THE OLDEST CITY IN AMERICA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1853, 27 May 1887, Page 31

THE OLDEST CITY IN AMERICA.

Santa Fe is said to be the oldest city in America. That the statement is is not true would be hard to prove, because the question of its origin and age is wrapped in mystery, says a writer in Youth's Companion.

When Coronado explored Mexico in 1542 he found many Indian pueblos on the Rio Grande, and speaks of several which must have been near the present location of Santa Fe* The one which it is generally supposed was on its precise site was called Tequa, and at. that time stretched along the river banks for six miles. Coronado reported that he found here a beautiful and fertile valley, under high cultivation by the Indians. This was in 1542. Visiting Santa Fe today it is hard to realise, ancient as the old ruins look, that one can really be gazing on walls which Coronado saw nearly three centuries and a-half ago.

It is still harder to realise what must have been the oppressions and cruelties which have brought about the present degraded and wretched condition of the Indians whose ancestors formerly occupied and culti.vated the whole valley. That a race which, over 300 years ago, had reached comfort and success, in agricultural and pastoral occupations should be to-day an abjeot, supine, wretched race of beggars is a melancholy comment on the injustice they have received. They did not sink without struggles. In 1680 they drove out all the Spanish settlers and all the Roman- Catholic priests, pulled down most of the churches, and— 7 pathetic and significant act — covered up and concealed, so far as they could every mice in the country. Only too well they knew that it was to the presence of these precious metals that they owed all their sufferings. For 12 years they held their own, but in 1692 they were again conquered and the Spanish government re-established. After the last great battle in 'ihN contest, 400 •young men and maidens nm said to have been distributed as slaves in the Spanish families.

After this there were from time to time revolts and insurrections, but each one only plunged the unfortunate Indians into deeper misery.

Santa Fe, being the seat of government, was always the .point of attack, the chief centre of strife, and very terrible scenes have been enacted here. As late as 1837 a Mexican Governor, who had ruled with great severity, and laid oppressive and unjust taxes on the Indians' corps, was murdered by them under circumstances of tragic horror.

Several of the pueblos united together had raised an army and marched, on Santa Fe. Underrating their force, the Governor went out to meet them, and was driven back. He then attempted to treat with them, but they would hold no parley, and as he, was returning to the city he was captured. His head was cut off and kicked like a football from camp to camp. They then put it on a pole and set it up defiantly within a few rods of the city walls.

The secretary, in whose handwriting the obnoxious decrees had been promulgated, they treated with subtle cruelty, sparing his life, but cutting off both his hands and setting him free, with the taunt that he would not any longer write orders for tyrants.

At night three brave Mexican women stole ■out of Santa Fe, found the Governor's body, wrapped it in a Market, and buried it in the cemetery, now deserted, on the hill- northeast of the plaza. This was the last struggle the Indians

made. ,£hey:.yrere soonH.snbjlned, aji&^emained peaceable until they came with the rest of the New>:Mexicatt..citizens,;^under the' government of 'the; •'United ' States* - t in 1846. ' *■" * „,„;■•,.; ,-iJ- ; There is still standing in Santa*. one building 'which has been the home, of .the most prominent persons and 4 the. scene of the most important events, through, all these vicissitudes of the city, and its -government. It is still called, as it was .called when it , was bnilt in 1581," The Palace." Anything less like a palace could hardly been . conceived of. It is a. low ,adobe, buildings jone o ,stor.ey high, with a verandah runnning its entire length. ' Jt '.makes 'the; nortfi/wal^ofe the plaza,' and in it are still ttie'GovernorVnome and all the offices of .the, government, the United States 'arid' 'Wrritorial courtroom, libraries, congress' halls, &c; J lt has been*so often repaired that it has ' lost ' much ' f of its ancient look, but the massive walls and heavy hewn beams remain unchanged, and will, no doubt, bear their mute witness to -its antiquity for a century or more to come. — St. Louis Republican. , .