New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-06

Correspondence Of Tho Chicago Record
one Of the most remarkable lawsuits in the his
the supreme Court II the Territory Of New Mexico
I'm Isl. under the title II The Pueblo OF Acoma
Va. the Pueblo OF Laguna."
In many of the Indian villages-in fact in most
81 thrm-arc still standing venerable churches that
tn. sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and some
Of them contain valuable pictures and statues that
who lah"r"d 50 long ana so earnestly FOR IN" con-
.'Islol -. 'lr h.a1h'h ~ nav, S'iI rs" herr
never been able 10 separate the Indians from their
teaching have grated upon them many 81 the doc
trines and Rites OF the Catholic Church. that the
faith and ~" worship Il the Indians to-day l. a
curious mixture Of Shamanism and Catholicism
and the pictures and enCcs Of the saints are com
monty introduced into ia" barbarous rites that are
stnl practised In the pueblo-. The medicine men
and me wizards appeal with equal success TO the
saints % N" church and t. their own familiar
spirits. and snake dance often follows mass
per- 'rmed before a consecratcd altar.
Tn" lawsuit ] refer TO brought 10 determine
the Ownership Of picture Of St Joseph. which. It
l. claimed. WIS brought 20 Acoma ia 1929 by Fray
kamlrrH 10 whom It was presented 10y Charles II
~ spain. St Joseph Is the patron saint OF the
~ especial yeueration by the simple natives. not
only because # was a gift from the King. but be
Whenever an attack from the Apaches was
expected. Whenever drouth dried up the water In
smallpox or any other p"stence prevailed. whom
ever the children were ill. and whenever the tribe
Mn m" same faifh ns The incnntnt1ons Of The
medicine men. Acoma was prosperous and the
peace and health ana the wealth OF the village
were piously attributed 10 the possession OF that
picture.
The n. IGN, pueblo Of L"suna which you
nate While AcOma prospered In all respects La
guna suffered from continuous evils. The crops
iagc. cpidcmics carried on scores OF children ca
lamty followed calamity 50 that at last the
ca rique called the priests and the principal men
together and sent a commission TO Acoma asking
the loan Of the picture OF 81 Joseph in order that,
he might restore prosperity and bring blessings
70 IN" afflicted town.
and required many long and solemn councils before
a decision could be- reached. The Lagunas enlisted
sultatlon with the missionary at Acoma They ap-
pealcd TO Father Mariana de Jesus Lopez the su.
prayer and pcnance IN both villages at the close OF
which the saciqa's were to ORA" lots for the saint
The lot decided in favor ~ Acoma. and the La
6dS SE S sa T% by 5Tc and IH wh Fy h peer
pie 81 Acoma were celebrating their victory In the
form their rites a band OF Laguna warriors broke
into the chapel and stole the picture. When the
wsr against the Lagunas and there would have
been a bitter and bloody conflict but for the In
Acomas to be generous and let the Iagunas have
the benefit OF tho influence OF he miraculous plct,
ure FOR few months. provided they would agree
10 surrender II the end Of that time His advice
Which they we're never willing to fulnn. There was
q change In their condition Immediately after and
dhry hpted 70 The presence Of the precious picture
and they feared that II 1t were returned to Acoma
+ withstanding the admontlons OF Father Mariana
and the priest at I4aguna. the Indians refused TO
mart with the picture. which protected by a
guard day and night for more than half century.
Finally. at the suggestion Of some Ingenious pale
face probably Yankee lawyer. the people OF
Acomn appealed to the courts and nled bill for
mandamlis compelling the pueblo OF Laguna TO re-
turn the saint to It's lawful owners and pending a
anal decision they asked that receiver or IA Gus
/ todian be appointed 20 take charge OF him.
There few newspapers In those days. and
very little Information Of current interest pub
lshed so that We have TO depend upon tradition
for the history OF the case. All we know is that
IL was holly contested and tina: the LAWYERS fees
made both the puebos poor. Judge Kirby Bene-
diet sitting Chancellor. decided In favor Of the
original owners. and ordered that the Lagunas
surrender the precious painting To the cacique OF
/ Acoma
When the decision became known the latter APP
poInted a delegation to bring the saint home. and
while they were on their journey half way to La
prlna they found the saint resting against mes
lutte tree They considered this "A miracle and the
simple people still believe that when st Joseph
heard OF the decision Of the Court he In such
a hurry TO get back to his home In Acoma that he
started out by himself This extraordinary picture
stil hangs over the altar OF the little chapel at
Acoma and the faith in Its virtues has never
failed