New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-06-12
THE LEGEND OF CORONADO.
ROMANTIC TALE THAT Is FIRMLY BE-
IIFVTD IN NEBRASKA

dos discovery of Nebraska is only one Of thc many
interesting tales Of exploration IN TINS rN2ioh'
The State Historical Society has carefully sIited
legends traditions and records, compared data ana
examined relics and tho following which IS the
sulstonce If the narrative prepared by one Of the
menbcrs is tine legend of King TartarraX, who
once had his kingdom On tie fertile Nebraska
prairies Stoe, Of other early disco IN tins re-
gion are being critically eXaniHed, as for Instance
the exploration by Don Diego, Count of Penalosa,
and are being prepared for publication. The lie OF
the Spanish explorers and discoveries was snrcrs-
sion of day-drcams Bold and daring, inspired Only
by the desire for personal glory, they iorged TO
chase into tangbity the phantom OF the dreams
which their imaginations constructed. Inc least
pretext WAS sufficient 10 IKE them set ont on
conqucring expedition. The fever for summing
new worlds wos q prevailing epidemic Among 'he'c
hot-blooded intrepid people. Nineteen years aitcr
their daring and fearless commander conquered
Mexico, the FIRST expedition was sent ont 10 MS
cover the Land OF Quivcra. During the reign of
Cortcz Spain sent now and then an ambassador
20 look after the General, watch his movements
report 10 the home Government any official lrrcgi-
larties and TO check any attempt on the part of
the Viccroy to start government In his own IN
tcrest rather than to work for the glory OF Spain
n
n rival Of Cortcz, who sent ~ Governor to
,be northern portion of Mexico, and who lonqed
with all the fervency of an arrogant ana amo-
tious nature TO excel all his predecessors in the
number and glory of his con quests.
There was one slave in the rrtihuc Of the Gov
ernor who was blessed either with a wonderful i'm
agina:ion or with remarkable experience, aud pos
sby with both But he certainly possessed the
IL. V,,,..a Tndin ffl
his lord that liz had travelled with his father, who
WIS trader, and during the trading cYpedi'ior5
had visited a wonderful land where his father
received gold ana silver il. exchange for the
plumagc of tropical birds. This land, he sld
Iay far to the northward, and had within its ter
ritory seven cities, each of which compared with
the City of MEXICO in popull'on AMI maaniccncc
TIE streets Literally blascd with gold and silver
The rar~st Jewels were held N lig',t esteem, and
the people were mot gorecoIslr attired. Mag
niiiccncc. pomp and sllcndor were 10 be scrn Oh
every side Some acroe'ics have claimed that
the Texan had only the Wrrt,rn ha'nts Of cNag-
pcration that he was Gifted with lively imagi
alton and knew hrw 10 appeal with great clever
ness 70 the week.-mrs. Of the Nprniarl. The story
had the desired effect. and TIE crcdulous Governor
cent out an expedition Ia explore this wonderful
land Such l. the origin Of ~, soy n mysfc,1ous
cities Of Cibola, whose chimcrical splcndor was
tempting bait To allure the Spanish explorers
away from the comforts II hone t. seek their
fortune in the n-w l'id. Many efforts wcre
made TO reach these cities but the perilouS jour
ncys wer Of no aveI', and for more than decade
the location OF tins glorious realm remained
secret known orlv 10 the stars and the winds
In the year 1886 the story was revived when
four travellers foofSprr and weary. fniiggch by
innumcrable harlships on the sicrras and plains
at tire North rrrchcd the CITY Of MrVico. Fisht
years before troop Of 400 explorers
Ian ed on the shores OF Florida in search o! glory
AMI wealth. They had crccnni red hostile tribes.
AMI hunger, toll and disease had reduced .hr COM
psny to the rerr handful which remained. They
were Cabcza DO Nacr a Sraniar.. n negro called
Etcvan, and two companions These were the
first Is gaze upon that great river corning frnm
the north, afcrward discovered bv De Soto They
had travrrscl the continent from east 70 west,
ard after wandering about in the mounfains and
The sandy plains 70 the eastward had made their
WY south ~ Nr,ico. They too. toll OF a land
OF plenty fertile region whose people had
nuircd regal wealth aud lived in all the ponp
md glory of tho early Egyptian kngs They
spoke Of s-vn magic cities whoec differing dnmcs
could be- seen for miles and gave glowing accounts
Of the land.
4 Franciscan monk Marcos dc MIA. accom-
panied Ivy Estevan. set out with small force -
find these cities. and il possible 70 pave the way
for Spanish conquest. Tradition la, it that the
casy-going unsuspicous frar allowed the mgr
10 q ahead. who reached the cities long icfrrc
the deliberate and crcf!ulous frIar had completed
half tie journey Reaching ono Of the village.
the negro pundcred IL. forgetting th" kn.ln"sS
EcaIc1 upon him during his former journey. l.
was reported that the aliucnt, pcacc-loyiug Cit
2ens bore bis Inlignircs without Resistance, but
when hr ATTEMPTED 10 appropriate their wives
and daughters these good people found it little
difficult TO overlook his idioaYncra,icc 80 they
put him 10 death and sent hia companions back
These met the friar and related what had hap
pcned. Whether the gentle friar really proceeded
on his journey, as he himself reported. vchturing
near enough IN lock- down upon the gillcG
fomcs, or whether, as his companions declare l. L.
returned right speedily TO Mexico. tie worlI will
never know All reported that the scycl citcs
did exist, and as their stories were more or les
consistent, a larger expedition sent ont 70
find these wonderful cities. which the party lc-
clared TO excel in magniicence any previous,
accounts
The Commander OF the new expedition was a
Spanish cavalier, Francisco Nas1ucz de toronalo.
the successor Of Guzman as Governor of the
Northern Province. Coronado. bnl liant and Gull
turcd, brave and daring, possessed ali the traits
that make mp charming personality. Bat he was
amazingly superst,ious. PEI re- leaving thc Old
VERDI he consulted an Arabian .ice who dwct
in Salamanca and was pnsscs'ci of al tic art, Of
tic magician, and master Of all the secrets that
lad been given up by astrolcey and necromancy.
Ahc sage consulted lis sacred parchmcnts, inter
viewed the stars and after long soiourn in the
realms Of the mvstics, made an appointment with
his young Spanish friend. In wood-shcltcrcd
retreat lie received CoIonado who was doubtless.
bcwildercd and ir pIe,sed by the mathematical
charts, the fragrance of burning incense and the
soft radiance east by zodiacs and bluc-lights The
supernatural beings decrecd that the fiery youth
should one day become the fearless ruler of a
d;.4a..t .aaI.aa I.t l-r.l..- d..