Roman Chiquito felt keenly the wrong in-…
source date: 1891
availability: public-domain

re they were preparing for a gen- eral massacre. Through his earnest persuasions they were induced to abstain from war, return to the agency and rely upon the good faith of the government to redress their wongs ; a hope, it is perhaps needless to say, that was never realized. Roman Chiquito felt keenly the wrong in- flicted upon his tribe. They in turn, blamed him for misleading them with false hopes. He be- came dissatisfied and resolved to sever his tribal connection. At his request a petition was prepared to the secretary of the interior praying that he might be given a small piece of land with a de- cently furnished cabin upon it and a wagon and team. He said if this were done, he would work and earn his own living and cease to be a burden upon the government. His petition, favorably endorsed by his many friends, includ- ing such men as the late Judge Bristol, was granted by the secretary and the then agent of the Mescaleros was directed to carry Ro- man’s wishes into effect. It was never done, the agent interposed every obstacle, and when Roman, through his white friends, remonstrated the agent gave as an excuse that “Roman Chi- quito was a promising young man and that his spiritual welfare demanded that he should not be removed from the christianizing influences surrounding him on the reservation” ( !)