Evening journal., 1903-01-09
MEXICAN ASSASSINS,
THE MURDERoUs REVOLT IN THE
TAOS VALLEY.

Who Were Trapped by the Mezi-
cans Only Dne Escaped Death Ell
ther by Fire or Bullet.
John Albert, who ended his days at
Walsenburg, Colo, had exciting adj
ventures in every section west Of the
Mississippi. He saw two wars and
took an active share in the Indian up
risings. yet when on his deathbed he
was asked to dictate TO reporter the
scene he considered most exciting in
his life he chose a theme with which
few If any Of his countrymen are ac-
quainted.
The revolt in the Taos valley, IL ever
1t came to the ears Of the authorities,
was never universally disseminated.
1t appears on no page of common his
tory, and, although for horror it COM
pares favorably with the massacre at
the Alamo, no. novelist has seen fit
to make it a central theme.
The section now known as New Mex
leo was formally taken possession Of
by the Americans in the spring of
1876. General Kearny was at that
time in command of the invading
forces. He made his headquarters at
Santa Fe and remained in active SUI
perintendence for more than a year.
At the expiration of that period the
growing need of troops on the Pacific
coast led to his withdrawal to Lower
California. He left two regiments
with a military governor In charge.
Charles Bent, with a handful of men,
was left to guard Santa Fe. The Mex
lean governor, General Armijo, had
fled on the advance of the hated Yam
KEGS. His people, no matter what their
secret thoughts might be, had been the
most peaceable of subjects, yet the
body of the army had not been gone
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 1t. Arroyo Honda
was town Of some 1,200 inhabitants,
mostly Mexicans and Pueblo Indians.
! 1t lay in the Santa Fe district, but too
far away for aid to come. The total
of Americans in the place was II,
most Of whom were rough trappers
and mountaineers. The entire town
turned out to an impromptu mass
meeting on the plaza. 1t was decided
to revolt and return to the Mexican
authority. Well knowing that tho
band of Yankees, although compare.
lively Insignificant In numbers, would
resist such a step to the last, it was
determined to shoot all on sight FoI
this purpose the mob spread through
the town. But through some source OF
other Governor Bent had received
tip. He sent off to Santa Fe for helT
and then, gathering his little band
about him, fed to the only refuge the
place afforded.
'The next morning" said John AL
bert, they commenced the attack by
sending in to us a flag Of truce, de
manding our arms and ammunition
and an unconditional surrender of our
selves. told the boys they could dc
as they pleased but 1 knew treachery
would lead us to certain death in the
end, and l was going to die with my
gun in my hands and not be murdered
like a common dog
''This was the turning point in the
matter, and they all concluded to fgh
it out as best they could. The meI
who came to make a treaty with III
went back. Their forces were secretes
behind the brow of a hill near by us
and one Of them, after a manner ofth'
wild Indians in opening battle, cam'
to the top Of the ridge and danced I
Jig and sang song Of defiance.
knew the time had come, and the soon
er the bloody work commenced th
sooner we would know our fate.
1--WE of Ahe mountaineers had col
lected in a building of considerable
size and the ohly one in the place tina
was two stories in height. The dane
ing Indian was within gunshot and
killed him. Billy Austin stood close be
hind me, and when another man cam
to drag the body back Austin sho
him. By this time my gun was loaded
and / killed a third man. Then tn
hurrah commenced, and the air wa
filled with bullets from the guns I
| Iuc udUOS OF luc men WHO lay Deulu
the top Of the hill. The bullets rattle
against the house like hail. There wa
not a window left in 1t. Although W
saw we were In trap. we fought on.
"When the sun was setting, the Mex
leans made a furious charge and Sc
fire to the house we were in and 60
under the walls Of other building.
Soon everything was ablaze. The VI
roar of the yelling fiends on the oui
side and the excitement Of the men o
the inner side was deafening. We trie
to escape by digging through the foo
down into the granary. The hous
was filling with Mexicans, and every
thing was in confusion. Fortunatel
for me in the confusion escaped fror
the house. don't know how man
shots We're fired at me, but none too
effect. l had q bullet in my clothes
one cut Off the brim of my hat, and al
other cut the band, and l lost it froI
my head. In the excitement l forge
my coat and was out in the worl
alone without coat, hat or friends an
with 40 miles Of mountain road b,
frroor,. 49,, or,a co fafr-