USA > Colorado > History of the State of Colorado, Vol. I > Part 2
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
OF MANITOU.
-
-
464
CHAPTER XXVIII.
1870-72-FURTHER HISTORY OF THE DENVER PACIFIC-OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS FOR J870-GOVERNOR EVANS' DONATION TO ARAPAHOE COUNTY-DRIVING THE SILVER SPIKE-THE LOCOMOTIVE D. H. MOFFAT-GREAT MASONIC DEMONSTRATION-LAYING THE CORNER STONE OF THE UNION DEPOT-BUILDING THE KANSAS PACIFIC- CONSTANT ANNOYANCE FROM INDIANS-THE TOWN OF KIT CARSON-GRADING FROM DENVER EASTWARD-BRISK WORK BY EICHOLTZ AND WEED-FINAL COM- PLETION OF THE ROAD-OPENING A NEW ERA OF PROGRESS-REAL ESTATE IN DENVER-STATISTICAL DATA-FIRST THROUGH PULLMAN CAR-FREIGHT TARIFFS -DENVER & BOULDER VALLEY R. R .- THE DENVER & RIO GRANDE RAILWAY- ITS FIRST TRAINS-UTOPIAN CHARACTER OF THE ENTERPRISE-FOUNDING COL- ORADO SPRINGS AND MANITOU-FITZHUGH LUDLOW'S DREAM-DESCRIPTION OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS-EXTENSION OF THE RIO GRANDE TO PUEBLO-RECEP- TION AND BANQUET-EFFECT OF RAILWAY CONNECTION ON THE TOWN. - 486
xVi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XXIX.
1870-72-DATA SHOWING THE GROWTH OF THE TERRITORY-EFFECT OF RAILWAYS ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PUEBLO-TERRITORIAL ASSESSMENTS AND EXPENDI- TURES - RALPH MEEKER'S TRIBUTE TO BYERS, EVANS AND MOFFAT- DEVELOP- MENT OF THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS-THE SUPERINTENDENCY OF W. C. LOTHROP- ARAPAHOE STREET SCHOOL-LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS-FIRST BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION-EFFECTS OF TOO FREE ADVERTISING-THE ADMINISTRATION OF JOSEPH E. BATES AS MAYOR-DEPLORABLE LACK OF PUBLIC PARKS-CONSERVA- TISM OF THE PEOPLE-HENRY M. STANLEY, THE RENOWNED EXPLORER-HIS CAREER IN THE WEST-FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF FOUNTAIN COLONY-FIRST YEAR'S PROGRESS-FORT COLLINS COLONY-ORGANIZATION OF COLORADO PIONEERS- VISIT OF THE GRAND DUKE ALEXIS OF RUSSIA-SETTLEMENT OF THE SAN JUAN COUNTRY. 509
CHAPTER XXX.
ORGANIZATION, LOCATION AND EARLY HISTORY OF UNION COLONY-VISIT OF N. C. MEEKER-ATTEMPT TO LOCATE IN THE SOUTH PARK-ARRIVAL OF HORACE GREELEY-FATE OF THE FIRST AND ONLY SALOON EVER OPENED IN GREELEY- CARL WULSTEN'S COLONY IN THE WET MOUNTAIN VALLEY-REVIEW OF IRRIGA- TION-TREE PLANTING AND FRUIT CULTURE-THE CHICAGO-COLORADO COLONY ESTABLISH LONGMONT-COLORADO WHEAT AND FLOUR IN THE EAST. 53I
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
VOL. I.
BOWLES, JAMES W Frontispiece
MEEK, C. F
64
BURCHINELL, WM. K
80
DAILY, JAMES M
96
BRISBANE, W. H.
I12
BREWSTER, A. W
I28
TELLER, J. C.
144
HAWKINS, THOS. H
160
MACHEBEUF, J. P
176
MCCREERY, JAMES W
192
CRESWELL, JOSEPH
208
PERKY, JNO. S.
224
BELL, E. M.
240
BURCHARD, O. R
256
BAERRESEN, H. W.
272
HARVEY, WILLIAM
288
PLACE, A. B.
304
TYNON, JAMES S.
320
KENDRICK, FRANK C. 336 ·
TAYLOR, C. E
352
BALL, J. J. T. 368
HOOPER, J. D. 384
CHAMBERLIN, J. T
400
MARTIN, HERMAN H
416
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
CHAPTER I.
1528 TO 1542. EXPEDITION OF PAMFILIO NARVAEZ-LANDING AT TAMPA BAY-EXPLO- RATIONS INLAND-ABANDONED BY THE FLEET-WRECK OF THEIR BOATS-CABEZA DE VACA AND HIS COMPANIONS THROWN UPON THE COAST OF LOUISIANA-ENSLAVE- MENT BY THE INDIANS-THEIR ESCAPE AFTER SIX YEARS-JOURNEY ACROSS THE CONTINENT-INDIAN TRIBES MET WITH EN ROUTE-EXPERIENCES AMONG THE PU- EBLOS, OR TOWN-DWELLING PEOPLES-FIRST MEETING WITH SPANISH TROOPS-EFFECT OF DE VACA'S ADVENTURES UPON THE CONQUERORS OF MEXICO-CONQUEST OF FLO- RIDA BY DE SOTO-TRAILS OF FIRE AND BLOOD-DEATH OF DE SOTO-LOUIS MOSCO- SO'S MARCH TO THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
That we may pursue our investigations of the antiquity and the archæology of Colorado, with a proper understanding of the prehistoric races and their works, as handed down to us, it is important to expunge for the time being, modern boundaries of the States and Territories west of the Mississippi, and view the country and its inhabitants as they existed at the time of the conquest of Mexico and the Floridas by the Spaniards. The vast region lying between St. Augustine and the Mis- sissippi (Espirito Santo) was then designated as Florida, and thence westward to the Pacific, in general, as New Spain. The first explorers were the survivors of the ill-fated expedition of Pamfilio Narvaez, who sailed from the West Indies in 1528, with four ships containing four hundred men, eighty horses, and the requisite equipments, with the intention of prosecuting a thorough exploration of the country which had been previously discovered by Ponce de Leon, Diego Meruelo,
17
18
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
Lucas, Vasquez de Allyon, and others, but not penetrated by them beyond the coast. Narvaez landed in Tampa Bay in April of that year, and proceeded some distance inland, leaving those in charge of the fleet with instructions to follow along the Gulf, and await the commander at some convenient harbor. After sailing about for some months without hearing any tidings from the explorers, the officers of the fleet, giving them up as lost, sailed for Havana. In due time the adventurers re- turned to the coast, only to find themselves utterly abandoned. They then constructed boats, with the view of proceeding along the gulf to the river Panuco, whence they resolved to journey overland to the Spanish settlements in Mexico. It is related that for this purpose, they converted their stirrups, spurs, and every other piece of metal they pos- sessed into saws, nails, etc., cut up and sewed together their shirts for sails, and wove cordage from the tails and manes of their horses, the animals being subsequently slaughtered, and their flesh dried for pro- visions en route. Thus scantily provided they embarked, and after varying fortunes some of the boats reached the coast of Louisiana, or Texas, where all were wrecked or thrown upon the beach by furious gales. Among those who survived, were Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, the treasurer of Narvaez' expedition, a wise, prudent, sagacious, and withal a godly man, of excellent repute in his native land, and three companions.
As this forms the beginning of one of the most remarkable and interesting expeditions ever accomplished by any member of the human race on this continent, and also the first transcontinental reconnoisance of which we have any knowledge, the narrative which follows is es- pecially commended to the reader by the importance of its bearing upon the events relating to the Spanish Conquest, detailed in the chapters following. The material incidents have been extracted, and as far as possible condensed, from Cabeza de Vaca's personal account, and will repay careful attention. It is the dawn of our local history, and while it relates but distantly to our own occupation, it is the original historic light thrown upon the problem of the races which we call prehistoric,
19
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
the widely scattered remnants of whose works are left as a guide to their antiquity.
The boat commanded by Cabeza de Vaca was cast upon an island, possibly Galveston, or some one of those in Matagorda Bay. At all events, from the grievous sufferings and misfortunes of the party, it was christened " Malhado," or Bad Luck, where, and upon the adjacent mainland, they remained captives among the Indians for nearly six years. De Vaca, as were all the rest, was enslaved by them, but by virtue of certain miraculous powers which he was believed to possess for healing the sick, he was treated with greater leniency than the others, and allowed many special and much valued privileges, among them that of visiting and trading with the tribes occupying interior provinces. Finally, with three others, one of whom was a Barbary negro named Estevanico, to whose extraordinary performances we shall have occasion to refer later on, plans were concerted for their escape, and an earnest effort to discover the settlements founded by Cortez and other Spanish chieftains on the Pacific. In the course of time, but not without many trials and disappointments owing to the constant vigilance of their captors, this was accomplished. Employing his reputation as a heaven-descended healer to the utmost, Cabeza and his associates jour- neyed westward from tribe to tribe, by whom he was always cordially received and kindly treated. He says he simply made the sign of the cross over them, and commended them to God, whereupon the pains and aches departed, and they were made whole. Out of their unspeak- able gratitude they loaded him with presents, expressing in every way reverential obedience, and making smooth his pathway across the coun- try, his fame preceding him from point to point. The natives accom- panied him in great numbers, bringing their sick to be cured, furnishing guides, and protecting him from all danger. "When upon the plains," says the narrator, "we traveled through so many sorts of people of such divers languages that memory fails to recall them. They ever plun- dered each other, and those that lost, like those that gained, were fully content. We drew so many followers that we had not use for their
20
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
services. Whatever they killed, or found, was put before us without themselves daring to take anything until we had blessed it, though they should be expiring of hunger, they having established this rule since marching with us. Frequently we were accompanied by three or four thousand people, and as we had to breathe upon and sanctify the food and drink for each, and grant permission to do the many things they would come to ask, it may be seen how great was the annoyance," In due time they arrived at the Rio Grande, which is described as "a great river coming from the north."
From this point, bearing northward for a time, they encountered a different race of Indians living in "fixed dwellings of civilization," being " the finest persons of any we saw, and of the greatest activity and strength, who best understood us and most intelligently answered our inquiries. We called them the Cow Nation," from the great numbers of cattle (buffalo) in that region, upon which the natives depended for meat and clothing. 3 This section was very thickly populated. The people cultivated the soil, possessed flocks and herds, occupied sub- stantial dwellings, and were wholly distinct in physique, manners and customs from the wild, roving tribes theretofore discovered. It will be seen that the travelers had entered the country of the inhabited Pu- eblos. In some of these "they gave us cotton shawls, better than those of New Spain; many beads and certain corals found in the South Sea, and fine turquoises that came from the North," obtained undoubtedly by themselves or other tribes from the Chalchiuitl Mountains near the Modern Cerillos, about twenty miles south of Santa Fe, whence the Pueblos of the present day obtain considerable supplies. "Indeed," continues de Vaca, " they gave us all they had. To me they gave five emeralds made into arrow heads, which they use at their singing and dancing. I asked whence they got these, and they said the stones were brought from some lofty mountains that stand toward the North, where were populous towns and very large houses, and that they purchased them with plumes and feathers of parrots. We possessed great influence and authority ; to preserve both we seldom talked with
21
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
them. The negro (Estevanico) was in constant conversation ; he in- formed himself about the ways we wished to take, of the towns there were, and the matters we desired to know. We passed through many and dissimilar tongues. Our Lord granted us favor with the people who spake them, for they always understood us, and we them. We questioned them, and received their answers by signs, just as if they spoke our language, and we theirs, for although we knew six languages we could not everywhere avail ourselves of them, there being a thou- sand differences. Throughout all these countries the people who were at war, immediately made friends, that they might come to meet us, and bring what they possessed. In this way we left all the land at peace, and we taught all the inhabitants, by signs which they under- stood, that in heaven was a man we called God, who had created the sky and the earth. Him we worshiped, and had for our Master ; that we did what He commanded, and from His hand came all good ; and would they do as we did, all would be well with them. They are a people of good condition and substance, capable in any pursuit."
Here we discover the initiative of the marvelous missionary work undertaken and vigorously pursued by the devotees of Catholicism among the primitive races of men, which have been reached by the avant couriers of the Apostolic Church. Utterly naked as when they came into the world, scarred and scored from shoulders to feet by the innumerable hardships through which they had passed in their terrible pilgrimage, they disseminated the doctrines of their faith and the bless- ings of Christianity the entire length of their trail, from the shores of the Atlantic to those of the Pacific; vehemently condemned, and, for a time, put an end to the cruelties and robberies of marauding bands of their own race, which came up from Mexico for the single purpose of pil- laging and enslaving these thrifty, intelligent and peace-loving peoples.
Continuing their journey westward, they traversed other villages and witnessed further manifestations of this admirable civilization. At the Pueblo of Corazones they found the first trace of their vicinity to European settlements. One of the Indians met here, was seen wearing
22
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
as an ornament the buckle of a Spanish sword belt, and, with it, the nail of a horseshoe. Questioning developed the story that a party of Span- ish soldiers had, some time previous, ridden from the West up to the river near by, and left these relics there by accident. By this state- ment they were apprised of the accuracy of their course. Shortly after they met one of the mounted bands of the marauders, forced them to abandon their mission, and accompanied them back to Mexico. The party, having arrived at Culiacan, their wonderful adventures were re- cited over and over again, creating, as may well be imagined, profound astonishment. On the 25th of July, 1536, they reached the City of Mexico, whence, some time later, Cabeza de Vaca sailed for Lisbon.
This, briefly told, is the chronicle of the original explorers of the great plains which now are ribbed with so many bands of steel, to carry an important part of the commerce of our magnificent Republic. We shall find, as we proceed, further disclosures of character, arts and architecture of the prehistoric races, ancestors of those already des- cribed, whose remains are at this time attracting the attention of anti- quarians throughout the world; how they were subjugated and dispersed, and, incidentally, the causes, in a well-connected chain of testimony, which led to the migration westward of different ancient races and their occupation of the great empire, extending from the Mississippi to the shores of the Pacific; touching also their descent from the earliest antiquity of which any trace appears, to the present epoch.
It is established by manuscripts and books, prepared by the early chroniclers who witnessed the scenes they described, that the Spanish army of invasion from the South, organized and conducted by Her- nando de Soto, whose entire route became a ghastly trail of fire and blood, was the first to discover the Rocky Mountains of the West, and to set foot upon the soil of the territory now embraced by the State of Colorado. Before considering the explorations projected from the Pa- cific by Coronado and others, let us examine briefly that which has been mentioned from the southeast, admirably portrayed by Theodore
23
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
Irving,* and obtained from the archives of Madrid, which fell into his hands while a student in that city. The first was entitled, "The Flor- ida of the Inca, or the History of the Adelantado Fernando de Soto, Governor and Captain General of the Kingdom of Florida, and of other heroic cavaliers, Spaniards and Indians, written by the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega," and the second, a narrative on the same subject, written by a Portuguese soldier, who accompanied the expedition. We are told that Vega was a man of rank and honor, descended from an ancient family. His narrative was originally taken down by himself from the lips of a friend, " a cavalier of worth and respectability, who had been an officer under De Soto," and supported by the written journals of two others who had served under the great commander. The Portuguese participated in all of the thrilling adventures which marked the pilgrimage of the conquering host.
De Soto acquired vast wealth with Pizarro in the conquest of Peru, displaying in that long series of bloody events a rare combination of prudence and valor, wisdom in council, dauntless courage in every per- ilous exploit. By virtue of his pre-eminent qualifications for leadership, Pizarro made him his lieutenant. He returned to Spain laden with spoils of the Peruvian war, and became a conspicuous figure at the court of the great Emperor, Charles V. At the height of his renown Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca returned to Spain, and there related the circum- stances attending the fate of Pamfilio de Narvaez. His account of the marvelous extent and richness of the lands he had traversed, at once inspired the Spanish cavaliers with an intense desire to visit them, under the conviction that some portions must contain inexhaustible mines of gold and precious stones. De Soto was quick to see in this an op- portunity to rival and, possibly, to eclipse the glory which surrounded the name and exploits of Cortez. He asked permission of the emperor to undertake the conquest at his own expense, which was readily granted, and De Soto created Governor and Captain General for life of the island of Cuba and the Floridas. In due time he gathered an
*Conquest of Florida, published 1851.
24
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
army of nine hundred and fifty Spaniards and Portuguese, and with it sailed for Cuba, where he landed about the last of May, 1538. For the details of the voyage and the events attending the conquest, the reader is referred to the work under consideration. It is sufficient for our present purpose to trace this expedition through the West after its passage of the Mississippi.
It is believed that De Soto crossed this river at the lowest Chick- asaw bluff, between the thirty-fourth and the thirty-fifth parallels, and, proceeding in a northwesterly direction, soon entered the country of the Kaskaskia Indians. Prolonging his march in that direction, impelled by the hope of finding the object of his search, he came out upon the plains of Eastern Kansas, at what point cannot be ascertained. Fail- ing to discover any traces of gold or precious stones, and the country becoming more and more barren, and the health of the commander having been greatly impaired by the trials he had undergone, the army returned to the Mississippi by a different route, where De Soto died.
The command then devolved upon Louis de Moscoso. A council of war was held to determine whether they should follow the course of the river to the sea, or again strike westward in quest of the pre- cious metals, and, failing in that, join the Spanish settlements of Mexico. On the previous expedition they had been told by the Indians that "not far to the westward there were other Spaniards who were going about conquering the country." It was therefore decided by the council that " the Spaniards to the West must have sallied forth from Mexico to conquer new kingdoms ; and as, according to the account of the Indians, they could not be far distant, it was determined to march with all speed in that direction, and join them in their career of con- quest." The march began on, or about the 5th of June, 1542. We can only follow them by imaginary lines, for it is impossible to trace their movements by the descriptions given. It is probable, however, that they proceeded westward from a point not far below Memphis, and bearing to the north and west, in due season found themselves between the Arkansas and Canadian Rivers. It is evident that they passed the
.
25
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
salt marshes of the Saline Fork of the Arkansas, for they halted there and obtained supplies of salt,-of which they were in great need,- from the Indians, who made it an article of merchandise ; also that they encountered and had frequent bloody skirmishes with the warlike Osages and Pawnees, or their immediate predecessors in possession of the country. The Spanish historian affirms that they saw great chains of mountains and forests to the west, which they understood were uninhabited. At this point, which we will assume was the Ar- kansas River, possibly in the neighborhood of the old Santa Fé trail, Moscoso encamped and sent out scouting parties across the river, to discover what lay beyond, each in a different direction ; and these pen- etrated to the distance of thirty leagues. "They found the country sterile, thinly populated, and it appeared worse and worse the further they proceeded. They captured some of the inhabitants, who assured them that further on it was still more destitute ; the natives did not live in villages, neither did they cultivate the soil, but were a wandering people, roving in bands, gathering fruits and herbs and roots of spon- taneous growth, and depending occasionally upon hunting and fishing for subsistence ; passing from place to place according as the seasons were favorable to their pursuits."
These scouting parties were absent for fifteen days, when they returned, each bringing substantially the same accounts, all of which were extremely unfavorable. The command being greatly discouraged, it was decided to return to the Mississippi, build boats and make their way down that stream to the coast, and thence to the island of Cuba.
To summarize, it will be remembered that Moscoso left the Father of Waters for the West early in June, and did not get back until the beginning of December, therefore a period of six months was con- sumed in the march to the Rocky Mountains, and in the countermarch. As all were mounted, it is not difficult to determine the fact that they proceeded to, and possibly beyond, the present confines of New Mex- ico. The chroniclers quoted, distinctly assert that they "saw vast
26
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
chains of mountains," and describe the inhabitants, otherwise the native Indians, and the face of the country, precisely as they undoubtedly existed at that time. The detached expeditions sent out from the banks of the great river, explored the country round about for a dis- tance of thirty leagues, which must have taken some of them well up to the base of the chain.
De Soto's army of invasion landed at Tampa Bay, as we have seen, on the 25th of May, 1538. Moscoso's command departed for the West on the 5th of June, and returned in December, 1542. Thus the exploration of Florida and the plains occupied nearly four years. Had they resolutely prolonged their journey beyond the plains of the Arkansas River, they might have formed a junction with the settle- ments of Northern Mexico, though not with the forces under Coronado, who before their arrival had completed their conquest of the "Seven Cities," and retired to the interior of New Spain.
27
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
CHAPTER II.
1530 TO 1540. EXPEDITIONS FROM THE SOUTHWEST-FRIAR MARCOS DE NIZA AND HIS GUIDE, ESTEVANICO-CORONADO'S MARCH TO THE SEVEN WONDERFUL CITIES OF CIBOLA-DESCRIPTION OF THE INHABITANTS, THEIR RELIGIOUS BELIEFS, MANNERS AND CUSTOMS-RESISTANCE TO THE INVADERS-DESTRUCTION AND SLAUGHTER -PARTIAL CONQUEST OF THE COUNTRY-INEFFECTUAL SEARCH FOR THE MYTHICAL CITY OF QUIVIRA-DISCOVERY OF THE GRAND CANYON
COLORADO-THE CLIFF DWELLERS, THEIR CHARACTER, HABITS AND HOMES- TRAVERSING THE PLAINS OF KANSAS-RETURN OF THE ARMY TO MEXICO-THE AUTHOR'S VISIT TO THE PUEBLOS-INTERVIEW WITH A VENERABLE CACIQUE- SOME OLD MANUSCRIPTS-PERSONAL OBSERVATIONS OF THESE PECULIAR PEOPLE.
The procession of mighty events in the world's history thus inaugurated, leads us in regular sequence to the conquest of that por- tion of New Spain modernly designated New Mexico, or New Biscay. To avoid a multiplicity of foot note references, it is here announced that the material facts of this chapter have been condensed from the latest accepted authorities, mainly from the very complete account pre- pared by Lieutenant J. H. Simpson, U. S. A., who compiled his details from the journals of Castañeda and others who accompanied the expedition, and narrated the events as they occurred.
In the year of 1530, Nuno de Guzman, president of New Spain under Charles V., was informed by his slave, an Indian from the prov- ince of Tejos, in the northern part of Mexico, that in his travels he had seen cities so large as to be justly comparable to the City of Mex- ico itself ; that they were seven in number, and had streets which were exclusively occupied by workers in gold and silver, which metals were
28
HISTORY OF COLORADO.
very abundant ; that to reach them it would be necessary to travel a long distance northward, between the two oceans, and undergo the perils and hardships of a desert which was almost destitute of vege- tation, etc., etc. Many years previous to his enslavement by the Spaniards, his father, who was a merchant or dealer in ornamental feather work-an art, by the way, of remote antiquity among Aztecs, who brought it to a very high state of perfection-visited these cities for the purpose of selling such goods, receiving therefor great quan- tities of gold and silver. Having accompanied his father on one or two occasions, he spoke advisedly as to the richness of the country.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.