The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1905-06-08
ROMANCE IN
ITS HISTORY.
The Tragic Love Story ola Com
manChe Chief Who, When
0utwitted Captured His
Bride and PIundered
the Town.

FL Paso, Tex, June 3.-The recen,
destruction OF Tome, n. NJ, by flood
waters from the Rio Grande river re-
moves one OF the quaintest and most
historic places in the Southwest. AT
the time OF it's oblteration a few
days ago Tome had a population Of
about 600 Every house In the town
was swept away, and what was for
merly the main street is now the new
channel OF the erratic river. No lives
were lost but there were many mar
row escapes and thrilling rescues.
The survivors are now camping on
the adjacent hills.
Tome is rich In historic legend,
tragedy and romance. The place
was founded In the Seventeenth cent
ury by colony Of Spaniards coming
by way OF Mexico. This colony con.
sisted OF seventy persons, headed by
Lon Ignacio Bacca, q Spanish
grandee. The settlement fourished
and for many years was the leading
town OF New Mexico, although 1t
never attained population beyond
q few thousand. In it's palmy days
Tome was the home OF the Baccas,
the Castilos, the Oteros, the Chaves
and other distinguished families
whose names still stand on New
Mexico's roster OF aristocracy.
Tome WAS once the scene OF an ap-
palling Indian massacre-a massacre
which came as q revenge because
Cuerveno Verde, q Commsnche In.
dian chief, had been outwitted in bis
plans to marry Bestriz Bacca,
daughter of Don Ignscio Bacca, the
Spanish grandee. The chief had
made the acquaintance Of the Bacca
family and lost bis heart to Beatriz
when she was q mere child. He ask
her father If he might have her for
his wife. Presenting that the Indian
was iesting Don Bacca replied in the
affirmative, adding that the chi,
might come and take BeatFfz on her
fifteenth birthday.
The redskin sutton remembered
When Beatriz was Is he appeared at
her fathers home, accompanied by a
band OF warriors, not to make war,
but to help celebrate the nuptials
Don Bacca, realizing that the Indian
was In earnest, resorted to strategy.
"See me to morrow" he said, "ior
! have bad news for you-Beatriz is
dead"
Meanwhile, the father caused a
grave to be dug and next day the
Indian was led thither. He looked
at the little mound, accepted the
story as true and went away mourn
fully.
A few weeks later the chief discover
ed 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 the 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 worshippers were
caught and scalped. Beatriz became
the unwilling bride OF the Chief, and
although she grieved for long while
she finally became reconciled to her
new environments and lived to an
advanced age. So many people
were killed in the Tome massacre
that the local priests had to call
upon the clergy Of Albuquerque, q
short distance away, to come and
help bury the dead. The romantic
story Of Tome il fully verified by
church records saved from the recent
nood By Father Railerre, the local
pasl1h prisst who has been on duty
= Tpne dnee 1858.