Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-07-10
MASSACRE
HAS MADE OLD
T0As 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.

and His Americans,
Especial correspondence Morning Jeurnai. |
Taos. y. NJ, July MANY people
who visit the quaint old pueblo Of
Taos. hidden away at the base of he
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.
I It's chief lain to fame is the bloody
massacre of Taos. which took place
| January 10, 1S47.
Charles Bent had been appointed
governor. He had been i~naugurated
and .had come to Taos to take his
family to Santa Fe. on his arrival
here he found things in a turmoil and
serious trouble imminent. Bent had
been advised not to come. Being a
fearless man, however. he came, ana
alone. refusing the offer Of a 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
boen Of great assistance 10 General
Kearney in establishing order in New
Mexico. Bent. who had been for
Years an Indian trader at Fort Bent,
had accumulated a large fortune.
The conspiracy against the Amer
leans. which eliminated in the mas
sacre. extended from Taos TO lei Paso,
and it was alleged that many priests
were ~ringleaders in the trouble. me-
grand finale was to come off in De
cember. A conan however, gave the
plans away. and General Kearney at
once took extreme precautions at
Santa Fe and other points. Leading
conspirators fled to Chihuahua and
remained there until p~ardoned ny
President Polk.
So when Bent came'tu Taos he sup
posed that safety had been r%estered--
lie had been here only a few days,
however. when the storm broke.
Attack Came suddenly.
About 4 o'clock in the morning his
home was attacked by both Pueblo
Indians and natives. lie trie1 u rs
cape. getting out IF MS ram rdto ire
roof and thence To the stable. Here.
however, the attacking party got at
HIM. and after a fierce, short con-
flict. Killed him. There was a brief
reVel in carnage and murder. Among
others. Lee. the sheriff swas killed
OF all the Americans. Lees brother
alone escaped. his life being saved by
Padre Martinez, who concealed Lee in
his house until the Price relief forces
came. This saved the padres life,
much 70 the disgust Of many people.
who thought the padre had been one
of the chief iustigators of the mas
sacre. Sixteen Americans in all were
slain. At the Tully still house, twelve
miles above Taos. on the Rio Grande,
another party of Indians killed the
American garrison after "a fight in
which the latter sold their lives
dearly. John Albert alone escaped.
In another engagement near by a
number of other Americans We're kill
ed, including Mr.. Waldo. father Of
Judge Waldo.
News Carried 10 santa Fc.
The neWA of the slaughter was car
ried to Santa Fee by Lieutenant Met
calf. who escaped on a fast horse. A
company Of sixty-cight men was dis
patched on January %, four days
after the massacre, To- Taos, under
Captain ST. Nrain. After a strenuous
march and fierce fights at santa cruz,
Trampas, Embudo, la Joya and Rio
Chiuuitu. after crossing the range IN
The snow and ice. losing one man on
the way and having man wounded,
I'M force reached Don Fernando de-
Taos. the present town OF Taos. They
found the enemy cntrenched in the
pueblo. three miles northeast of The
town. The next day a fierce attack
WIS mad upon the strong position,
cannon being used.
After the hostilities had ceased one
hundred and fifty natives and In
dams were dead in all. ana many
wounded. the Americans sustaining
slight losses.
General Price demanded certain
men should be surrendered 10 him
sixteen Of these he tried by drumhead
court martial and hanged On the
northern edge Of Taos. This was the
number of Americans whose lives
We're sacrificed.
one of the chief causes of the out
break was the fac that Kearney
bought his victory" hy paying over
$4,000 to Governor Armijo. The ma
lives objected TO being battered in
this fiannoi. Henry Cuniffe after
Wardtmade postmaster at Las Cruces.
tock the letter TO Governor Armijp.
the money being transferred at san
ia Fe.
Padre Martinez one of-the most
interesting figures in the revolution
ran an Independent Catholic church"
he was suspended by Archbishop
Lamy until 1867. when he died He
his own chapel. married, hap
tizcd and buried In spite Of his dis