The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913 Page: 262
464 p. ; 23 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
The Southwestern Historical Quarterly
leagues above the monastery of Guadalupe del Paso. Ayeta, it
seems, in the interval since he had written to Otermin on Sep-
tember 8 asking him to come to the pass of the Rio del Norte,
had received the latter's communication sent from Socorro on
September 7, asking that the supply wagons be started to meet
the refugees at once. Accordingly Father Ayeta upon the receipt
of this request had started from the pass with twenty-four
wagons1 of provisions, raiment, and munitions. He had ap-
parently been unable to cross the river at El Paso, the usual
fording place, and so had continued up the west side of the river.
The progress of the wagons had been slow, however, for the heavy
rains and the melting snow on the mountains had caused the
stream to overflow, so that it covered the roads and all the ad-
jacent meadows and lateral valleys (ancones). After proceeding
about four leagues from Guadalupe under such difficulties, Ayeta
had decided on the morning of September 18, at about 8 o'clock,
to brave the dangers involved in an attempt to cross the swollen
river. Accordingly six2 spans of mules were hitched to the first
wagon, and Ayeta himself accompanied by a number of skilled
Indian swimmers, drove into the river. The water was higher
and more dangerous, however, than had been supposed. It rose
more than a vara above the bed of the wagon, not only damaging
the contents, but endangering Father Ayeta's life. Finally the
mules after much difficulty were able to. reach a higher place where
they secured footing, but the wagon remained fast in the middle
of the stream. Seeing the impossibility of proceeding, Ayeta cut
loose the half-drowned mules from the wagon. At this juncture
Otermin and his escort from Fray Crist6bal arrived opposite the
wagon on the east bank of the river. Otermin's men, taking in
'Ayeta ("Carta del Padre Fr. Franisco de Ayeta escrita al R. P.
Comisario General," in N. Mex. Doc., I, 541) .and Otermin ("Autto Y
dilijencia," in Auttos tocantes, 43) both state that Ayeta had twenty-
four wagons when he reached La Salineta. There is, apparently, no foun-
dation for Davis's statement (The Spanish Conquest of New Mexico, 298)
that he set out from El Paso with four wagons.
O2termln, who wrote on the same day the fording of the river was at-
tempted but who was not an eye-witness, says, "el qual carro abiendolo
puesto quatro andanas de mulas le arroxaron al Rio." (In "Autto Y dili-
jencia," in Auttos tocantes, 43.) Ayeta, writing three months later of the
same occurrence, says, "y alentando mi gente puse al carro Capitan seis
andanas de acmilas." In "Carta del Padre Fr. Francisco de Ayeta
escrita al R. P. Comisario General," in N. Mex. Doc., I, 542.)262
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, July 1912 - April, 1913, periodical, 1913; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth101058/m1/270/: accessed March 29, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.