Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1891-03-25

lhuu vi StCihoi etbA "a "e'y
danger, where boys were soldiers and
mothers had to fight for their babes. 1t
was almost as if there had been no other
world beyond those awful plains. What
ever was consumed was made at home,
and found no otl er market. There were
not even firearms for defense against the
relentless savages, save scant supply OF
the clumsy old Spanish escopetas Clint
lock muskets) scarcely better weapons
than the bows and arrows, whose use the
settlers learned from their foes. Manuel
was in his youth wonderfully expert
archer, and won countless ponies and
blankets from the Indians themselves in
contests during the short intervals OF
peace. Later he became the best rifle
shot New Mexico has ever produced.
The little town of Cebolleta, where Ma
nuel passed his boyhood,
WAS NEVER AT PEACE
the first half century of it's exitence. 1t
was out and alone from the other Spanish
settlements, and in the very heart of the
Navajo country and it was fearful suf-
ferer at the hands of the Indians.
1t was from Cebolleta that young Man
uel started, when he was IS years old, on
his first pedition-though he had al
ready seen enough of war at home, and
was accounted among the bravest Of the
brave. With his eldest brother, Jose, and
fourteen other young men he started for
the Canon de Chusco, 1t0 miles to the
westward, in the stronghold of the Indians
on trading expedition. What com,
mentary on the times in which they lived
this seeking a market among savages
from whose murderous assaults the trad
ers were in constant peril even while at
home! They were attacked at night in
the Canon de Chusco, and all were killed
save Manuel, who was left for dead with
seven arrows in his body-and his In
dian servant Pahe, who was also fearfully
wounded. Alone and on foot they start
ed on that fearful journey homeward.
Pahe died of his wounds in two days,
and Manuel dragged himself alone the
rest OF the way, hiding by day from the
savages, crawling on by night, followed
by sneaking coyotes that never left his
bloody trail tortured with thirst and pain,
with no food save the cactus fruit, until at
last faithful servant found him fainting
on the last ridge Of San Mateo and car
ried him home upon his back.
WHEN HE RECOVERED FROM THESE
wounds he was engaged as guide to par
ty of traders from Mexico to New Orleans,
and thence went to st. Louis with
young Cuban, who finally robbed him OF
all he had in the world.
Then he returned to New Mexico and
settled in Santa Fe, but in 1916 had to
flee to Utah on account of political COM
plications.
The following year he was recalled and
put in command Of an expedition against
the Utes, whom he thrashed soundly.
The invasion OF New Mexico by the
American forces in the Mexican war was
not opposed and the territory became
part of the United States without blood
shed. Very soon thereafter came the
''Taos rebellion,"a a small but fierce up
rising of Apaches and Pueblos in the most
northern OF the Pueblo towns, and Man
uel played an important part in suppress
ing it. In fierce hand-to- hand struggle,
too, he saved the life of his commander
Captain Cersn ~. Vrain, afterward
owner Of the 1900, ,000-acre st. Vrain
grant in Colorado. A gigantic Apache
had his knife at the heart Of the PROSTATE
st. Vrain, when Don Manuel, shooting
foe who was almost upon him, wheeled
and crushed the skull of St. Vrain's as
sailant with the barrel OF his pondrous
rife.
IN 1866 HE LED A REGIMENT
of volunteers on six months campaign
against the Utes, making brilliant rec
ord therein. In 1857 he accompanied
Gen. Loring's command in the war
against Cuchillo Negro BLACK Knife) the
most redoubtable Of all Apache warriors.
He captured the savage chief with his
own hand in desperate night attack in
gloomy canon where his scouts bad
found the camp of the hostiles. Gen.
Loring was greatly elated over his cap
ture, but the prisoner was murdered by
the officer left to guard him-a turbulent
man who afterward met violent death.
IN 1860 WHEN A LARGE BAND OF
Navajos made one Of their characteristic
raids on the Rio Grande settlements and
drove off $4,000 sheep, Colonel Chaves
pursued them with fourteen men. lie
overlook the hostiles at nightfall at Ojo
de la Monica, and routed them; but in
the morning found his camp surrounded
by several hundred Navajos. From dawn
till dark of that desperate day the fifteen
heroes withstood the wild charges of the
swarming savages, each fighting from
behind his tree. One by one the brave
New Mexicans sank back on the red.
soaked earth, bristling with arrows; and
at nightfall only two of them were left
Colonel Chaves and Roman Sanches.
ct was not Roman Sanches, he was
killed. The survivors were three: Colonel
Manuel Chaves and Hon. Matias Contre-
ras, of Socorro county, still alive and a
member of the council of the 29th legisla-
ture, and Tomas Baca, who lost leg in
the fight and still lives in Socorro county
hale old man. Editor New MEXICAN
All fearfully wounded. A company Of
soldiers from Fort Craig arrived just in
time to save them. In that CHASTITY
struggle Colonel Chaves had fired his
clumsy muzze-loader eighty times, and
for every shot an Indian or horse had
fallen. He had two bullets left when the
arrival of the troops ended the fight
That was the kind Of war they had on the
early frontier.
In dozen other Indian outbreaks, be.
fore and after those to which l have so