Omaha daily bee., 1902-06-29
KING AK.SAR.BEN MENACED
Expedition Projected to Invade the Golden
City Of Quivsra-
LOYAL SIR KNIGHTS, WHAT SAY YoU7
coronado's Dream Believed 20 he
a Good One-whst the Invaders
Propose 60 Do and How
They'u DO IL.

9 - a-@~NH - =
and smite him hip and thigh.
Alarming news h waited westward on
the eastern wind, menacing the peace and
security Of the Golden City Of Quivera.
Envious rivals seek the throne which Ak
ssr-Ben has occupied for years with honor
and renovn. Will his loyal legions permit
the invasion? Not on your life. Not IL
the rsinmskers know themselves. II be-
hooveE them. however, to be up and doing.
prepared TO conduct the misguided TO hos
pitsble graves.
1t must be admitted that there is some
Justification for the project, started in
Washington. TO search for the Golden City
Of Quivera. Thousands OF King Ak-Ssr-
Bens knights have made the pilgrimage.
enduring various grades OF hsrdshlps, with
out eneountering even a gold brick. Other
Thousands will in coming years follow in
their footsteps without the hope Of realiz-
ing on Coronado's dream. The Washington
explorers are out for business, and their
plans and purpose. detailed by the wash
ington Post, will materially increase the
Eaiety Of QuiveTa's merry monarch.
List TO the tale:
The strangest thing about myths and
superstitions Is their vitality, or perhaps
more properly speaking. their resurrective
quality. Old legends long since thought
20 have been safely dead and buried come
20 life showing remarkable vigor in their
reerudescence frequently after they are sup
posed 20 have been extinct for generations.
and sometimes centuries.
The most remarkable myth now showing
signs OF life after a sleep OF 3s2 years is
no other than the old story Of the Golden
City Of Quivers. This metropolis. according
20 tradition. was situated omewbere be-
tween Kansas and Mexico. and the fable
has been revived with such vigor that
parties are now in Washington endeavoring
TO raise money with which 10 carry on ex-
cavAtions on the supposed site Of the magic
city in the hope Of unearthing its buried
treasure.
Before entering upon the details OF this
enterprise. 1t is FIRST OF all necessary TO
explain the origin Of the Quivera myth.
when. in the year 1910. Vasquez Coronado
left the City Of Mexico TO explore the vast
unknown country to the north OF the Gulf
Of California and the Rio Grande river, be
heard many strange stories from the In
dams whom he met in his wanderings north
20 what is now the southern boundary Of
Kansas. Sometimes his told the
truth, but as a general thing they found IT
more 20 their advantage TO relate what
was false. and to mislead the naughty Span
lard at every turn.
Among the number OF idle falsehoods
which the Indians invented TO beguile Coro-
nado was the Quivera story. According to
the Indians, there existed a magnificent city.
30 fabulously rich that the houses were
tiled and rooted with gold, while among the
inhabitants silver was more common than
stone. Coronado, like other Spaniards Of
his day, went on this expedition IN search
Of gold and riches, hoping 10 meet with the
same fortune that befeil PiLEaro in Peru,
and az every point on his line Of march
both be and his men made diligent iaquiry
for gold among the aborigines whom they
met.
Foundation of 1he story.
The ouivera story had foundation in fact.
that. In what is now southern New Mexico,
there was a place called the Grand Quivera,
q sand and mesquite plain. inhabited by q
few Indians. and originated by the Indians
of one locality getting tired Of the Span
iards and in their starting a story to the
effect that their neighbors Of the Grand
ouivera were fabulously rich. Coronado
set out for the place. but missed IL, and,
for the res: Of the journey, inquired Al
every step for Quiyera, the city Of riches.
To make a long and wearisome story
short. Il is enough to say that. although
Coronado Travelled as far north as the Dor
der Of Kansas. he found neither the city mol
the riches that he expected, and returned
TO Mexico q disappointed man. Thus
ended the Quivers matter. so far as Coro-
nado was concerned. but. like all stories
OF this character. it had a singular vitality
and for years after Coronado's Journey the
white population Of the southwest con-
tinued 70 believe in the existence of a magi-
cal city, hidden away among the canyon:
of the mountains, awaiting the advent OF
the adventurous Caucasian. who. OF course
would develop its resources"
This myth. started by dishonest Indian.
and credulous SpaniArds. passed from the
latter to the MeIicans. and in later year.
70 the Americans. and in the years inter.
vening since the expedition OF Coronado
and the present II Is not at all surprising
that the story became warped and twistet
90 that In It's present shape II bears yer!
little resemblance 20 the QuiVers story o.
Coronado According TO the belief OF thu
present-day population OF New Mexico. thu
spaniards not only discovered, but tool
possession Of and settled in Quivera. which
under their rule became 4 city .rtvalinI
Babylon Of old in the measure Of its splen
dor. riches and Injuries. but. like all I'M
and vain things, cams to an untimely en-,
through an uprising Of the Indians. VIII
destroyed the place and slaughtered tn
Inhabitants without mercy.
Destroyed by Earthquake.
Another version has II that the city va
destroyed BY an earthquake. or q pro
traeted drouth, causing the Inhabitants {
perish Of thirst. etc, since which ealAmit
no one has ever been able to locate o
discover the ruins Of the city in which
according 10 popular belief, untold weslt
lies buried awaiting discovery al som
future day. Such is the main body OF tn
myth as believed In by the modern popu
lation Of New Mexico. a story around whic.
has clustered a host OF legends. rumoT
and nonsense without end
One Of The stereotypsd variations Of tai
Quivera myth, which Profs. HoIme
FeSkes and Hough have heard during 50
iournsH IN New Mexico, and which has bee
going the rounds Of hired men. mineri
cowboys. poems and ranehmen for the pas
hfty years, Is TO the effect that a certai
priest discovered a map OF the city {
ouivsra. among the records and Archivs
OF the vatican: that the map showed n
location o. a buried treasure OF fabulou
amount; that the priest set sal for n