Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-01

killed and wounded. 1t was at thi
battle that Captain, afterwards Gen
eral, Phil Kcarney, after the recall ha,
been sounded. led his fighting dra
| goons into the gates of the city In tn
face of belching batteries. and wher
| he lost an arm.
Just to the left Is the old "Molino d
| Ell Rey,' n range of massive ston
| buildings with crenelatcd walls an,
| parapeted roof, and where the bloodies
| battle Of the war was fought on TIL
| sth of September, and which resulte,
| In the surrender of the city. Three
| thousand Americans attacked n strong
| ~ fortified force of more than twice
| their number and when darkness inter
vened retired, leaving 7sI comradei
on the field In killed and wounded
many of the fallen being officers; II
one assault eleven out of total o.
| seventeen officers had fallen. Thes'
| were the decisive battles of the war
| From an army Of 1000 men Scott hat
| lost 200 in Killed and wounded while
Santa Ana from an army OF 10000
which opposed the American advance
had lost 1000. 1t is not strange that
sentiments OF patriotism are aroused
In the breast Of the American, Mexican
or Aztec who stands on this historic
hill and contemplates the past.
As | walked down one of the prin-
cipal streets my attention was attracted
by peculiar monument cut in stone
| stopped and read such was tho
slaughter which the Aztecs made upon
the Spaniards at this spot on the night
of July I. 1920, known as the Nochc
Triste. that when the conquerors had
entered the city triumphant the follow
ing year, they decided TO erect her.
mitage here. called The Martyrs and
dedicate TO San Hipolito. Said her.
mitage was under the care of the city
Ill ..4l. IL.
church was commenced on the spot
where II stood"
] entered the building. For J65 years
the foundations have sustained the
grand old pile. and It looks as though
It might withstand the elements for
ages yet to come. Its exterior Is i'm
pressive, Its interior grandly magnifi-
cent.
l mounted a streetcar going west.
and as 1t rolled along.I thought Of that
fatal night when fernando Cortez and
his little band OF Adventures, fought.
cursed and prayed over that same
ground nearly four hundred years ago.
In the suburbs, near the little town of
Tacuba, | alighted, to mediate, stand
ing upon another spot made sacred by
the memories of the past.
About me We're the overhanging
branches of giant Ahuehuete. the
same tree under which Cortez and his
few remaining followers rallied after
reaching the mainland. Efforts have
been made by the spaniards to burn
this old monument, who curse II be-
cause 1t reminds them of their defeat
while among the Indians 1t is cherished
az marking the spot where their
fathers routed and almost annihilated
the hated Spanish invaders. The guard
who Is now constantly near 1t told
me that the "Gachupin" (Spaniard)
AY.tA g.. 1.s..t Nu,-
put to death. Bernal Diaz. partici-
pant in the dreadful scenes
OF the 'Noche Triste" says:
when retreat had finally been
decided upon, our captain made the fol-
lowing disposition Of the forces. The
Gonzalo de Sandoval, Fran
cisco de .Azevedo. Francisco de Lugo.
Diego de Ordas. Andres de Tepia with
eight other captains, whose names / do
not mention, and one hundred young
and active soldiers.
ITO carry and manage the bridge
which had been constructed to cross the
openings made In the causeway by the
Mexicans, 100 Spaniards and 400
ITO bring UP the artillery, 60
5paniards and $50 Tlascalans
ITO guard the prisoners, 30 Spanlards
md 800 Tlascalans. Our great captain
'Cortez), Alonzo de Avila, Cristobal de
Did. Bernardo Vasquez de Tapia, and
,ther captains whose names have for
gotten. were to give aid where 1t was
most needed. The rear guard was com-
posed of Juan Velasquez de Leon. Pedro
de Alvarado. with many other horse
men and 100 soldiers.
| These arrangements completed our
blptain ordered all of the gold and sill
Yer. and Jewels which we had col
ected from the Indians, brought into
II, L.. To-, s.I LII 81
officials, who were Alonzo de Avila and
Ionzalo Mexia. to take part of the
treasure, one-fifth. which belonged to
his highness. and in order that they
might carry II he gave them seven
horses that were lame and wounded,
md one mare, and many Tlascalan In
Hans. II was said more than eighty, and
hey all had so much as they could car
ry. and there were still mountains of
gold on the floor.
Then Cortez called his secretary.
whose name was Pedro Hernandez. and
other officers of the king, and said:
,all you to witness that have done all
IN my power to save this gold. We have
here seven hundred thousand dollars
which we cannot take with us; those
who wish may take it-that it's better
than leaving II for these dogs. (The
Aztecs from whom they had stolen it,
And when they heard this many of the
soldiers of Narvaez. and even some of
ours, loaded themselves with gold.
affirm that I thought not of gold. but
rather OF saving my own life. for we
were In great danger l did. however.
take from a package which was there,
four emeralds, stones greatly priced by
he Indians. which / hastily concealed
In my breast under my armor, and
none too soon. for at that moment
rortez ordered his attendant To take
charge of the emeralds and II he had
known that had concealed these four
in my breast. he would have demanded
hem. and they were of great service to
ne afterward in curing my wounds and
buying food"
The night OF June 40. 1920, was dark
and stormy, and as the hour of mid
night approached u driZzling rain COM
The preparations for retreat
had been completed. and the beleaguer-
I'd Adventures waited the order to
About midnight the column
moved silently out from their quarters
On the street which led to the Tacuba
The city was wrapped in darkness
and silence. They thanked the Saints
Tor the darkness and rain, and prayed
the Virgin that 1t might continue II
lnly for an hour. The vanguard had
almost reached the first opening in the
'auseway when-Holy Motherl What
sound Is that which chills the marrow
n their very bones, and almost stops
ng cry of alarm shrieked out by a
In moment the great war
lrum on the temple of Tlatelolco sends
'orth the alarm. which Is answered by
blasts from thousands OF Aztec
and re-echoed by the war