Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1905-10-14
LEGEND OF
SAN FELIPE
Indian Folk Lore Told by Rev. A.
Jouvsnceau in the Catholic
Pioneer
THE FRANCISCAN FRIAR
Escapes From Pueblo Of Cochiti and is
Sheltered and Protected by the
Other Tribe...A Second Judas.

In the Catholic Pioneer for October.
Rev. A. Jouvenceau tells one of the
numerous legends of the San Felipe
Indians, which has been handed down
In the folklore Of that tribe from
generation to generation, and which
was told to Mr.. Jouvenceau by mem
bers of the pueblo, which is in Sando-
val County. The legend follows:
A Legend Of the San Felipe.
A Franciscan monk whose name
the Indians do not remember was in
charge of the Cochiti mission at the
time of the rebellion Of 1880 which
resulted in the ruin of the Indian
missions in New Mexico. This good
religious man noticed that the In
dians were addicted to many super
stitious practices contrary to the ten
cts of the Catholic religion. After ma
ture deliberation he determined to do
away with those abusive and idola-
trous customs. His efforts in that di-
rection met with strong opposition on
the part of the Indians and the wor-
| thy missionary, instead of proceeding
with prudent moderation, displayed
excessive eagerness in his legitimate
attempt at destroying all vestige Of
idolatry and witchcraft among his
ignorant flock. The Indians, very
mi otfooha1 to 1rrbot fhnxy 81 do
ed part of their religious creed, be-
came furious, and melted by their
fanatical sorcerers, resolved upon the
murder Of the missionary. Before the
execution of their nefarious designs,
they held several nocturnal meetings
in order to devise the best means for
the successful issue of their murder
GUS plot The missionary, who had
worked for many years in that por-
tion of Gods vineyard with the most
disinterested zeal, could not believe
that his people would be so ungrateful
as to seek his death. His friend, the
sexton, kept him informed Of the pro-
gress made by the conspirators and
would repeatedly advise him to leave
the pueblo for safer place. But the
good friar felt strong reluctance to
forsake his mission, and decided final
ly to remain there to the last.
The Sexton Proves a Good Friend.
On Friday of April the decision
was reached at public meeting that
on the following morning at daybreak
the friar should be put to death. As
soon as that meeting had broken up
the faithful sexton repaired secretly
| to the PADRES house and apprised him
of the dire determination taken by the
Indians.
''Father," said he, "you will be as
sassinated tomorrow morning at day.
break. There is no mercy for you.
Make haste, you must leave the pueb-
llo tonight If you wish to save your
life. Here is my plan for your escape; !;
in order to assist you In your fight,
/ will be here at midnight. Two
knocks at your door will make you
aware of my arrival; then will carry
you on my shoulders to the river bank
so that your footprints may not be
found by your pursuers. Having
crossed the stream, you proceed as
fast as possible in southerly dtrec-
tion. endeavoring to make good your
escape by reaching San Felipe"
| Another meeting was held BY the
Indians after dark and three men
were appointed by the leaders to kill
the Franciscan Friar in his bed at the
breaking Of day. The sexton was
again present at that meeting as he
, was not suspected Of treason against
I / the tribe.
| AT midnight he knocked as agreed