Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1896-02-12
THE TREASURE OF CHILLI.
Excavations Likely to Prove OF EnOr.
NOUS Value to Historical science
Some Timely Suggestions.

According to current reports an excite
ment seems to prevail at Chilli, noun
tain town thirty-si1 miles east of Albu-
querque, about an enormous treasure
supposed to be buried there in what once
was a church.
Chilli, according to the Franciscan
chronicler, Father Vetancourt, was in 1880
inhabited by about 500 Piros Indians, and
in it's temple were laid at rest the mortal
remains of its founder, Father Alonzo
Peinado, commissary apostolic of New
Mexico during the years l60S-1614.
In 1879 the different Apache tribes went
on the war path and destroyed the Zuni
town of Ajuico, the towns of Chilli, Ia
jique and Cuaracs, as also those of Abo,
Jumancas and Tapira, one of the latter
three most probably the actual famous
Quivira. For this reason Chilli could
not have been destroyed during Pope's
revolt and whatever will be discovered is
prior to that period, and therefore church
ornaments may he found, and the inferred
bodies will not have been mutilated by
sacriegious hands.
After the Indian revolution (1680-1692)
small Spanish settlement was estab-
lished about tvo miles south of the ruins,
and years afterwards the settlers moved
on the site of the ruined town of Chilli.
Now, as far as material treasure is
concerned, there is little or no hope of
any, but still a possibility exists that
some insignificant amount may be found,
because at one time there was smelter
at Chilli, as is proved by the yet remain
ing refuse. The amount recovered, if
any, will be Insignificant, as mining be-
fore 1880 consisted really only in pros
pecting. But the historical treasure this
search may unearth will be of immense
value and interest to the whole territory,
and therefore the political as we'll as
ecclesiastical authorities should exercise
every possible care to avoid the destruc-
tion Of ornaments, images, ETC., which
will certainly be brought to the surface if
systematic excavations are made.
There is no doubt that the remains Of
Father Alonzo Peinado are buried in the
ruined church, and, in accordance with
custom, most probably under or near the
principal altar, and o careful investiga-
tion will reveal them intact, as the
Apaches, Notwithstanding all their crimes,
neither were nor are desecrators of graves.
What more interesting reliquia, either
from a religious or historical point, can
New Mexico possess than the we'll authen-
ticated remains of one of its earliest mis-
sionaries and prelatesi Chilli forms part
of the parish OF Manzano, and the worthy
priest and gentleman in charge thereof
will, if his ecclesiastical superiors bring
this matter to his notice, undoubtedly
protect those very nearly sacred remains
from dissertation.
The Historical Society of New Mexico
should also have competent person at
the place to take care of whatever his
torical OBJ ject may be brought to the sur
face, for in moments of excitement, in
the wild rush of digging for imaginary
treasures, real treasures are very often
destroyed, or at the best badly mutilated,
and now that the opportunity offers to
enrich the historical museum of this ter
! ritory it should be fully developed.
The treasure hunters are Welcome to all
the gold and silver they may have the
good luck to ind, but at the same time
should proceed in the excavations sys-
tematically and carefully, as we'll for their
own interest as for the one of historical
science, and not wantonly destroy the
memories of long ago past and have
piety toward the remains of those who
have proceeded as on the journey to the
mysterious hereafter.