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Show 298 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY TERRITORY Governor Merriwether, immediately after his arrival in the country, began a regular series of visits to all of the more important towns and settlements of the territory, usually accompanying the court parties in ‘‘riding the cireuit.’? He found that the Indians of the country were for the most part hostile. However, he succeeded in negotiating several treaties with different tribes, but these were not approved by the government. During the rule of Merriwether Kit Carson was made Indian agent at Taos, his skill in handling the savages having been considered remarkable. Governor Merriwether was a firm believer in controlling the Indian by force of arms ??? and recommended in his message to the New to his heels, yelling like a demon, followed by all of his companions. Thus they rid themselves of these ugly visitors, and probably this little stroke of ingenuity was the means of saving their lives. They were afraid, however, that the Indians might return with others to see the white man’s medicine, to whom the harmless mask might not appear so terrific, and therefore resolved to break camp and seek a more secure location. They took up their march that evening through deep snow, with their packs upon their backs, and traveled all night and the next day before they camped. Before they laid down to sleep, the mask with the candle inside, was placed on the point of a high rock so that in case the strange Indians should follow their trail, they would first be saluted by the Great Medicine they so much feared. Thence they continued their journey and reached a trading post in safety, at which they spent the remainder of the winter. Later Merriwether had a duel with an Indian chief, in which the governor received a lance wound in his thigh and the Indian was brained with a hatchet by the negro servant, for which act he was freed after they had returned to the settlements. _ 222 When Merriwether was on his way to New Mexico, two young Mexican girls made their escape from the Kiowa Indians and joined the train with which he was traveling. He afterwards forwarded them to their Chihuahua, whence they had been stolen nearly two years before. homes 12 They made their escape in the following manner: One day they were sent out by the Indians to herd the animals, when, on ascending a hill, they espied the wagol train coming across the prairies just west of the Arkansas. Mounting thelt horses they started for the wagons. They reported themselves to the wagon master, a man named McCarthy, from whom they received the kindest treatment. The following day some thirty or forty Indians overtook the train and demanded the girls, but MeCarthy denied all knowledge of them, having prev» ously concealed them in the wagons, so they could not be found. The Indians were determined and made an attempt to search the wagons, when the teamsters took down their arms and showed fight. One old squaw, whose slave one of the girls had been, was in the act of getting into a wagon, when McCarthy laid her sprawling with the butt end of his whip. ment train, with which captives were delivered was General to the Garland was The following day a govern overtaken and the rescued governor. : Rg girls told the governor of an American woman with a small child “ one they had seen in captivity and who was obliged to submit to the most h of f the They said that one day, while traveling, one inhuman and Indians Seized treatment. the child, threw it up in the air and caught it upo? he point of his lance as it came down, The rest of the band amused themselves OF NEW MEXICO 299 Mexico legislative assembly that it memorialize congress to remove the Indians to places remote from the frontier. He also desired the organization of a strong volunteer force to be equipped and paid by the general government. He was fully alive to the spirit of progress of the west and called the attention of the people to the efforts making by other states and territories to secure the construction of the Pacific railroad and advised the organization of an exploring party to ascertain a feasible route through New Mexico. Prior to the coming of Merriwether, the Indians had become so dangerous and active in their raids that acting Governor Messervy called out the militia of Rio Arriba and San Miguel counties for the purpose of assisting in the protection of the frontier, but for want of ammunition and equipment they were of little service. Indeed, most of Merriwether’s rule was taken up in handling Indian troubles. At this time the total amount of cash receipts for the territorial treasury was $3,886.36 and the total expenditures in cash and un- paid warrants amounted to $6,520.07, the total outstanding indebt- edness of the territory being $9,680.59. With no financial aid from the general government, the civil authorities had small resources with which to protect the inhabitants from the hostile tribes which Surrounded them on all sides. When it became necessary for Merri- wether to notify the Jicarilla Apaches that he could no longer make them presents or furnish them with rations they, together with the Utes, went on the war-path. Finally, after an active campaign by the military, led by Lieutenants Bell and Davidson, in one battle in which over twenty dragoons were killed, the Jicarillas were con- quered and made a treaty of peace in July, 1854.* a oe Same manner, and thus they passed the child around The Utes were among them upon ir lance-heads until the dead body was pierced like a sieve. 4 mring Governor Merriwether’s administration two Mexican boys, Domingo vavides and Pedro Miguel Gonzales, captured by the Cheyennes, near Anton were returned to their families through the efforts of the governor. ids Bancroft, H. H., History of Arizona and New Mexico, p. 667: ‘‘From sa time these tribes were friendly, though committing occasional thefts, or th Worse depredations, and sometimes accused of other offenses of which — Probably were not guilty. The frequent raids of other tribes from the SA St and east made it difficult in many cha on the condition of these es, leting, For full information cases to identify the real culprits.’ Indians and their prospects were very relative to the subject see Report of Gov- rove Merriwether of September, 1854, in Ind. Aff. Rept.; also Colonel Fauntle- YS Kea reports in 1855, in U. S. li, pp. 56-72. Lieutenant near Ft. Union on June Gov. Doc., 34th cong., Ist sess., H. Hx. Doce. Maxwell, Joseph E., of the 3d infantry, was 30, 1854. The legislative assembly, during |