Excavation Shows Holt
County Was Once The
Home of Many Indians
By J. B. O'Sullivan
(Continued from last week.)
There is another story of the first
whites to call on the Pawnee and other
Indians of the Nebraska region worth
running over for the interest it ad
duces in our own bands of the Paw
nees, the Arikara and the Skidi, both
of whom must have lived a long time
very close to where stand the city of
O’Neill. The man heading this expedi
tion was Francisco Vasquez Cornado
and his band left the Rio Grande on
April 23, 1541.
The glitter of aboriginal gold, whicn
drew many Spaniards to Old Me xico
to search and fight for wealth, flamed
in the dreams of thousands according
to stories handed down to us and am
ong the hearties willing to travel great
distances or undergo the rigors of life
in a raw land was this man Cornado
who heard tales of rich Indians and
rich lands and believed much more
than was good for he and his followers.
It is set down that Francisco Vas
ques Cornado and his cohorts were the
first group of whites to make contact
with the dwellers of the Nebraska and
Kansas plains, that is, in any great
numbers. Cornado is said to have
been u Spanish General who long
wanted to feast his eyes on someone’s
gold, not with the design to sleul it,
but perhaps in hope the ignorant and
wild owners might drop dead of fright
or something and give him a chance
to keep the gold from going to waste
while friends in far-off Spain hunger
ed.
Cornado originally came from Spain
to Mexico to hunt for gold and he
made no bones about it. He heard
stories in Mexico about the yellow
metal and always the gold wus far
away. The talk indicated that great
distance only prevented anyone obtain
ing ail of it they could curry. The
farther away was this gold the more
there was and the easier it was to get
and. the simplier were the owners, but
Cornado did not suspect what this
might mean. Had he lived today and
heard such tales he undoubtedly would
have went to some grindstone and re
sharpened his sword instead of wu&t
ing his time swallowing yarns spun
bp unscruplous persons.
Hut Cornudo wanted his gold. He
listened to tales from one Fray Mar
cos, alleged to have been a monk, but
the truth is there may have been a
sylluble missing from the monk’s ap
pellation. However, the monk claimed
he hud been 1,000 miles north of where
he told his artistic fibs, around Arizona
and beyond, und he carefully drew
word-pictures of what he heard up
there about the Seven cities of Cibola,
in the Keulm of Quivera, Hocus and
Focus, silver paved streets, houses of
rock standing four stories high, gold
hitching posts, gems so bright they
shone in the night like street lights,
turquoise porches, fine clothing, sheep,
cows, wild game that would eat out
of your hand, water that would guar
antee good health and girls that would
knock you down with their good looks
or a potato masher later on when some
husband found out he had signed a
contract that had bitter us well as
sweet promises in its ramifications.
Cornado could not stund the climate
of Mexico much longer. He investi
gated and found that nearly every
Spaniard in Old Mexico had a great
desire to go Nebraska and grab some
of this gold. An urmy of recruits
was drawn together and things begun
to point to a start for the north. Of
course, Cornado was made the gen
eral and soon there was a cnlvaeade
comprising about 1,000 Indians, 000
mounted Spaniards, a great number
of horses, cattle by hundreds on which
w'as strapped camp equipment, und on
some day in February, 1540, dust arose
in Mexico and the great march to the
north was on, a dream-like snake of
humans and livestock crawling across
unbroken stretches of praired. lands
where death might lurk behind every
blade of grass.
The first leg of the long journey
north was a hard one; men almost
died of thirst at times, desert sands,
fine as flour and dry as a Scotchman’s
powder, were generously whisked in
the faces of the men and a hot sun
rained solar fire until it seemed all
must perish and leave the blocks of
virgin gold to lie in the hands of sav
ages who just as soon have a few
pieces of broken glass. There was
much cussing of cactus, scorpions, cen
tipedes, rattlesnakes, drouth and heat,
but the lure of the elusive yellow metal
buyoed the men’s courage and when
any complained or acted as if death
would be welcome. Cornado unlimber
ed his tongue and painted a picture of
guitar*, moonlight, pretty girls and
ull in old Spain and the elixir revived
the spirits of the men and again the
serpentine gathering moved on toward
the fabulous bonanza of the prairies.
One due the party arrived at vil
lages of the Zuni and Ilopi Indians
somewhere in the state of Arizona.
No inkling of the disappointment
that awaited further on was received
when the men noted the Indiana lived
in ordinary mud houses, the bricks
merely baked in sunshine. Some of.
the Indians did wear a woven doth
and they hud corn, beans, melons, do
mestic fowl and other things that,
caused tin* hope other Indians over the
hills might have the muoli gold and
silver and rare gems.
It was also noted there was no rich
Seven Cities of Cibola in sight and. the
men were disappointed, yet they were
used to that and again hope raised and
their minds at night brought them
scenes anil sounds of luxury and lang
uor on the prairies where southwest
summer breezes lull and encourage in
the face of flat failure.
After councils of war, the men
wanted to push on, much to the delight
of Cornado, the general and highlight
of the expedition. Cornado and his
lieutenants decided to travel east some
days and then determine which way to
go, so they went down the vulley of the
Rio Grande river, across the state of
Arizona.
Here and there they encountered
Indian villages and it was difficult to
distinguish one from the other. The
people seemed to be poor, hard work
ing, peaceful and it was found the
crops were irrigated. There were
more sun-baked brick houses, beans,
melons, corn, cloth, pottery and the
new friends were very kind, giving the
travelers food and shelter and so Corn
ado and his crowd decided to remain
there all winter.
Things went along very smoothly
until some trouble arose and tin* sold
iers decided it time to tight. The
Indians did not like the way the sold
iers strutted around on their territory
and the soldiers did not like the way
the Indinns indicated who was boss in
that section of the world.
One day there was a real fight and a
great number of Indians met death.
Some of the leading Indians were tied
down and burned to death; others were
made prisoners and ordered to follow
their new leaders. The Spaniards
claimed afterwards they did their best
to show the Indians how to raise more
food but the wild fellows would not
listen and soon every Indian in the
Rio Grande valley hated the ground
the whites walked on.
Up until coining to this place the
leader, Cornudo, had not heard the
name of the Seven Cities of Cibola.
Now the place emblazoned itself more
luridly since the name sounded just
like that for which he searched.
It was here at this Indian village
that an artist jumped up and did just
whut he should have done. Mis name
was said to have been “Turk,'’ and he
was all of that.
The Turk hud his wits with him and
at the first opportunity he unburdened
himself of one of the most enchanting
yarns in uII history. The man's status
there wus that of a slave. Me seems
to huve been a Pawnee Indian from the
prairies of Nebraska *»nd he wanted to
get home the worst way. Me knew
how to use his head as well as his
legs. It was noted that this Pawnee
wore his hair in pigtail fashion, differ
ent than those on the banks of the
Kio Grande. That is why tney called
him a turk.
Well, this Pawnee hauled off and
told he was a Pawnee and wanted to
be shuffling toward his happy home
toward the north. He said there was
a most wonderful land there, north
east, and that he was doing fine there
until in scouting, the Pueblo Indians
out-scouted and captured him.
The Turk pictured a river that was
.six miles wide, fish in it as large as a
horse, beautiful boats on the stream
with twenty oarsmen on each side,
forty in all without counting sea gulls,
larger boats having nice white sails,
Indian chiefs sitting around waiting
for something to happen, chiefs lolling
glider silken cunopies and gold and
luxury running riot, eagles of gold
on the boats, music mirth and monkey
hines of those supposed to have noth
ing to do save brag about their station
and side tracks in this life.
It was related that the head king
of this land, of ease and plenty was
named Tatrrax, breaker of many early
jaws while trying to prounce his name,
and this man was supposed to be so
situated he slept nice warm nights
under huge bells of gold, that tinkled
sweetly in tramp breezes, and, of
course, nothing was said about wlmt
went on during winters cold enough to
frost the hide off a breaking plow.
The wind, this man said, always pre
vailed, which shows he could season
his narratives with a dash of truth.
Mystic myjsic lulled the kings to sleep,
lie told that even the common folk of
this great place used dishes that were
composed of solid gold and silver; even
their slop buckets were of precious
metals. The Turk was just the man
Cornudo wanted to converse with.
Everywhere there were great jugs
of gold and something in them that
woud make a man care no more for
the gold than if it were so much po
tato-hug interruptor. The great King
was said to do some worshipping and
always humbled himself at the foot of
a great cross of gold. Everything
was just what Cornudo specified in his
desires for something to search for.
The entire command became inflamed
at the tales and eagerly pressed on to
reach the wonderful place so well ad
vertised by the Fawtiee, the Turk.
The Spaniards, you see, wanted, to get
hold of the riches as quickly as pos
sible so no one should steal them.
Any school kid can see that. So much
gold lying around on the prairies of
Nebraska is not safe, and that’s all
there is to it.
So Cornado pushed on. He left the
Rio Grande on April 2d, 1541. The
Turk, to repay him for his informa
tion, was elevated to the station of
head guide of the great expeditionary
forces of the beloved land of the Span
iards, a title he was very proud of.
An Indian named Isopete was assist
ant guide. Isopete was a Pueblo In
dian but he told the Spaniards he was
sorry he was not a Spaniard although
he would like to become one at the
next general election or words to this
effect. The party traveled about thir
ty-five days, but this is not on the
word of the Turk nor of Isopete.
A great plain was traveled where
there were mililons of bison, many In
dians who ate raw meat and were
adepts at making a living right out
on the wild prairies. Most of the In
dians encountered lived in tepees and
this caused Cornado to ask questions
regarding the great sparkling cities of
Cibola. Not one of them had ever
heard of them. They said they could
not tell gold from go-devils. Cornado
scratched his head. It is strange he
did not scratch the Turk’s head.—with
a tomahawk. By this time he must
have sensed there was somethingamiss
in the story of the Turk,
The wiley guides should have made
a night-sneak at this time but they
lingered just a little too long. They
did change their stories some, admit
ting the great cities were not quite
ho large us first accounts and they
said the truth was the dwellers of the
great cities were poor instead of very
rich.
(Continued next week.)
IN DISTRICT COURT
Bennita W. Branch has tiled suit in
the district court against Irwin R.
Ridgeway, et al., to foreclose a mort
gage given March 23, 1922, to the
Lincoln Safe Deposit company for
$1,500 on the west half southwest
quarter of southwest quarter of south
east quarter of the southeast quarter
of the southeast quarter of section 14,
and the east half of the east half of
section 25, township 31, range 11, in
Holt county, Nebraska. In her peti
tion she alleges that an extension of
time was given on April 11, 1927,
and shortly thereafter she purchased
the notes and mortgage from the com
pany and is now the owner and holder
thereof. She alleges that all of the
interest coupons were paid, except the
last two and that they are past due,
as well as the principal, also the taxes
for the years 1931, 1932, 1933. She
asks that the mortgage be foreclosed
and the rights of the plaintiff be de
teimined and that if the amount found
due is not paid within a reasonable
time that the land be sold.
Louis Sievers has filed suit asking
for a divorce from Anna Sievers. In
his petition he alleges that they were
married on February 29, 1932, and
that he has always conducted himself
as a kind and loving husband. He ac
cuses the defendant of being guilty
of extreme cruelty, constantly nag
ging him and once, assisted by her son,
heat him up. He asks that during the
pendency of the action that the defend
ant be restrained and enjoined from
interferring with the personal rightsof
plaintiff, and such other relief as may
be just an equitable. On April 28 a
restraining order was issued by the
court restraining the defendant from
interferring with the plaintiff in any
way.
Nebraska News Items
A civilian conservation camp lias
been opened on Niobrara Island park
west of Niobrara and Lieutenant And
erson, of Wichita, Kansas, is in charge.
About 200 Garden City, Kansas boys
are billited there, and some came from
California and Nebraska. The camp
will be maintained at least six months.
A chicken egg measuring eight and
one-fourth inches around the long way
and six and three-quarters the short,
was found by Mrs. G. II. Steinhauser
at Butte.
_
The Couch Motor company had a
truck cab extended so that either
W. S. Couch or Allen Friedrich may
sleep while the other is driving with
loads of gasoline from Kansas. The
legnth of the cab extension is 26
inches. To make the job complete, a
radio was installed in the cab.
Grasshoppers must not be a new’
story to this part of the country ac
cording to old Port Randall records
recently dusted and read. Part of the
story, written back in 1857, goes on
to say: “Our gardens might have suc
ceeded better only for the inadequate
supply of rain, and the thousands of
grasshoppers which made their ap
pearance about the fi»t day of August
and continued thruout the month and
almost annihilated everything pos
sessing verdure.’’
One of the most profitable cows is
that on the farm of Walter Glissman,
near Rosalie, Nebr. This cow in the
last five years has given birth to
four sets of twins. In five years she
has produced nine calves.
On Nebraska road jobs are about
3,500 men at this time, and there will
be spent in this work, the sum of about
$7,800,000 according to the govern
ment’s program. .
By hammering the dial off a safe,
thieves at Allen obtained $150 from
the Farmer’s Coopeiative company
elevator office at Allen.
Wayne is going to build a commun
ity auditorium costing $20,000, it was
decided after a delegation called on
John Latenser, Omaha, emergency
director for Nebraska.
The National Inventor’s congress is
to convene at Omaha June 5 to 9 and
some of the things to be exhibited are
a machine which coughs up five nick
els when a quarter is dropped in a
slot, a machine throwing an invisible
death ray that kills birds some blocks
away, devise for sending heavy volt
age of electricity by wireless, instant
picture making, throwing a scene on a
print at one shot, a pea-shelling devise
and a eollarbutton eliminator. Forced
leisure the last few years, one invent
or said., caused more inventions. Al
bert G. Burns is president of the
congress.
Alleging he violated a parole, Har
old Pinkerman, sentenced from Boyd
county to one to two years, has been
returned to the custod.y of Nebraska.
It is alleged he shoplifted two in
struments for use on radios at Chad
ron. The parole was issued on Feb
ruary by the state board. Pinkerman
was sentenced on conviction for break
ing and entering.
American Legion War Pictures
_ _—
COURTESY THE SOURCE RECORDS DIVISION. THE AMERICAN LEGION} I
Top—Belgian Home Guards In Action Against Germans August, 1914. Inset—The Late King Albert of
Belgium. Centre Left—Taps for an American Soldier. Centre Right—German Prisoners and Wounded
Coming Into the British Lines on the Somme Front. Bottom—Ruins of Ypres.
THE spender never suc
ceeds in anything he under
takes and never fails to place
the blame for his lack of
success upon others.
THE
O’NEILL NATIONAL
BANK
Capital, Surplus and Undivided Profits,
$125,000.00
This bank carries no indebted
ness of officers or stockholders.
A SENSATION!
New WHITE ROSE
Knock Proof - - Regular Price
Gasoline at its Best!
MELLOR MOTOR COMPANY
Phone 16 O'Neill, Nebr.
