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Show Po of ae a e Se ae Se k Son oA he Bee Seis nal at 180 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY OLD ing been wounded probably early in the engagement, and placed there by their companions, where they were afterward killed. The mules and the remainder of the party were lying dead near-by. The men had been shot with arrows and the animals with balls. The former were partly stripped but none was scalped. <A great quantity of arrows covered the ground, and the mail matter was scattered about. The details of this battle were given to the commander at Santa Fé shortly afterward by an Apache chief who came to visit the commanding general. The Rio Mora, says the old trader, in his diary, was a fine mountain stream and a charming valley; soil, grass, and water are excellent. In the early part of the nineteenth century there were no settlements here, owing to depredations of the Utes, Apaches, and the Comanches. Rio Gallinas, or Las Vegas, was a prominent point on the trail. The place was not known by the latter name until the thirties. Here the first waters of the Rio Grande watershed were reached. In 1832 Dr. Gregg found where the city of Las Vegas now stands only “‘a little hovel at the foot of a cliff.’’ This was the first house built in Las Vegas. It was definitely colonized in 1835 and eleven years afterward, when Dr. Wislizenus crossed the plains with Speyer and Armijo’s caravan, the place had over a hundred houses. The first settlement of any consequence in New Mexico reached by the early Santa Fé traders coming over the Cimarron route was San Miguel. In the time of Dr. Gregg it consisted of irregular clusters of adobe houses, 90 The town of San Miguel was a very important Governor Armijo; it was the county seat of San was a place of near one thousand inhabitants. = The spot was pointed out to me where Howland the southeast place during the rule of Miguel county. In 1850 it Davis, in El Gringo, says: and corner two others were shot, of the plaza. Three others of the one of whom was Kendall, were also led out to the place of execution,prisoners, and the file of men who were to settle their final account was already drawn up, when they —oe a the kindness and intrepidity of a Mexican gentleman name reer aping Vigil. He threw himself between the Americans and the soldiers, 42 fa — the latter to fire upon unarmed men. He was then a man of influence on - conduct prevented the execution and saved them from death. He ye oe in San Miguel, in reduced circumstances. Should be held in grateful Don Gregorio Vigil Miguel; due tas he ae prevent “sete did not the remembrance prevent perpetration the of by every execution : this outrage Such magnanimous Com American.’’ of the at La Texans at Sam Cuesta, fu rther SANTA FE TRAIL 131 After two days’ journey from San Miguel the caravan, following the road which skirted the foot-hills of the Santa Fé range, came in sight of Santa Fé, the capital of ‘To the trader ‘‘New MexNew Mexico. ARRIVAL OF THE CARAVANS ico was the Egypt of America and Santa AT SANTA FE Beyond in the little Fé its Thebes.’’ There were occasional valley was the Mecca of the Missourian. groups of trees, skirted with corn and wheat fields, with here and there a cluster of adobe buildings. As the caravan ascended the ridge which overlooks the city the clamorings of the men, and the rejoicings of the bull-whackers could be heard on every side, ‘‘Even the animals,’’ says Gregg, ‘‘seemed to participate in the humor of their riders, who grew more and more merry as they descended towards the city. I doubt, in short, whether the first sight of the walls of Jerusalem were beheld by the crusaders with much more tumultuous and soul-enrapturing joy.’’ The arrival of the caravan always was productive of great excitement among the inhabitants. ‘‘Los Americanos!’’ — Los carros!’’ —“‘La entrada de la caravana!’’ says the ‘‘were historian, to be Crowds of women and boys flocked heard in every direction. around to see the new-comers, while crowds of leperos hung about a8 usual they to see what means free from ‘ordeal’ they had Tubbing up ;’ and combed hair, and could pilfer. The wagoners were by no Informed of the excitement on this occasion. to pass, they had spent the previous morning in now they were prepared, with clean faces, sleektheir choicest Sunday suit, to meet the ‘fair eyes’ of glistening black that were sure to stare at them as they passed. There was yet another preparation to be made in order to ‘show off” to advantage. Each wagoner must tie a brand new ‘eracker’ to the lash of his whip; for, on driving through the streets and the plaza publica, everyone strives to outvie his comrades in the dexterity with which he flourishes this favorite badge of authority.’ Immediately after the arrival of the caravan the wagons were THE CUSTOM-HOUSE—DUTIES AND REQUIREMENTS unloaded, the contents being stored in the ware-rooms of the custom-house. Now the traders were busy in getting their cargoes through the custom- house, in order to begin trade with the country merchants and |