Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-05-02
Esrk DUEL AT LAS SALINAS.
E<nW vaQuero and Comanche
Fought for q Girl
xEee Eather's Promise to the Indian Chief
& wspadiated by Her Lover, and the
Question Settled with Bow and
Musket and Lasso.


'sfrops abruptly down to the lower lev
els They were 40 miles east of the Rio
Ezrande, and so or 60 miles from Albu-
-Q.rrque. There lay before them
= wide plain which rose into
Low tablelands Off to the south
md east. Far TO the northwest
lowered the bold, handsome contours
OF the Sandia mountains. Upon the
Yfzin, miles away from the foot of the
u,esa, two large circular spots shone
<fazziingly white. Don Mariana point
ed them out to his companion.
They are the Salinas" he said.
.Now let us look for the wagons. They
should be in sight by this time. All,
there they are. They will get to loading
ny noon"
Three wagons, drawn each by four
mules, came round bend of the mesa
af its foot, crawling along toward the
white spots on the prairie. They were
: part of Don Mariano's ranch outfit GO
Ing 10 the salinas for salt.
LET us ride on to the salinas and
await them there" said Don Mariana,
and the two horsemen picked their way
clown the rough burro trail to the plain,
then put their horses to long gallop
which brought them in half an hour to
the salt lakes. for the salinas liter
ally are lake basins packed solidly with
salt. Part of their surface was smooth
and level like a water surface. Other
places were rough and dug out in great
hoses like cellars, showing where salt
Eafhcrers had been at work. Deeply
MORN trails led to the lakes from the
NORTH the west and the south, and the
grunnd about them was trodden with
the feet of sheep, horses and cattle and
the wild beasts of the plain, drawn
4hither by their hunger for salt.
Going ous upon one of the basins
FOR n closer examination, the American
1uund that the pure white salt seen
upHn the surface was only an incrusta-
4 1Son N half inch thick, and that beneath
thfx stratum the salt was darker, as if
sihs~olored by earthly matter.
How came the salt beds here 2" he
-oskcd Don Mariana. Are there salt
springs at the bottom of the basin?"
The don shrugged his shoulders.
luien sabe," he answered. "They
have always been here. The Spanish col
aHisfs who first came to New Mexico
so0 years ago, got thet- salt here, and
thzsir descendants have done the same
On this day. Since the railroad came
THE salt we use on our tables, and much
that we use for other purposes, is
bronght from the States. Yet many of
the native people still get their salt
trum here, as my teams come to-day
In get the years supply for the stock
upon my ranches. The trails you see
rs7Nc1ring here are worn by the travel
OF hundreds of years. And the buffalo
ezEf antelope in old times knew the sa-
ffnax- All, did not think an antelope
aSas left so near the Rio Grande."
at the further end of the further
tsssin three antelope stood at the edge
sageriy nibbling salt. Their hunger for
salt had overcome their fear of man
anst they acted as if unaware of the two
xnen who watched the timid graceful
creatures as the don went on:
Il can remember the time when we
had % have weapons in our hands and
y guod-sized party when we came here
1sr salt. The Mescalero Apaches and
Gisc Navajoes were liable to come as far
as the salt lakes, and they were always
hostile. The Comanches were sup
R.nSed 10 be friendly with the New Mex
1ezkDss, but even they were not always to
be trusted when they met a weak party
-o,zk Dn the plains. There has been
good deal of Indian fighting, first and
Aasf. about these basins and the trails
1r1ssinx to them. There was a duel
fcnght here many years ago that was
very remarkable. 1t occurred long be-
xovr wns born. but the story has been
MzaBded down in our family, for my
Wrsndfather, Don Porfirio. Delgado,was
Prrsent when il occurred. 1t came
about through foo ish promise that
Mexican made n Comanche chicf,
vrisirh ne thought he would never be
called on TO fulfill.
The man was a Comanchero, as we
fsny- who went out on the plains every
1fzr 20 trade with the Comanches. To
carry through bargain. or 10 help
1sisnscIf out of some tight place, he
l'rpsnised the Indian that he would give
hszn his daughter for wife when she
Ehruid have grown large enough 10
1<xrry- He was not called on redeem
his promise. for he was dead when the
3mstian demanded the girl. but it made
tro1i,ie enough for other people, as you
Hknli hear. If you care to listen TO the
e<ery.
III came about in this way. My
rrsandfathsr, Don Porfirio Delgudo. had
.sccsne from his hacienda out to TIN.
x@1inas In August with large party
og his people TO get his years supply
~ salt They came with caravan OF
sz.rk mules and carrettas. as we cal!
fise pid-tine carts made wholly of wood
sl,a<I szlMhIde. and drawn by oxen yolSed
- the horns. So many OF his men at
</nf season of the year were away
NfSding sheep and cattle that 10 fill up
&k party he had brought with him
<<pe a The women that lived on his
estate 10 help ir their places. Among
kketa was Nanuelita Trujilio. the