The Ordway new era., 1905-07-14
LOVE AND TRAGEDY
m HISTORY OF HISTORIC NEW
MEXICAN TOWN.
Affection Of Savage indian ch'' '0'
Beautiful Daughter Of Spanish Gran
dee Cause of Massacre Of Many IN
nceent People.

The recent destruction of Tome, N
NJ by food waters from the mo
Grande river removes one oil the
uuaintest and most historic places !"
the Southwest. says the Kansas oi's
Times Al the time of its obliteratloh
Tome had a population OF about "Uo'
Every house In the town was swept
away and what was formerly the mann
street is now the new channel ot the
erratic river. No lives were lost, but
there were many narrow escapes ana
thrilling rescues. The survivors are
now camping on the adjacent hills.
Tome is rich In historic legend. trag-
edy and romance. The place was
founded in the seventeenth century pS
a colony of Spaniards coming by wa!
OF Mexico. This colony consisted OF
seventy persons. headed by Don lg'
nacio Bacca, Spanish grandee. Ihe
settlement fourished and for many
Years was the leading town OF New
Mexico. although II never attained
populatIon beyond a few thousand. In
It's palmy days Tome was the home OF
the Baccas. the Castles, the Oteros,
the Chayes and other distinguished
families. whose names still stand on
New Mexico's roster Of arlstocracy.
Tome was once the scene of an ap-
pallinE Indian massacre massacre
which came as a revenge because
Cucrvono Verde, Comanche Indian
chief. had been outwittcd In his plans
FTUFtfrf.fNF a
Don IEnacio Bacca, the Spanish gran
dee The chief had made the acquaint'
auce OF the Bacca family and lost his
heart to Beatriz when she was mere
child. He asked her father II he might
have her for his wife. Prcsuming that
the Indian was jcstlng, Don Bacca re-
Piled In the affirmative. adding that
the chief might come and take Boatriz
on her 18th birthday.
The rcdskin suitor remembered.
When BeatrIz was Is he appeared at
her fathers home. accompanied by a
band Of warriors, not TO make wur, but
10 help celebrate the uuptials. Don
Bacca. realizing that the Indian was
In earnest. resortcd to strategy.
See me tomorrow" he said. for
have bad news for you Ecatriz Is
dead"
Meanwhile the father caused a
grave to be dug and next day the In
dian was led thither. He looked at
the little mound. accepted the story as
true. and went away mournfully.
4 few weeks later the chief discov-
cred that he had been deceived. He
was furious. Gathering his warriors
about him he swept down upon Tome
early on Sunday morning when
many of tho residents were In church.
First he captured Beatriz. the object
Of his savage affection. Then he gave
orders to destroy the town. The
church was burned and many OF the
fleeing worshipers were caught and
scalped. Bcatriz became the unwill-
Ing bride of the chief and although
she grieved for a long while, she final.
ly became rcconciled TO her new en-.
yironment and lived 90 an advanced
age.
So many people wJrc killed In the
Tome massacre that the local priests
had to call upon tn, clergy OF Albu.
qucrque. a short distance away. TO
come and help bury the dead. The
romantic story OF Tome is fully veri-
fed by church records saved from the
recent flood by Father Railerre. the
local parish priest. 'rho has been on
duty in Tome since ] .5S.