White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1933-02-09

OF THE
CHIEFS
BY
fl Editha
Watson
POPE

A man may rise to power, but if he
is not able to keep it from going to his
own head, his fall will be greater than
his rise.
The Pueblos had never taken kindly
to Spanish rule. MISUNDERSTANDING,
prejudice, and ignorance had widened
the breach from both sides. The In
dians were disconnected: they grum-
bled and plotted.
1t remained for San Juan medi-
cine man, living at Taos, to precipitats
events. Pope had given the matter
much study, and he gradually evolved
way to unite the Pueblos in rebellion.
This was done slowly. Haste did not
seem to bring results for the Indians.
Pope began to preach the indie
pendence of the Indians. Why should
they bow to the white menu They
were many more in number, and II
they would act at given time, they
could quietly kill every foreigner in
the land, and go back to their own
ways; and no one would be the wiser.
The idea took root among the
Pueblos. One bold stroke, and the
trouble would be over, they thought.
Even the far-off Hopis of Arizpa
were inf1amed, and joined the plan
with enthusiasm.
August 13, 1860, was to be the great
day Of Pueblo freedom. Runners were
sent with knotted cords to show the
date. The news spread TO all the
participating Pueblos (the Piros, for
some reason, were not included), and
suppressed excitement beat in every
Indian heart.
Since woman in love has neither
conscience nor Judgment, and lest
some Indian maid might love and
talk to white man, no women were
admitted to the plot. Every possible
precaution was taken. Pope even
put his own brother-in-law to death,
because he was not sure Of him.
Yet somehow the plot became
known, and the, only thing to do was
to strike at once, before the Span
iards could prepare counter plans. Six
days before the selected date, then,
the concerted uprising took place.
There were 33 missionaries in the
Pueblo country. Twenty-one Of these
were killed, and about 375 other col
onists, nearly a sixth Of the total
number. The missions were torn
down. Furnishing which had been
brought many weary milestone,
even, from Spain--were destroyed.
The records Of the churches were
burned.
Governor Otermin, at Santa F'e,
gathered the remaining Spanfards in
to the government buildings. These
were strongly built, and although 5000
Indians besieged them for ten days,
the walls held, and desperate sortie
finally forced the Pueblos back, with
considerable loss. Then, on August
81, about 1000 Spaniards began the
long retreat down the Rio Grande to
Ell Paso, and left the country to the
Pueblos, from whom they had taken
it. 1t remained Indian territory for
II years.
Pope was now at the height Of his
glory. Richly dressed in the finest
ceremonial garments, he made q tri-
umphal journey through the Pueblos,
and was hailed as a savior of his
people. The Indians returned to their
ancient ways. Those who had been
baptized took ceremonial cleansing
bath in yucca suds; every destroy
able thing left behind met it's fate,
and the Spanish language and even
Spanish names were forbidden. All
this was Pope's order, and the In
dians, delighted at the success Of
their rebellion, fastened to obey their
brilliant leader.
But Pope had been given too much
power, and he was not strong enough
to handle it. He became despot;
those who did not obey every whim
were put to death. He demanded all
the most beautiful women as his
right. From being the deliverer of
his people, he became their burden.
Then drought came on the Pueblos
that ancient enemy of the south
western people. The crops shriveled
in the sun, and famine waited, grin
ming, only little way off. The
Apaches and the Utes, who had been
afraid Of the Spaniards, now felt that
there was nothing to fear, and re-
sumed their raids. Civil war. also,
broke out, and the Pueblos divided
and fought each other. What a dreary,
sorrowful freedom they had won't
And Pope was the cause of it all,
they thought. "Those Above" were
angry at him, and at them for obey
ing him, and had sent drought, and
enemies without and within, as pun
ishment. Pope had become a sort Of
king, unreasonable, petulant, altogeth-
er intolerable. He could not help them
in this trouble. They deposed him.
A new ruler for the Tewa and
Tanos was elected, and he tried as
well as he could to bring order out
of Pope's chaos. In 1858, however,
Pope tried comeback. He reminded
his people of their delverance, and