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Show CASTLE VALLEY TIMES oNEW TIMESCastle Valley, Utah - Volume 2, Number 1 - January 15, 199% - A New Slate, Page 5 White Man Comes to Castle Valley Rivera's Second Entrada October-November 1765 Spain's Quest for the Colorado and Its Ford 0 25 50 LLLLLl—i miles In 1765 Castle Valley was Ute Indian country. No Cartography by Enc Elshop white man had ever marveled at Round Mountain or looked up at Castleton Tower. The Ute had seen the fate of other Indian tribes when white men had entered their territories, and they forbade any white military expeditions north of what is now New Mexico. However, Spain was interested in tribes were not knowing about the land north and west happy to see these of their holdings in New Mexico. They were interested in establishing new trade routes and in finding gold and silver to replenish their dwindling treasuries. And they were desparate to find a fabled river, its forbiding canyons, and the crossing which only the Utes could show white “traders” in their country, and so they set out to ..... puma-u discourage them from going any further. They led Rivera's route on second journey to find the Colorado River. him on a detour to the Newspaper Rock area, they told him tales of waterless area There he set up future trade The governor of Santa Fe chose a man called Juan Maria Antonio de Rivera to travel north and west to lands and great hazards, but still he persisted in following wherever they led him. Finally, his guides got hostile explore. He was to pose as a trader and a and told him to go back; that they did lished friendly relations. From there he went over the LaSal Mountains into Lisbon Valley and proceeded back to Abiquiu, where he arrived in November seeker of gold and silver, not as the not know the way to the river crossing. 1765. them. agreements with the tribe and estab- military man he really was. His task was At the encampment at Newspaper to learn about the various Indian tribes, Rock, he met an Indian he had known their customs, language, and their in Santa Fe, called Mozelton (meaning attitudes toward the Spanish, but his “drifter” in Spanish). Mozelton said he Our Roads main commission was to gain knowledge would take him to the Ute crossing. of the river crossing, now known to be Rivera decided to trust Mozelton, Valley was recently reconvened to deal the Colorado River at Moab. He left Abiquiu, New Mexico, and headed north on June 25, 1765. He traveled to what is now Pagosa Springs and on to Durango. He used Ute Indian Guides to find his way and to make despite his name, and so he followed him north to the river crossing. According to the descriptions in his journal, there is no doubt that he reached the present day site of Moab. He then crossed the Colorado River and Please turn to page 4. The Road Committee of Castle with the largest consumer of our resources, namely the roads. The Road Committee originally consisted of a POA member, a Town Council member, the Road Supervisor, and other concerned citizens. At the friends with other tribes. He was looking made contact with the tribes on the for the silver that was supposed to be other side. While he was there, other October ’92 annual POA meeting, it near what is now Sleeping Ute Mountain. His expedition went as far west as would be part of this committee. Our Indians from a tribe up the river came to visit. They said their chief was a present day Aneth. Rivera did not find friend of the governor of Santa Fe and silver, but before he left the area he got a wanted Rivera and his men to come promise from a Ute chief that upon his return the chief would lead him to the Ute river crossing. He returned home to Abiquiu in July, but returned to the Ute camp in was decided that two POA directors current road committee consists of POA members Joan Sangree and Hank Freeman, Town Council member Ron and visit him. Rivera was unable to go up river because the cliffs came right down to Drake, and Road Supervisor Don Tuft. Our first meeting was held on January the water’s edge, so he went southeast January 27th at 7pm. Our intention is to conduct monthly meetings. We welcome anyone interested to join us. October of the same year. The chief to the La Sal Mountains then crossed over Porcupine Ridge and went down instructed his grandson to lead Rivera into Castle Valley. He followed Castle and his men north to the Ute crossing. Creek and camped about a half mile They traveled to Dolores and on to the from the old White Ranch. The next Monticello area. By this time certain Ute day he met with the Indian chief, who was camped in the Professor Valley 14th; the next one is scheduled for I volunteered for the Road Com- mittee knowing very little about our history or about what is needed to Please turn to page 4. BEST WISHES FOR '93! |
