The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942 Page: 337
409 p. : ill., maps ; 24 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
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A Comanche Prisoner in 1841
Just at this time, however, some Mexican Comancheros' ap-
peared on the scene. Word of a captive American boy had gone
from Santa Fe to Taos, some miles north, an American, Mexican,
and Indian trading village. Here lived John Rowland,2 an Ameri-
can who had married a Mexican. Hearing of the American boy's
plight, Mr. Rowland gave some Mexicans sixty dollars and told
them to go out and find the child.
From all accounts they were just in time. Those Mexicans
spoke a little English, and Fayette declared it was a joy to
hear these imperfectly spoken words in place of the gutterals
of the Comanches.
Setting out on the return trip, Fayette asked one of the
Mexicans how far it was to Taos.
"About a hundred years," he replied.
Then Fayette asked him if he did not mean "miles," and he
replied "Yes."
The final lap of the journey seemed interminable. It was now
spring; the Mexicans loitered along as though they indeed had a
hundred years in which to make the trip. Finally they reached
the trading post of Taos, and Fayette was turned over to Mr.
Rowland. Naturally he was well pleased with the outcome of
the mission and treated the boy with great kindness, and
Fayette was overjoyed at the sight of a white face, and made
himself as useful as he could around the place, acquiring after
some months a fair speaking acquaintance with the language of
the Mexican residents.
Mr. Rowland wanted to adopt his newly acquired boy, but
nothing was ever done about it. He explained afterwards that
he would have written to Fayette's mother immediately but
for lack of direct communications between Texas and New
Mexico. He did, however, write as soon as he had an oppor-
tunity to send the letter by way of St. Louis.
During all this time Grandmother Angelina prayed constantly,
never losing faith that she would see her son again.
'Mexicans who carried on trade with the Comanches were known as
Comancheros.
2This is evidently the John Rowland who owned the schooner Brazoria
which was used in the Texas trade in the 1830's. Gulick and Elliott, Lamar
Papers, No. 123. On April 14, 1840, President Lamar appointed Rowland
temporary representative of Texas in Santa Fe, to act until the Santa Fe
Commission should arrive. Ibid., No. 1773.337
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Texas State Historical Association. The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 45, July 1941 - April, 1942, periodical, 1942; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth146053/m1/379/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.