Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-06-25
PROMISE TO VIRGIN kept
Hundreds Parade Streets
Carrying Statue of Mother
Mary-.-History of Feast.

the statue will be returned to the
Cathedral.
The procession, which left the
church at 3 o'clock in the afternoon,
was the largest in years, being more
than a quarter Of mile in length.
1t was an imposing sight and fitting
tribute to the memory of him who in
stituted the custom more than two
hundred years ago.
The Blessed Trinity Band, followed
by the cross bearer and acolytes, head.
ed the procession. Then came the
parishioners from Guadalupe Church;
the children from the Parochial
School, the women of the confrater-
nifty of the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the
women of the Cathedral parish; the
children of the Sodality of st. Joseph;
the Catholic men Of the Cathedral par
ish the Santa Fe Band; the child,
rem of the Sodality of st. Mary, car
rying the statue of the Blessed Vir,
gin; Fathers Plantard and A. Besset,
and the Cathedral Choir.
The line of march was west on San
Francisco Street to the point where
it crosses the Denver & Rio Grande
Railroad tracks, thence north to the
Rosario Chapel, in which, with appro'
pirate and sacred ceremonies the
statue was placed.
Story of De Vargas.
The observance of the custom began
after Captain General De Vargas re
conquered New Mexico and the man
ner in which it was Instituted Is as
follows:
After the Indian uprising In 1880
when the Spanish settlers were either
massacred or driven from New Mex
leo, the Pueblos attempted to organ
ize a government, with its chapel at
Santa Fe. As might be expected, the
attempt was complete failure; feuds
broke out almost Immediately and
soon were followed by bloody strife
The expelled settlers and the Span
ish authorities acted sagaciously In
permitting the insurgent Indians te
weaken themselves before making an
other attempt to subdue the country
Thus twelve years passed away ant
when the opportune time arrived the
man for the occasion was found In
the person of Don Diego de Vargas
a cavalier of much experience, who
united in his person the humanity o.
christian with the skill and bray
cry of a general His expeditionar,
force was small, but well organizet
and equipped, consisting of little ovel
three hundred soldiers, several Of then
accompanied by their families sup
piled with all necessaries to estab
lish and maintain themselves until re
Inducements could arrive and colon
lzation be undertaken on a large scale
Santa Fe Fortified.
The column met with little opposi
ton during its march from Ell Pas
del Norte to Santa Fe. On its arriva
here it crossed the river and encamI
ed about where the National and Re
sario Cemeteries are now located
Santa Fe was strongly fortified by tn
Indians, warriors from the tribes Il
the north covering all the hills In 1t
vicinity and as they vastly outnum
bered the Spaniards an assault on tn
position held by them could only hav
resulted In defeat and consequen
massacre. Many councils were hel
many plans proposed, but desperat
as their condition was, no one though
of retreat. Indeed any movement G
retrograde character would have II
vited an onslaught by the ragin
tribesmen.
Deeply pondering over the awfr
responsibilities that rested on him, D
Vargas retired to his chapel, wher
a statue of the Blessed Virgin stoo'
He threw himself on his knees befor
1t and made solemn vow that
through the intercession of the Hol
Mother he should gain victory owe
the Indians, his people for all tim
would celebrate the event by carryin
in solemn procession the statue befor
which he knelt from Santa Fe to thu
place and return once every year.
! Indians Retreat at Night.
When morning dawned the Spa
iards were astonished to find that tt
Indians had disappeared from viey
not one was to be seen In Santa
or on the adjacent hills. De Vargs
at the head Of his triumphant lit
army marched into the town an
quietly took possession. Soon after
small chapel was erected on the sp,
rendered sacred by the vow Of
Vargas; 1t is supposed that the R
sario Church, which is Of very anciel
origin, stands on that very site.
, With wonderful perseverance the
scendants Of these early soldiers al
colonists have observed the promiI
made by the great general.