Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-10-06

Like all the others, too, they are Cath
olics-brands plucked from the pagan
burning by the Franciscan missionaries
of whom more than forty suffered mar
tyrdom in New Mexico. Their present
church is small and new-daZzled with
whitewash for each yearly feast Of San
Geronimo, the patron saint Of the pueb-
10. Ruins of the old church (the first
Franciscan mission in Taos founded 290
years ago) stand not far off, it's massive
adobe walls fighting stubbornly against
abuse and decay. 1t was the fort SO
hotly contested in the Taos rebellion
when Governor Bent was killed."
| INDIAN CEREMONIES.
The ceremonies opened In the Indian
village at sunset with a grand sun
dance, which took place about midway
between the pueblo pyramid houses, six
storied homes of mud and stone, 400 feet
on a side, standing to-day as they stood
sixty-nine years before there was an
English-speaking resident in the new
world But the big days ceremonies, so
1
on Sunday. Long before da, tight thou
sands of people, occupying all manner
| of conveyances, on horseback and on
foot, were flocking to the, village, lining
the roads leading from the various sec
tions of the beautiful Taos valley. In
their little church, dazzling white with
a new coat Of terra blanca, Father NAL
lete celebrated mass, which was attend
ed by Governor Gonzales, his official
family and the head men of the pueblo,
attired in their most gorgeous costumes,
and then a solemn procession was
formed that followed the image of st.
Jerome from it's hallowed niche to an
improvised altar, bower Of richly
hued autumn leaves. overlooking the
| playground where the sports were to
take place. Here at sunrise was a
81 and and solemn dance, and after that
came the delight makers, the chieffon-
| cities, as they are called. or clowns, and
| the real fun Of the day begins. Dances
and foot races, creased pole climbing
and other contests which appeal to the
prowess and strength of those splendid
specimens of physical manhood follow
in rapid succession amidst the incessant
din of the tom-tom and the weird, mo-
notonous chant of the participants.
A MODERN CONTRAST.
While these festivities were at their
full height DR.. T. P. Martin, accom-
panied by representative Of the New
Mexican, glided noiselessly into the
throng seated on the doctors automo-
bile, and after vending in and out
among the jam of vehicles and horse
men, finally halted in front of one of the
great Indian communal houses. 1t was
the automobiles first appearance at a
San Geronimo feast, and the splendid
little machine was the wonder and ad-
miration of the moment for a time d.
viding honors in this respect with the
delight makers. Almost Immediately
scores of kodak flends were on the alert
| to catch snap shot at the auto, the
| crowd and the big mud houses of the
Indians. Only few, however, succeed
ed in the attempt on account of the
| crowd of gaping people who gathered
around the machine. The towering
walls of the village houses were densely
we'll ll-dressed Boston woman touched ell
bows with the painted squaw; the cow
| boy in typical dress with the Apache,
| the Ute and the Navajo, making a
scene nowhere else to be found in the
United States. There were present Wis
itors from all over the country, artists,
journalists, archaeologists and scientific
students.
A REAL BRASS BAND.
The Elzabethtown band was on hand
in uniform, with ]. c. Kelser as leader
and Frank Dericks on horseback as
drum major, and furnished the music.
The sports were entered into with much
zest, but perfect good order prevailed,
and when the sports Of the festival
proper had concluded the Indians and
visitors hurried to the town of Taos,
| three miles, where there was twilight
concert by the band of an hours dura-
ton. This was great novelty to the
people of the ancient town, as 1t Is only
| the second time in the history Of the
place that brass band has visited
Taos, the first being in 1860, when John
s. Philips, Of Missouri, then acting vice
president Of the nation. came on visit
and was accompanied by the military
| band stationed at Fort Union. After
the concert grand ball was rendered
the band boys and their lady friends,
and the visitors at the Hotel de Russell.
Since Saturday night about half doz-
en- balls and parties have occurred
nightly, all crowded to the utmost. The
business houses have closed for the oc-
IcasiOn.
A PROGRAM OF SPORTS.
On Monday an excellent program of
sports was given at the race track south
of town and at the plaza. A number of
good horses took part in the races, the
first honors Of the day going to Squire
Hart's bay horse Posey. In the foot
races w. L. Whitney, a college man
from st. Paul, came off first, and Bert
Phillips, an artist, second. defeating a
large field Of Indians. Some 5000 peo-
pie witnessed the races, and In the
midst of it all the Judges stand, occu-
pied by some twenty people, gave way
with a crash, but fortunately no one
was hurt.
| AN INDIAN DANCE.
After the races the crowd adjourned
to the plaza, and was there entertained
by prize ring performance, an open
air concert and an Indian dance. The
latter was very brilliant affair, and