexico and the
prairies Of Kansas in search OF the king
dom OF gold. OF course he failed to find
Tartarax, but the Judge has it that he
planted n cross somewhere on the banks
of the Platte in Nebraska and took pos
session OF the country in the name of
Spain. Other traditions lay Coronado's
course farther to the west, and 1t is
likely he went MS far north as
Colorado Springs. Scattered through
New Mexico he found Indians on Aztecs
or filters or Pueblos, living in houses
(ad-o-bes) clustered in villages (Fu-eb-
los). At tho point now known rs Santa
Fe he found u big pueblo built on both
banks Of a considerable stream for that
country. They were u peaceful people
and engaged In farming of a rude sort.
The date of this event is placed at 154O,
nearly seventy-iive years before the
first English settlement at jamestown.
Coronado found little or no gold, but
on his return to Mexico his story OF
populous towns fred the zeal of the
catholic friars, those heralds Of civiliza-
tion in Spanish America, ,and they made
their way northward to convert the
heather to the true faith. Here begins
TALE OF ATRoCiTY
common to all Spanish conquests in
America. The priests we're followed by
an army Of free booters, with cross in
one hand and q sword in the 9th er. The
natives were generously
ALLOWED TO TAKE THEIR CHOICE.
After capturing the pueblo within the
limits of what is now known as Santa
Fe, the invaders reduced the Indians
Of the surrounding country to abject
slavery and turned their souls over to
the care OF the friars. The natives
were driven before the lash to till the
fields, work the mines and carry water.
Tradition tells of atrocities cruel as
those of ancient Egypt and barbarous
Assynia. But the red poems were not
submissive, and their masters had to
fight frequently to maintain their su-
premacy. There were many rebellions,
but none had more than transient sue
cess until 1880. The Spaniards were
driven from Santa Fe and kept out
twelve years.
Then followed one of the pathetic
and remarkable incidents of American
history. Grievous wrongs and bitter
hatred led to the expulsion of the cruel
invaders, but the natives resorted to a
simple, though extreme measure,
in the hope of diverting the
cupidity of the Spaniards. The
Indians filled up the mines, carefully
covered up all traces of them and
OnGSiUCuCo oCutu w VI UhClE uuul-
ber who should reveal their locations to
the white man.
THE PATHOs OF THIS HATE
and desperation is worthy passing con-
temptation. Thus ended Spanish min
ing in New Mexico. Not only did the
drift and accumulations of twelve years
effectually hide many traces, but there
seems to have been some sort of agree
ment on the return of the Spaniards to
power that they should not reopen the
mines. OF late years the enterprising
American has been searching for the
last diggings with some success.
From 1898 up to the American occu-
patton in 1916, long line of Spanish
and Mexican governors, each supported
by little band OF fellow countrymen,
lorded it over the land of the Pueblos.
1t was q rebellious people, however,
who frequently kicked against the
pricks of the oppressor, and even as late
as 1887 the Indians
KICKED SPANISH HEADS ABOUT THE
STREETS
OF Santa Fe like footballs. The first
yankee to visit the city of the Holy
Faith was a fur trader, who struggled
in about 1900. Five or six years later
Lieutenant Pike, he OF Pixies Peak re-
nown, startled the hidalgos by an unex-
pected visit ut the head OF a company of
Americans. But Pike was exploring,
and not on hostility bent. Santa Fe
came into control of the United States
in 1S48, at the outbreak of the war with
Mexico, when General Kearney marched
overland with 1000 men and took pos
session of the old town. So much for
history.
The Wave of Death.
Grace s. Burgess, in CtfcI0o Times.
Down In q moments breath,