Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-06-20
HISTORICAL SKETCHES OF NEW MEXICO
francisco Sanchez Chamus cado and the
Franciscan Missionaries Fray Fran
cisco Lopez, Fray Juan de San
ta Maria and Fray Agustin
Rodriguez, 1851

th MARIA NHu fray ASustiI
Rodriguez, 1851.
After Coronado's failure in 1912, no
further attempts were made to penetrate
into New Mexico by the Spaniards until
the year 1851. Even Sonora, which lay
SO near to the little Spanish colony OF Gu
liaca, was scarcely visited previous to the
end OF the 10th century. This is not sur
prising. La the first place, the result Of
Coronado's expedition had been 80 dis
couraging, and the reports circulated
in New Spain about the northern coun-
tries were SO disheartening that nobody
in New Mexico ventu-ed to risk his life
or his means in further attempts in that
direction. The crown also had, in the
meantime, become much more circum-
spect in regard to colonization schemes.
1t was no longer willing to deplete its
treasury for the sake Of enterprises that
had, after the great conquests OF Mexico,
Peru and New Granada, yielded at best
but mediocre results, and in most cases
entailed considerable losses. Hence, it
checked the ardor Of its subjects and ex-
acted from them the assumption of ex-
penses which only very few were capable
Of bearing. In other words, discovery
and colonization were thereafter to be
carried on at the cost Of those who in
tended either, and only limited support
was, now and then, granted from the
royal fsc. This rendered people careful
and timid, and caused them to ponder
we'll ere they undertook explorations.
SONORA WAS NO LONGER
as easily traversable as it had been
for Fray Marcos Of Nizza and Coro-
nado. The powerful and war-like
tribes of the Yaquls had become ac-
quainted with the whites, and had lost the
original dread of firearms and horses
which in the beginning cowed their
spirit. These tribes lowered over south
ern Sonora like threatening cloud, and
the wretched colony at Culiacan was
scarcely match for them on the defen-
sive, while it could under no circum-
stances think of assuming the offensive
against clusters which could, in the ag-
gregate, muster as many as $1,000 war
riOrs.
While Spanish colonization along the
coast of the Pacific was practically at
standstill, it was slowly creeping up,
through the interior of northern Mex
leo to the borders of Chihuahua. The
DISCOVERY OF THE RICH MINES
of Zacatecasin l54S, the subsequent OPEN
ing of the silver deposits in Durango by
Francisco de Ibarra in 1862 led adventurers
into those districts where now are the cele-
brated silver mines of Parral. Santa Bar
bara (Allende) and the valley of San Bar
tolome (ParraD became modest mining
centers. In 1870, some twenty-five or
thirty Spaniards occupied the site of the
former place, and were extracting silver
with the aid OF the clumsy machinery
then used in separating and reducing the
ores. A few Indians assisted them in
this operation, but the time was long past
when the native could be compelled to
work in the mines. Under extraordinary
circumstances the Indian might be EN-
oloyed, but even then not without com
oensation for his services. The life of
he Spanish colonist at Santa Barbara
was, therefore, by no means one of Idle
less; still less was it spent in enjoyment.
THE INDIAN TRIBE BY WHICH
,he little colony was surrounded, stood not
IN high level of culture. The Tepehuanes,
which were the most advanced, were at
he same time notorious for their war-like |
and for their unruliness and
.reachery. The Tarahumares were of
nilder character, but with them the Span
ards had had as yet, but limited inter-
course. The Conchos were nomads and
they occasionally visited the new settle
ment, barterng and lounging, as Indians
are wont to do. With the miners there
came secular priest. Later on mis-
,ionary of the Franciscan order made
Santa Barbara his resting place, where
be might see white men again after
months and months devoted to the dis
heartening task of following rowing bands
through hot and sandy deserts. That mis-
sionary was Fray Agustin Rodriguez, a
native of Ayamonte in the Earlship of
Niebla in Spain. He was an old man,
yet only a lay brother, and had been for
many years among the savages. Jalisco
had been the scene of his labors, ere he
strayed as far north as the frontier of
Notwithstanding his ad-
vanced age, there was no lack of physical
vigor and, besides his mind and intellect |
were fresh, and his heart ever full of zeal
IN the service of his religion.
At the time Fray Agustn was pursuing
bis arduous labors among the roaming
Indians of southern Chihuahua and while
he LAS was the custom with Franciscans
then, and even one of the duties incum-
bent upon the missionary among Indians) |
was gradually beginning to familiarize
himself with their language, Conchos In
1ians would come into Santa Barbara and |
occasionally point to the northward, at
The same time indicating by other ges-
lures that in that direction there were
things and sights to be
seen. 1t dawned upon the Spaniards that
The gesture speech of the natives might
relate to permanent settlements OF abort
zines, and in this impression they were
confirmed as soon as Father Rodriguez
had an opportunity of communicating di-
sAl A.