The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-08-04
MEXICAN ASSASSINS.
THE NUMEROUS REVOLT IN THE
TAOS VALLEY.

cans Only One Escaped Death MI
Their by Fire or Ballet.
John Albert. who ended his days at
Walsenburg, Colo. had exciting al
ventures In every section west or the
Mississippi. He saw two wars aud
took an active share IN the Indian up
risings, yet when on his dcathbed HI
was asked to dictate to a reporter the
scene he considered most exciting IN
his life he chose Il theme with which
few II any Of his countrymcn are ac'
uuainted.
The revolt In the Taos valley, II ever
It came to the ears of the authorities,
was never universally disseminated.
It appears on nc page Of common his
tory, and. although for horror It com.
pares favorably with the massacre at
the Alamo, no novelist has seen ut
to make It Il central theme.
The section now known as New Mex.
leo was formally taken possession OF
by the Americans IN the spring of
1S46. General Kearny was at that
time in command Of the invading
forces. He made his headquarters at
Santa Fe and remained IN active gu
~perlntendence for more than n year.
At the expiration Of that period the
coast led to his withdrawal to Lower
California. lie left two regiments
with Il military governor IN charge
Charles Bent. with n handful OF mon,
was left to guard Santa Fe, The Mex
lean governor. General Armljo, had
fed on the advance of the hated Yam
KEGS. His people, no matter Nhat their
secret thoughts might be, hal been the
most peaceable of subjects, yet the
two months before the Americans saw
that trouble was imminent.
The only man who escaped has told
the story more graphically than any
pen can portray It. Arroyo HondN
was a town OF some 100 Inhabitants,
mostly Mcxicnns and Pueblo Indians,
1t lay IN the Santa Fc district. but too
fur away for aid to come, The total
of Americans Ia the place was H.
most of whom were rough tNppers
and mountninrrrs. The entire town
turned out to an lmpromptu mass
meeting on the plaza, 1t was decided
to revolt and return to the Mexican
authority. Wen knowing that tho
band OF Yankees, although compare
lively insignificant In numbers, would
resist such Il step to the last, II was
determined to shoot all on sight For
this purpose the mob spread through
tkn sn,,n NM thNnhuh sauna anlVIn an
other Governor Bent had received u
tip. lie sent off to Santa Fc for help
and then. gathering his little band
about him. fed to the only refuge tho
place afforded.
'rhc next morning" said John Al
bert, "they commenced tho attack by
sending In to us Il Tag Of truce, do
manding our arms and ammunition
and IN unconditional surrender OF our
selves, told tho boys they could do
M they pleased, but | knew trenchery
would lead III TO certain death In tho
end, ana | was going 10 die with my
gun In my hands and not BIO murdered
like a common dog,
"Thls was the turning point IN tho
matter, and they MI concluded TO tlaht
II out IN best they could The men
who came to make u treaty with IA
went back, Their forces were secreted
behind the brow OF u hIll near by IN,
and n OF them, after 4 manner ~ tho
wild Indians In opening n battle, cNMn
TO tho top Of tho ridge and danced u
JIg and SANG n song OF defiance, !
knew the time had come, and tho soon
or tho bloody work commenced tho
sooner We would know our fNte,
1--WE OF tho mounlNlnoaps had COL
laeted Ia n building Of considerable
slxe md tho only ono In the place that
Wal two stories IN height, The dane
Ing Indian WAS within gunsh0t, and
killed him, hllly Austin stead close no
hind mo, aud whom another man came
to drag tho body back Austin shot
him, Ivy this time my gun was loaded,
and killed n third mnn Vhan tho
hurpah commenced, NMd The All WAS
til!ed with hNllets from tho guns IN
tho hands Of Tho mon who Inv behind
tho top OF tho hill, The bullets ratified
against the house llka hail There WAS
not n wlAdnw laft In w. Although We
saw We were IN n tran We fought On
"When the sun WIS setting, the Mex
loans MNde n furious charge and sol
hpe 10 tho house we were Nv and g0l
under the walls NJ other buildings
snaR everything WIS NhlNae, The M
roar 0f the yelling llenas an tho an
aide and the excitement NJ Tho men nN
The inner side WAS dpafaAlAgr We tried
10 escape hF dlgglRg through The haaV
AaWH into tho gpAnnps, The hallsf
was hlllpg with MeAIpaHs, aRd every
thing WIS IN e0Rlnsinnf Fortunately
f0p mo In tho confusion | escaped fran
The hanse, daN't kAaW how MANY
shals were fired NJ mo, hui nanf lANk
effect had A bullet IN my plNlhesr
ane pNt nv Tho hrlM ~ my hAl AAa M