Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-03-03
The Hermit
Priest Of the
Old Santa |
Fe Trail
.HE tourist en- route to the Pa
cific coast via the AtchisOn,
Topeka and Santa Fe railway
By Colonel HENRY INMAN
Copyright, 1902, by
American Press association
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THE tourist en- route to the Pa
cific coast via the AtchisOn,
Topeka and Santa Fe railway
cannot fail to observe huge,
relatively isolated peak, cutting the in
comparably clear midcontinent sky on
his right almost immediately after the
train energies from the picturesque
canyon of III Moro and commences to
descend the long, gradual slope to the
quaint old Mexican village of Las
Vegas.
Its SCARED and verdureless front
looms up grandly in the beautifully
serrated landscape, Of which it Is the
most conspicuous object. More promi-
nently defined than any other indi-
vidual elevation Of the Taos range,
the shadow of its irregular contour
| reaches far out over the lesser mOun'
tains beneath the moment the sun has
crossed the meridian of its crest.
At its foot little grassy valleys
stretch eastwardly. which are cultivat-
ed by the primitive Mexicans under IL
system Of irrigation as primitive as
themselves-simple earth bitches. III
volving a very limited knowledge of
engineering Foaming little torrents
splash and sparkle in the sunshine as
they course through fertile intervales.
Their sources are cool mountain
springs hidden in the dark recesses OF
the towering range. which were. until
the restless gringo invaded the soli-
tude of the charming region ut the adj
vent of the iron trail to erect sawmills.
filled with that most epicurean and
gamy Of all the finny tribe-the spec
kled brook trout Now the disciple of
the revered Walton vainly ESSAYS the
streams with elegant modern appli-
ances for lazy methods Of angling, re-
tiring disgusted as the listless native.
answering his interrogatory of Where
have they all gomez" with a charac'
teristic shrug and his ever ready
"Quien sabe?" quietly opens his little
ditch to let the tenantless water over
flow his limited patch Of corn. beans
and onions.
Maybe in the sad and weird mythoo
gy of those strange people, the Aztecs.
this storm beaten spur of the Rockies
occupied an important place - their
OLYMPUS or Parnassus. perhaps, FOR
not many miles remote. on the bank OF
the classic Pecos, where lie the ruins
Of the once fortified Cicuye. referred to
so graphically in the itinerary OF the
historian Of Coronado's wonderful
march in search Of the seven cities of
Cibola, is the reputed birthplace OF
their culture hero. Montezuma not to
be confounded with the dynasty of SOW
ereigns Of that name) who was the
Christ OF their faith. for whose second
advent the Puebos the lineal descend
ants of the Aztecs, look for so hopeful
ly with the rising of every morning $
sun.
Upon the summit Of the RincOn de
Tocolote, as this grand old sentine! of
the range is called by the MeXicans, an
area comprising several acres. there is
a remarkable cave. Around this natu'
raj grotto at such great elevation the
simple natives have clustered the most
cherished memories of the humble. be
loved and curious individual who once
occupied the sequestered spot. 1t is sh
cred ground with them, upon which no
sacrilege would for moment be
brooked.
Near it's narrow entrance spring OF
clear cold water gushes out of the In
durated rock. which. after flowing for
a short distance over the rounded peb
bles in it's deeply worn bed. tumbles
down the precipitous side of the noun
tain In a diminutive cascade, joining
the streams in the valley on their rest
less way to the sea. A few scattered
trees cast a grateful shade over a por-
ton of the generally bald. blear level
of the limited plain and at regular dis
tances apart, in the form of circle,
are twelve rude crosses typical of the
number of the apostles. They were
erected years ago by the humble Mex
leans living in the hamlets below in
memory of the deeply religious man
who made his home in this spot and
whose name is revered only degree
less than that of the tutelary saint of
the country. Our Lady Of Guadalupe.
On certain feast days. particularly in
midsummer, large fires are kept burn
ing at night, and the devotees to the
memory of the caves once holy occu-
pant assemble there under the stars
and in most devout spirit perform
certain ceremonies with zeal possible
only to the earnest believers in that an
cient and widely disseminated faith.
| the Catholic religion.
OF the history of the remarkable man
who by his exemplary life made such
an impression upon the untutored
minds of large number Of the degrad-
ed primitive New Mexicans but frag-
mentary leaves have been obtainable.
To intelligently understand even these
the reader must let his mind drift
backward for more than generation
to the plains of central Kansas and
learn of his advent into the state as
recall it.
1t was late in the spring of 1861. Our
civil war had been inaugurated by the
firing upon Sumter. and the loyal states
were preparing for the great impending
struggle. upon the result Of which de-
pended the destiny Of the republic.
Kansas at that time. so far as Its agri.
cultural possibilities were concerned,
was not materially considered in that
connection. 1t was remote, relative
ly unknown territory. Its eastern por-
ton, a narrow belt contiguous to Mis-
souri,, it is true, had bloody political
history. beyond which fact it was
merely the portal to the vast noun.
tain region on the west. to be reached
only by crossing the desert supposed to
be included within the new states geo.
graphical limits. through which ran the
trail to faroff Santa Fe and Chihuahua
There arrived one morning IN the
HOOD FIRM
Condition P0Wder!