The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-02-09
HISTORICAL ANTIQUITIES.
Some Near Wallace, \. NJ, that should be
Exhibited mt the Worlds Fair.

INHiDftcu at the Noflus tair.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: While the
Government is striving to make its exhibit at
the Columbian Exposition historical, anti
guarian and curious, it is omitting one portion
of the country which is most intimately con
nected with the settlement of the New World
I mean the Pueblo Indians and their towns in
central New Mexico.
know the Zuni neighborhood will be repre-
sented, and presume Col. Marmere will show
all he can OF his own Pueblo (Lagunal and
vicinity. But these are far away in the mount
aims, and are comparatively new and interest
ing, taken in connection with the records OF
Coronado Espijo. Baca and others OF the old
Spanish explorers and conquerOrs.
To be sure, it is known that tradition places
Zuni as one of the localities at which MOute-
yuma rested the sacred fire" when on his
eagle ride to the marshes of Mexico; but he
stopped longer when he reached the San Fran
cisco Mountains.
Although tradition varies as to the time he
remained at the Pueblo of Tunque (now a
ruin. near here, it is uncoutradcted that he
struck his staff in the ground, nvigorated the
holy flame leonsidered so preGious) and made
that pueblo one of the most prominent in
Azatlan, aud so the Spaniards found 1t. And
there, too, CaiZOn de Baca and his followers
made their new home, enslaying the natives
and forcing them to toll in the gold pacer5
that covered the country round about.
And it was from Tunque that went forth be-
meath the blanket OF each chief of visiting
pueblos the little bundle OF SO sticks, after the
piStd Of some Church saint (uOw that of Saint
Dominica, but really the ancient "green-corn
dance" which was the signal of blood and to
cause simultaneous action. And when on that
fateful September night in the year 1850 the
new moon arose on the hiil-tops and the 30th
stick was lighted, it started the fires OF insur-
reCii0n and rebellion against their Spanish OPP
pressors and tyrants from the Pass of the North
Ell Paso del Norte) to the hills of Taos, and
from the headwaters of the Brave Northern
River Rio Bravo del Norte now Rio Grandej
to the San Francisco Mountains.
1t seems as though the brave Tungueans
were the only ones who reaped any gain from
the conflict which ensued. AMI which lasted
from 1850 to 1904, as in the treaty which re-
stored the Spanish domination they were there
after allowed to return and follow agricultural
pursuits. and were not again worked as slaves
i'll the hated mines and turquoise mountains.
And although some of the ta5kmasters tried TO
gain knowledge OF these rich placers they were
unsuccessful. for the red man suffered death
rather than incur the "curse of the pueblo
god by divulgiug these mines TO the hated
oppressor. But attempts to violate the treaty
in this vicinity were very few.
Still, the masters were not entirely at ease,
and they transferred the Indians as fast as pos
sible TO the pueblos of Santa Domingo and San
Felipe; and later the smallpox assisted in d is
persiug the few left A small remnant emf
grated to the Moqui pueblo. OIL the Rio Colorado
Red River. where their descendants still exist
But the greatness OF this Indian Thebes or
Palmyra rests on Santa Domingo and the tow Us
Of Santa Ana Tsin, Gle. FrayiDgo COcbita,
Jaurez and others all except Jaurez within
radius of 10 miles. In Santa Domingo are
books of the 18th and 10Th centuries relating
to religion (amoDg the earliest specimens OF
Spanish printing! and others of the 18th and
10th centuries containing the printed records
of the earlier explorers here and in southern
countries, nearly if not all Of which are out oil
print. These and other relics should be in the
National exhibit.
At Santa Domingo was first established the
Spanish Inquisition. probably the only place
On the North American continent where it ex-
isted. and much of its history is to be found
there. Ten years ago picture was stolen from
the church there, which had been in its posses
sion 300 years, and an indistinct and nearly
illegible date placed its execution nearly 200
years earlier. | think / can find that picture.
This theft closed the church to visitors, and
since then the waters of the Rio Grande have
destroyed the church. But its quaint, carved
timbsrs drought from SPAIN still remain, and
its other treasures are where can get at them.
| send you a pamphlet containing an account
of these matters which was written 10 years
a9O, WUbI 4 UfSL CdUlt UcGS. IL Slfco d lIbtlO
idea of the isolated condition of these descend
ants of the AZtees. aud shows that the most
ancient people in New Mexico will be untold
Of unless special agent is selected to give to
the world their history aud the old musty rec
ords in their possession. 1t was portion of
this locality that the Smithsonian Institution
and Delegate Joseph wished to be made a Ma
tional Park but only for antiquarian purposes.
About five years ago Mr. Stevens, of the st.
Louis Globe. Democrat, wrote up, with illustra-
tions dance at CoGhita. This was the first time
since described the great green-corn dance (St.
Dominic, the natal saint at Santa Domingo. 10
years ago, in the Albuquerque Journal. l had
hoped that Mr.. Steyens's effort would have
turned scientists steps in this direction, but it
had no more effect than had mine five years
before and my later letters to sntiquarians and
ethnologists. In fact, these people and their
history are passed by or overlooked. For years
Gov. Prince has attended all their dances, but
his reports have been confined TO private let
ters.-S. II. BoGARDUs, Wallace, n. M.