Albuquerque morning journal., 1907-07-10
BLOODY MASSACRE
HAS MADE Old
TOAS HISTORIC
THE TRAGIC STORY OF
THE UPRISING OF 1847
No More Thrilling Story in the
Annals of. the Southwest
Than of the Bravery Of Bent
and His Americans.
Especial Correspondence Morning journal

Especial Correspondence Morning Journall
Taos, n. NJ, July MANY people
who visit the quaint old pueblo of
Taos, hidden away at the base of the
mountains of northern New Mexico,
know that the site of the picturesque
village and the modern town is among
the most historic in the United States.
It's chief claim to fame is the bloody
massacre Of Taos, which took place
January 10, 1S47.
Charles Bent had been appointed
governor. He had been inaugurated
and had come to Taos to take bis
family to Santa Fe. on his arrival
here he found things in turmoil and
serious trouble Imminent. Bent had
been advised not to come. Being a
fearless man, however, he came, and
alone, refusing the offer Of cavalry
escort made by General Price,
Charles Bent was one of the pio-
neers of the southwest. He and Col
onel st. vrain had come west to-
gether when young men, and had
been of great assistance to General
Kearney in establishing order in New
Mexico. Bent, who had been for
years an Indian trader at Fort Bent
| had accumulated large fortune.
The conspiracy against the Amer
leans, which eliminated in the mas
sacre, extended from Taos to El Paso
and 1t was alleged that many priests
were ringleaders in the trouble. the
grand finale was to come of in De
cember. A woman, however, gave the
plans away, and General Kearney a.
once took extreme precautions a
Santa Fe and other points. LEADING
conspirators fled to Chihuahuds a.nC
remained there until pardoned by
President Polk.
So when Bent came to Taos he sup
posed that safety had been restored
He had been here only a few days
however, when the storm broke.
Attack Came Suddenly.
About 4 O'Clock in the morning hi
home was attacked by both Puebl'
Indians and natives He tried to rs
cape, getting out If MS room Chto tn
however, the attacking party got a
him. and after fierce, short con
flict, killed him There was a brie
reve in carnage and murder. Anon
others. Lee, the sheriff was killed
OF all the Americans, Lees brothe
alone escaped, his life being saved b
Padre Martinez, who concealed Lee /
his house until the Price relief force
came. This saved the padres life
I much to the disgust of many people
E who thought the padre had been on
of the chief instigators of the mas
sacre. Sixteen Americans in all wer
slain. At the Tully still house, tWelV
= miles above Taos, on the Rio Grand
/ another party of Indians killed tn
I American garrison after a fight
which the latter sold their live
$ dearly. John Albert alone escaped
In another engagement near by
, number of other Americans were XII
ed, including Mr.. Waldo, father
4 Judge Waldo.
. News Carried To Santa Fc.
The news of the slaughter was ca
ried to Santa Fe by Lieutenant Me
calf. who escaped on a fast horse.
company of sixty-eight men was di
patched on January %, four da.
after the massacre, to Taos, und'
CAPTAIN st. Vrain. After strenuol
march and fierce fights at Santa Cru
Trampas, Embudo, La Joya and X
Chiuuito; after crossing the range
the snow and ice, losing one man {
the way and having many wounde
the force reached Don Fernando
Taos. the present town of Taos! Th
found the enemy entrenched in Il
pueblo, three miles northeast of Il
town. The next day a fierce Alta
was made upon the strong pOsltlo
cannon being used.
a After the hostilities had ceased o
" hundred and fifty natives and |
n, dians were dead in all, and ma
u wounded. the Americans sustainl
slight losses.
:, General Price demapded certa
men should be surrendered to hi
Sixteen of these he tried by drumhe
court martial and hanged on I
northern edge of Taos This was I
et number OF Americans whose liz
:, were s9criflced.
al OneFof the chief causes of the OF
" break was the fact that Kearn
re Thought his victory" by paying on
m S35. 600 tn Governor ArmiIo. the I
H. tives objected to being bartered
ne this manner. Henry Cuniffe aft
" ward made postmaster at Las Cruc
took the letter TO Governor Armi
a the money being transferred at Sa
le Ia Fe.
w padre MortneZ one Of the m
al interesting figures In the "revolutio
as ran an "idependent Catholic churc
us after he was suspended by Archbish
IN Lamy until 1867, when he died.
r. built his own chapel. married, b,