The evening world., 1890-01-23
DID NOT HANG THE PRIEST.
Incident 10 Gen. Prices Career Dur
Ing the War With Mexico.

Early in the Mexican war. says the
Philadelphia Times. New Mexico was &C.
cupied by the United States troops. In
1916 q provisional government was organ
lied by Gen. Kearny. military COM
munder, and Ierritor'a al officials ap-
pointed by him.
Charles Bent was appointed Governor
and chose Taos as the place of his resi-
dence. The exIgencies of the Mexican
New Mexico Of the greater part Of the
American troops.
They were ~ soone gone than an effort
was organized all over the Territory to
drive out the Americans and TO hold the
country for Mexico. The rebellion in
most places was abortive. but at Taos sue
ceeded only TOO well. The rebellion Is
known rs the revolt of 1S47.
In laos the Governor and all the civil
officials were murdered with horrible
atrocities. Hardly an American living
Ill that vicinity escaped with lie. But
vengeance Was not slow, for Gen. Ster-
ling Price w0s soon sent to subdue and
punish tue rebels.
The town was then. as now, divided
into two parts-that of the Mexicans aud
that OF the Pueblo Indians. The Mexi-
cans fought bravely in the open field. but
WIRE defeated and took refuge behind the
walls OF their town. Thu town was be-
sieged and taken by assault.
The church, the walls of which are
thick, still held out. The priests had
pregnable-ihat, being the house of God.
1t could hot be- taken. But Gen. Price
placed his cannon within n few wards of
the walls aud Don mad u breach. The
b%esiegeis entered and put all within to
the sword.
To relIoya any i,iea which the super
stltious might retain Ot the inv~lolabiiity
OF the Church, 1t was used as n stable for
the cavalry horses. The citizens still
point out to yI.itors with O melancholy
pride where the breach was made and
how they have repairet il by building Q
buttress against the church.
The Ind an Pueblo. too. made as gal
limit n defense, and was taken by assault.
The Indians were besieGed in their
houses or castles. the walls of which are
from three to seven feet thick, aud the
cannon balls made q breach, which wa
enlarged by lreaeh NJ tools, SC that the
besleGeTs entered and took possession.
The eallmIry of the defense is shown
by the fact that the soldiers lost an officer
and many men aud the Indians fully one
ionrth Of their number In killed, not
counting the wounded. After the sup
preston of the revolt numbers of the
rebels were held rs prisoners. and 1t II
said by the Old inhlbIian 5 that on every
FRIDAY General Price would send thirty
If them down 10 4 cottonwood grove near
the town and have them hanged.
I'll wa done TO stamp out the last
vestlge of retell on. 1t also said that the
men hung so close together on The trees
that they kicked each other in their death
agunies.
Tradition states that in spite of all this
banging The priests still kept alive the
spirit a. revolt, aud that at last Gen.
Price IN n rage, swore ha would hang .
pres The mos prominent of the priests
was one day sent TO execution. Hebcgged
( 1 his liie, aud, to mitigate the wrath OF
The military commander, sent him a vas.
chest full Of treasure.
Popular Imagination still loves 10 dwell
upon the size of that treasure chest. aud
there IT. still ut Taos an old man who de-
clares that he WAS enc Ot the many that u
took TO convey 1t TO the cominandant.
Whether the chest We're large or small Is
is said TO have saved the PADRES life.