Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-06-29
IN THE OLDEST TOWN.
ANCIENT SANTA FE, WHICH HAS BEEN
IN EXISTENCE SINCE 1888.

Years-The Queer People who Lived
in Santa Fe Over Three and Half
Centuries AgO-The Old Churches.
Santa Fe, the city of the holy faith Of
St. Francis, is the capital trade center,
and until recently the military headquar-
tiers of the Southwest. 1t is the Oldest seat
Of civil and religious government on
American soil. When Cabeza de Baca
penetrated the valley of the Rio Grande
in 1898 he found Santa Fe a flourishing
Pueblo village. The history Of the first
European settlements was lost with most
Of the early records of the territory by the
destruction Of all the archives in 1880, but
the earliest mention shows it then to have
been the capital and the center Of COM
merce, authority and influence. In 1904
came the first venturesome American
trader-the forerunner Of the great line OF
merchants who have made the traffic over
the Santa Fee worldwide In it's celebrity.
In the city of Santa Fe, previous to 1888,
dwelta race dissimilar to any now existing.
They were neither Aztec nor Indian, nor
yet were they the Mound Builders. Houses
built by these people arc standing as
conclusive evidence that they built not for
one generation, but for centuries. Their
manners and customs were like those
races who occupied the mountainous re-
gions Of Northern and Western Mexico
Resembling the Indian in physical appear
ance, yet they lived and constructed houses
after the manner of the earliest Aztec civil
Ization.
In the southeastern part OF the ancient
village of Santa Fe just across the Santa
Fe river, stand two monuments Of prehis-
toric architecture, the oldest house and the
oldest church in America. Their exact
age is unknown. They stand as enduring
monuments to a race Of people extinct, not
fNf into fNTN nRrln
part, but for the continued wars waged by
savage Spanish explorers and still more
savage bands of hostile Indians.
After driving the last inhabitant from
the village. the conquering Spaniards set
UP a government Of their own, and in 1850,
after the close OF the conquest, built many
houses that are to-day standing in various
sections of the city. On the south side Of
the Plaza Juan de Otermin, the first Span
ish governor built his palace, the only one
ever erected in America. For many gen.
erations the palace was occupied by the
Spanish governors and captain-generalS
until forced or driven out by the Indians
in 1880 after beseiging the city for nine
days. Remaining in the hands OF the In
dams for many years, it was finally re-
taken by the Mexicans. The palace was
again occupied by the Mexican governor
and had been continually until taken by
the American forces in 1916 and 1S4S Thus
we have in the executive mansion OF New
Mexico perhaps the Oldest palace in the
world. AS it stands to-day. complete and
perfect in all its appointments, with proper
care thousand years may glide swiftly
by, and in its grandeur. outshining the
ruins of Balbeo or Of Tyre, the American
people will rejoice in the an
tiquities they possess, founded CEN
turtles before the birth Of the grandest
republic that ever governed a people. 1t
L. l. t. I~,,sl l.. - -.
apartments opening in full view Of the
plaza, that Gen. Lew Wallace finished that
wonderful book that has done SO much
toward evangelizing the world, spreading
the gospel truth before millions and max
ing the name Of Its author famous in all
lands. Ben Hur was given to the world
by Gen. Wallace while governor of New
Mexico, occupying the same building that
has served the executive mansion for
more than three centuries by the Spanish,
Mexican and American governments.
look down through the vista of years
and from that far-off shore call before me
the generations who have inhabited these
valleys and mountain sides, and see races
Of men and generations Of people who.
though born and lived, have passed away,
leaving on the scroll of time not single
decd proving their existence, save in the
perpetuation Of prehistoric race and
their manner Of constructing places Of
abode.
On account Of its antiquity and of its po-
sition as the most northern outpost Of
Spanish-American civilization, Santa Fe
| claims our attention to-day. 1t is of
another civilization, and one feels as If in
| aforeign land. The history Of old churches
of San Miguel and Guadalupe were
erected by the Franciscan Fathers, who
accompanied the Spaniards into the coun-
try as missionaries, the first about 1850,
the second some fifty or seventy-five years
later. In 1850 the Indians rebelled against
| the Spaniards and drove them from the
country. They OF once burned down the
chapels and other public buildings and
residences; collected the church saints on
the plaza and burned them; forbid the
use Of a word OF the Spanish language and
swore their intention to wash away the
baptism of the Catholic priests, and al
| lowed those who had been married by
them to put away their wives and take
others. They utterly destroyed every
| thing pertaining to the Spaniards. Twelve
years later the Spaniards returned and
| again reduced the Indians to submission.
The men were sent to the forests and the
churches were soon rebuilt. On one
Of the beams Of the church of San
Miguel appears an inscription in Spanish,
OF which the following is a translation:
Tho Marquis de la Pernuella erected this
building by the Royal Ensign, Don Angus
tine Flores Vergara. his servant. A. D.
NO." The afternoon being pleasant, as
most afternoons are in this ancient city,
visited most Of the sights of interest in
company with Mr.. Everhardt. Before
starting on our afternoon tour Of the viii
lage and its environs ventured out on
the front balcony Of the magnificent Pal
| ace hotel that overlookS many Of the prom
inent buildings Of the territory and in the
far western horizon In full view Of the
Santa Fee range Of the grand old Rockies
with their caps bathed in perpetual snow
thirteen thousand feet above sea level, all
were tinged with the golden sunshine that
has for ages lighted and warmed this val
ley Of many races. The sun was high in
the sky, where 1t seemed lingering as II to
catch a peep at the dawning of a new era
| Of peace and prosperity that shall reign q