* A TALE OF THE SANTA RITA MOUNTAINS BY F, C Y F, i * T !^ I v/ vKO: f ./ ^ \:,. CWiX : lvV v* * ' i* i k ^ l r % k C ff, * -TV .*-.. P-. - 'H-. r< 'ff tfffiffiiffife^^^^ - . to U* K'-", JJ4 Ir to ^ to \/ ' N iJ /(V yfy * * * / * 71 taker tite r| Santa Rita J mountains $ I vlx * to \/ '<> xtx to !i/ TO Til K KKAI>KK: ^UE S \NTA K1TA Mountains arc situated in Grant county. New Mexico, about twelve miles east of Silver City. The chain com- prises several high peaks, they forming a <> /\ circle around a vale Upon tins vale art< small lulls, many of them covered with the mountain /(\ oak and pine. When midsummer rains clothe cu the trees in foliage, and the ground in verdure. v/ it then becomes a scene of wondrous beauty. ci> The mountain referred to in the legend is one ot the chain above described, and stands at the \i/ southern extremity ot the vale: its northern face <|> and two sides are nearly perpendicular, and tower in air some five hundred feet; its brow v|/ forms quite a plateau, in the center of which </ stand rocks, in form like the ruins of a dome or \j/ watch tower; between these rocks and the vf/ northern edge of the plateau stands ;t monolith. a/ When the mountain is viewed from a distance, it assumes the appearance of a fortress or castle \|/ of the Medieval age. The rising stone or mono- y)/ lull resembles a human form in a kneeling posi- \l/ tion; imagination would readily picture it as the cj/ old-time senechal "who had mounted the wall to \!/ parley hold." ^ It is traditional thatat one time the Mexican vj/ government established in this wle a colony or \f/ Presidio for the purpose of working t.h mines \j/ with peon labor. Tliat it is substantially true is y/ 4> proven by the ruins of an old fort still standing. as well as the deep shafts found, sunk for min- ing purposes: moreover, a few years since, when some workmen were cleaning out one of the shafts, they came upon a large quantity of hu- man bones, which gave rise to the supposition that the mine must have caved at some period, and thus destroyed a great number of lives. Superstition has clothed the mountains and monolith with the following legend: "In the early days of the Spanish conquest of - Mexico, upon this mountain there stood a mis- Mexico, up sion or cloi sion or cloister, wherein dwelt monks and nuns: and one of the latter, a sister Rita, a nun pro- fessed. who had broken her vows, was turned to the stone or monolith IKW standing on its brow." . As the legend goes no farther, the author has supplied the details in his own way. STIA-KR CITY. May, 1881. F. C. '' x ' x 'f> v/ I /)\ W View Santa Kita's rocks of gray, When setting sun has closed the day: And mellow beams from out the west Bathe hill and plain and mountain crest With golden light: then, in that hour Let fancy paint a feudal tower; Wall and bastion as true do stand As if uprear'd by human hand; Turret on battlement is there, And rising dome, proportion'd fair. On parapet faced to the north, What seems a human form stands forth, A seneschal to guard the wall. And parley hold when foeman call: When in the distance it is view'd. With living life it seems imbu'd. Tis but a rock, time-stained and worn. And from the earth was duly born: Upheav'd in Nature's frenzied throe In ages past. How long? None know When center'd heat and rocking earth Unto volcanic tires gave birth; Then, in a mood of fiery sway, Was wrought the change. as seen to-day. Perchance, where Rita's base doth stand An ocean lav'd a shining strand. And where the billows swept the main Twas once a fair and fertile plain. \to ii. When Papal Home, with outstretcli'd hand. Would treasure grasp in every land. 'Twas not with sword and bla/on'd shield. To conquer or die ere she would yield: lUit with mysteries sought to bind And 'slave the superstitious mind. Then saint and miracle were wrought To awe and sway untutored thought; They were of earth, not of Heaven. Klse the chain would not be riven. Alas! Poor Home, who envies thee? Thy purple throne and Holy See; Feeble, and with dissentions torn. Thy luster dimm'd and power shorn: Dost think thon ever of the day When in thy might and ruling'sway. On Albion's king and Albion's home Ye huiTd the dreaded curse-of- Home? For. from that hour of fate to thee. Thy glory waned o'er land and sea; Yet relics of the grandeur past Will ever live find ever last While time rolls on: while mountains stand Inscribed with name done by thy hand! .Many are found in every clime. Call'd after patron-saint of thine;! And why so nam'd? This tale qf/yore Will tell of one 'tis legend lore. 1 ' When Cortes landed on Spanish-main ^ Jn search of conquest, gold and gain: ^ Adjunctive to his arm'd command. There with him came a priestly band: Prelates in surplice, monk in stole. Hooded nuns, and friar in cowl. ^ Were gathered on the sunny strand Around a cross rear'd by their hand: A goodly band with purpose bent. /> 'I'd 'slave the mind where'er they went: Not with the sword and spear and shield, To fight and die on tented tield. But. with the olive branch would gain Rome's share of India's rich domain. When Cortes view'd his followers o'er In brittle-line form'd on the shore. And as the vanguard march'd him by, His heaving chest and blazing eye Denoted pleasure and delight; Warrior ne'er looked on fairer sight: In stately grace on palfreys sate. Dignitaries of Church and State; Hob'd in velvet of varied hue. Purple, scarlet, orange and blue. Cloak and doublet, on every fold Were braided o'er and fringed with gold: On prancing steeds marched four abreast. With spur on heel and anus in rest. Two hundred knights; and each in vein /|v J'low'd gentle blood, the best in Spain; A Well skill'd in arm, and valor tried Oft in battle when ebbinir-tide Of strife had paus'd would they, with cry "For Spain! for Spain! yield ye. or die!"* ,Jx Turn back the wave, and with the sway Of sword and spear, thus gain the day, / Of Milan mail they armor wore. And on their lance their color bore: In sheath of steel inlaid with gold. M A Bilboa blade, each one did hold. Device and motto on every shield. /jv Was quartered on a burnish'd field; H\ Cresfed banners on high did wave. ,jx Clarion and bugle music gave; Heralds proclaimed with trumpets' tone "This land is lief to Spanish throne /l\ By conquest right; by ripht of cause Sanction 'd by church and by our laws; Twill be maintain'd in mortal light, With all who durst dispute our right." No enemy seen, no light begun. Vet Mexico was lost and won. -- Five hundred leagues north of the main. Where Cortes landed with his train. The mountains stand with haughty crest. And lying between in sleepy rest Are hill and dale in wavy line. Partly covered with oak and pine. With darksome cave and rocky dells. 'Xeath lofty peaks and sentinels To guard this fair and beauteous vale. From the furious mountain gale. Upon this hilly plain so fair. Tower'd a mound of rocks in air: One day there march'd into the glen, A motley troop of armed men; Detailed from Cortes' main command. To explore and search the land. Until they found as legend told. "A mountain, huge, of solid gold. Like a fortress in shape and face. When it you find, look at its base. A cave you'll see. Within that hold Will be found the solid gold." And gold they r found in ample store, But not the solid form it wore; Tw r as in the rock where sweat and toil Must delve it from its mother soil. Adjunctive to the troops, there came. Of Carmelite friars of goodly fame A noble band; endow'd with nerve To danger brave; their cause to serve: Not they to look for mounds of gold. Hut in church's name to seize and hold (And by its law make good their claim) The richest land in this domain. The troops examined the rocky mound, Hut "solid gold." 'twas nowhere found; They, disappointed naught had gain' d Ketrac'd their steps; the priests remain 'd; When the troops turn'd into the west Did stout hearts throb 'neath saintly vest. And as they march'd from out the glen, The priestly cheek was blanched then: (iood cause had they to pale with fear. For deadly foes were lurking near. Time's twenty years of ebbing wavi Was buried iii Vast's mistv grave: SANTA RTTA VAL LOOKING SOUTH Since priestly I>;iml and warriors bold. With clasped hands liad i-;ood-bv told With throbing heart and pallid face. In rocky dell at mountain's base. This vale in nature's grandeur wild. Then slumbered as a sleeping child; And now with life 'twas teeming o'er, Seekinir from earth its golden store; Deep shafts were sunk and hills were bor'd To where the shining rock was stor'd; Where the antelope was wont to speed Like the fiery and untam'd steed Courses o'er the plain, there now was seen. When vale was cloth '(I with verdure green. Flocks and herds feeding on its hills. And drinking at its running rills. The priests had thriv'd: by hardy toil They wealth had wrung from stubborn soil: To savage wild, they taught their creed. Then turn'd his service to their need; Easy to teach his darksome mind, Supernaturally inclin'd; And mold and form its plastic thought And thrall its will; when it was wrought Then o'er its sight a glamour throw Of mysteries, and pomp and show. VII /( rpon the vale nature had phic'd A mountain like a fortress fac'd: And on its brow there then did stand Uprear'd by the Carmelite's hand A monastery; no. not like those Described by Scott in verse and prose, "With castle wall and carvings rare And shrines deck'd o'er with jewels fair.' Vet it had its wall, cell and dome And altar shrine, a gift from Rome <r. For priestly use when mass was said For the living and for the dead. There dwelt within the cloister wall A dozen nuns; each and all The brown garb of their order wore; With them the Carmelite cross they bore; They came from Spain the year before. The abbess was strict and severe For breach of ride: why so austere? t ' X Nf/ I Perchance 'twas age. lor ye;irs three soon-. Upon her brow she grimly wore; Or, perhaps, 'twas her girlhood's dream, Always present, and ever seen Lying upon Past's misty shore, Washed by the storm o'er and o'er.- Ariel every wave rolling to land Huried it deeper in the sand. Whatever the reason or the cause. Kigid was she in convent laws. The cloister world moved calmly on. And not a ripple disturbed its throng: Until one day, in hall and cell. One to the other nun would tell. In whisper-tone and bated breath. Something of "Rita" and of "death." The bell had tolled the matin hour; The abbess sat, 'throned in power. On a dais in vaulted room, 'Mid a light of shadowy gloom. She held within her bony hand A crosier 'twas her scepter'd wand And by her side, in silence grim. Stood Sister Pablo, tall and slim. The executress when offense. Twas scourges pain, as the penance. Arraign'd there stood with quiet mien As fair a maid as e'er was seen; .. Hair black as raven's plume she wore In short, thick curls, clustering o'er A head of classic mould; her face An artist's pencil ne'er could trace More beauty; with form lithe and tall. Graceful and dignified withal. IX. The abbess from her throne of state Unto Rita 'twas thus she spake: "Nun. profess'd. of Valencia, Spain, Hefore tliis bar I thee arraign; And charge thee by our convent laws And by our church's holy cause. With broken vows and perjur'd soul; v'/ \f/ \h vl/ W \tt \ti ft \V ft w ft xt/ 4> tf> '!! >*' Knelt abbess, nun. priest and 1'ri;ir. With blanched cheek as of the dead, With furies raging o'er their liead. Heaven seemed on destruction bent. And to her wrath gave furious vent. Earth labored in a fiery throe. And. like the sea. rocked to and fro. /!v A shriek arose upon the air. Twas like the wail of death's despair; A monk,, with face of ashy hue. Silently from the throng withdrew And strode through hall 'mid rocking floor With rapid strides to Ilita's door- ' He Knock'd. listened and then did cry. "Come forth! Come forth! Fly, Hit'a. Ih? Tis death lo stay, this house accnrs'd!" " L With giant strength the door lie burst. And clasp'd her form. in semblance dead. And through the cloister halls he tied. M\ Outside the wall, upon a stone He sat her down; she in a moan /A Of anguish cried. "() (iod forgive! /Jv O let me die. I would not live!" A\ The storm had paus'd; now. with new life A\ Au <l double force, renew'd the strife; M\ And like a ship in breakers keeld, MX The mountain groau'd. heav'd and reel'd; iix The vault of heaven rift and clash 'd In thunder tones: the lightning flashed A stream of living lire: the priest rt\ I old o'er his beads; the storm increas'd m Its f ury; through air. rolling on. A\ Came globes of tire; they struck the dome. /l\ "Come. Kita. haste! Let us away Q\ Death's around us -we must not stay!" There came a voice as though from heaven: fl\ "REST IN PKACK. THOU ART FOKOIVKX." Around her form his arms did clasp, /\ 'T/wx nfnnc lie lield irttliin lii* f/ro.s/y.' \ Tie gave one long and piercing yell. /j\ The cloister rock'd and swayed', then fell. Engulf *d in earth's capacious womb. . /i\ 1 lie inmates gained a living tomb. /l\ The monk in haste strode o'er the hill. /{s The storm had ceas'd and all was still. ft \, ft \\/ ft v/ ft \f> ft vl/ ft \to ft vt> ft \ti , * / :7 2 029 9 f'2- fir* VSX-&