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Show 182. LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY FRANCISCO effort to unite with Coronado, but the commander was equally determined that he would, if within the range of possibilities, and, on the 14th day of September he again started up the river, accompanied by his head pilot, Camorano. On this occasion he went further than on his previous voyage, passing by the picturesque mountain range above the mouth of the Gila. The Indians made no attempt to prevent his advance except the planting of a barrier of reeds on VASQUEZ CORONADO 183 had taken to himself another wife, by whom he had children, and that she would no longer live with him.?° Alarcon soon rejoined his ships and started on his return journey, keeping in sight of the coast and sending in land parties in a vain endeavor to find Coronado. In his story of the journey, Alarcon says: ‘‘I bring with me a great number of acts of possession made on that shore and river.?” 200 Bandelier, A. F., Final Report, part i, page 107, says: ‘‘The fact that Alarcon came up as high as Long Bend, that is higher than the mouth of the Gila, is doubted. But there is no reason to doubt the accuracy of his statement that he proceeded eighty-five leagues up the Colorado of the West coming from its mouth. It is alleged that Alarcon failed to notice the mouth of the Gila; and that he must have seen and noticed it in case he had gone higher up the Rio Colorado. But at the time of the year when Alarcon made his exploring expedition (August, September and the beginning of October) the Gila is so low that it would scarcely attract attention from anyone who, like Alarcon, was ascending the main stream in boats. ’’ Bancroft, Hubert Howe, North Mesxican States, p. 93, says: ‘* Before turning back Alarcon says he passed a place where the river flowed between high mountains; he states also that he went eighty-five leagues — which may mean any distance from 100 to 250 miles, up the river; and further that he The mountain advanced four degrees beyond the latitude reached by Ulloa. pass with a medium estimate of distance would seem to indicate a part of the Colorado above the Gila and below Bill Williams Fork; but Melchior Diaz found Alareon’s letters two months later at a distance which he estimated to be only fifteen leagues from the mouth, so that if these were the only letters deposited, It may also be noted Alareon’s statement of distance is grossly exaggerated. that he mentions no stream corresponding to the Gila, as he naturally would have done had he passed its mouth.’’ : This comes Vanegas and other writers say that Alarcon reached 36 degrees. from his instructions or from the statement that he went four degrees farther than Ulloa. Mr. Bancroft, exceedingly ibid, p. 94, says that most writers state that Mendoza displeased at Alarcon’s want of success, though it is not easy was to understand in what respect he failed to carry out the spirit of his instructions. Arms of the Spaniards under Coronado each side of the Stream, thro u gh which he passed here that Alarcon erected passed unharmed. It was were afterwards found i al = secreted the letters which He also obtained from ‘ a chior Diaz. an Indian a rougl of the hte andaes pagent uneventful, exce eaned on paper of the course of the river o distribution of the inhabitants along its banks. arena ee to his ships; the voyage being sailing down stream, an Indian woman came aboscard ‘d } hisept boatthat,andwhile refused to leave, saying that her husband Torquemada affirms that one cause of Mendoza’s dissatisfaction was that fuller reports of the voyage were sent to the king than to himself, and that Alarcon He says further that Alarcon claimed the honor that was due to the viceroy. retired in great disgrace and sorrow to Cuernavaca, where he fell sick and died. erroneous, for there doubtless are But the current statements on this subject Col. Doe., are extant, and bearing date of May 31, 1541, instructions (Florida, and a new attempt to i, 1-6) from Mendoza to Alarcon for a second voyage San from communicate with Coronado and Melchior Diaz, whose departure In the document Alarcon is spoken of as the Geronimo was already known. further discoverer of the Buena Guia, of which river he is ordered to make an the gulf. explorations, as also of an estero said to exist at the head of the Paci e or outer up proposed voyage is mentioned, probably to be directed From Coast, under Zufiiga, with whom Alarcon was to communicate if possible. 110, we learn another document, Visita 4 Mendoza, in Ieazbaleeta, Col. Doe., 1, prevented was which that three vessels were made ready for this second voyage, during which Alarcon was by the breaking out of the Guadalajara revolt, and stationed with thirty men at Autlan. 201 Alarcon, Voyage de Cibola, p. 342. |