Teipana Pueblo – the First Socorro Part 1 Originally published in El Defensor Chieftain that King Phillip II authorized the colonization of newspaper, Saturday, July 14, 2012. the northern frontier of New Spain — today’s New Copyright: © 2012 by Paul Harden. Article may be cited with proper Mexico. Led by Juan de Oñate, the colonization credit to author. Article is not to be reproduced in whole or placed on expedition consisted of soldiers, settlers (many the internet without author’s permission. with their families) and 10 Franciscan friars, for a total of about 500 people. By Paul Harden In October 1597, those who were approved to For El Defensor Chieftain participate began their travel from Mexico City
[email protected] and Zacatecas to Santa Barbara, near Chihuahua, the official start of the expedition. With all assembled at Santa Barbara, the expedition The beginnings of Socorro is history most of us departed on Jan. 15, 1598 with a caravan of 83 know. In 1598, Spanish explorer Juan de Oñate carretas (ox carts), 24 supply wagons, and 7,000 and his caravan of colonists arrived in the region. head of sheep and cattle. Once on the trail, the Thirsty and hungry from months on the trail, they caravan extended several miles in length. arrived at a Piro Indian pueblo on the Rio Grande. On April 21, 1598, after 800 miles and 86 days There, the Piro people gave the starving Spaniards on the trail — an average of 9 miles per day — the food and nourishment. For the life-saving first of the colonists arrived at the Rio Grande near assistance they received, Oñate named the pueblo today’s El Paso, Texas.