Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-06-30
TRANSLATES ORDER
FOR RESTORATION
Ukase Commands
Rebuilding of St.
Michael's.
ISSUED BY DON De VARGAS
Amado Chaves Makes Repro
duction of the Original
Copy.

The following is translation made
by Hon. Amado Chaves, assistant sup
erintendent Of Public Instruction, of
the document containing the orders
issued by Captain General Diego de
Vargas on the 18th day Of Decem-
Der, A. D., 1893, for the repair and re-
building of the church of st, Michael
in the City Of Santa F'e, which church
excepting the walls had been destroy
ed during the Indian uprising and re.
volt in 1880. During this revolt it
will be remembered twenty-one Fran.
ciscan Fathers who were stationed as
priests in the City of Santa Fe and
at the different pueblos for 100 miles
north and south were massacred by
the rebels. The document, the orig.
inal Of which is In the New Mexico
archives, is extremely interesting and
the translation from the ancient Span.
ish is as good as can possibly be had:
The Document.
In said day, month and year, |, the
said Governor and Captain General.
being very much saddened by the
great rigor of the season and by the
great indifference Of the Indians who
III crowds while away their time won.
dering about the fields of said place,
in order to act witt the necessary dis
cretion, | mounted my horse and with
some war officers and capitans, Fran
cisco Lucero de Goday and Rogue Ma.
drid, went to examine the church or
the hermitage which used to serve
as parish church to the Mexican IN
dians who lived In the said town un.
der the title Of their Patron Saint,
81 Michael -.-----
Having examined the same and 1t
being small and not large enough for
the great number Of people and not
withstanding the rigor of the season
and the short time In which to have
church built wherein to hold the d.
vine services and the Holy Sacrifice
OF the Mass and so that Our Lady of
the Conquest may have a decent abid-
ing place, I, said Governor and Cap
tain General, thought it advisable to
itain General, thought it advisable to
repair and put under roof the said
walls, same to be done by the natives,
as they could do the work easier and
quicker There were present the
above named and also the Governor
and Antonio Bolsas, Governor of the
Pueblo. ordered them to immedi-
ately send the said natives, having
given the measurements of the tim
Der required, for axes and mules in
order to facilitate matters, to cut the
timber and to order the masons to
repair the walls; for my part I told
them that would order the Spaniards
to assist them and in order that they
might commence work Immediately, |
went with them to their said pueblo
and being within their plaza | ordered
the natives who were there to do as
| had ordered and to do it with pleas
ure as it was for the purpose Of build
ing house to God and his Mother
the Most Holy Virgin, who was shut
up in a wagon and that If lady had
come it was their duty to furnish her
with a house and that 1t was their
duty as well as mine to do so now as
God our Lord knowing that we were
Christians and did not make church
at once would chastise us.
Promise To Comply.
They promised to comply with all l
had ordered. They sent for the axes
which gave them, also one raw hide
wherewith to make a ladder. And
that it may so appear | issued the de-
cree and signed it with the above men
toned and with my secretary of War
and State:
D. Diego de Vargas Zapata Lujan.
Ponze de Leon, Rubric; Rogue Madrid,
Rubric; Joseph de Contreras. Rubric.
Before me ante, Balverde, Secretary
of State and War.