Page:Vol 3 History of Mexico by H H Bancroft.djvu/516

496 Aztec empire, with himself as king; and being at a loss for a crown, he stole the one from the image of St Joseph in one of the churches at Tepic. Anonymous proclamations were circulated, and the would-be king was in communication with the Indian towns of Colotlan and Nayarit. It was supposed that the movement was encouraged by Count Miravalles of Mexico, who held large possessions in the vicinity of Tepic, and that everything was done with the knowledge and assistance of the English. The timorous viceroy had even conceived the absurd notion that the United States had a hand in the conspiracy. This time a woman, named Maldonado, divulged the names of the leaders, and the president of Guadalajara, José Fernando Abascal, reported the matter to the viceroy. At the same time Lieutenant Salvador Fidalgo and Captain Leonardo Pintado were ordered out with forces against the Indians. Eighty-six persons were arrested by these two officers, and many others by the civil authorities, all of them being taken to Guadalajara. This conspiracy partook somewhat of a nihilistic character. It had been decided that during the festivities to the virgin of Guadalupe, her sanctuary near Mexico should be fired by means of explosives concealed in wax candles, to be donated by the natives on that day. During the confusion the palace of the viceroy was to be blown up, for which purpose it would be previously undermined at the four corners. The most careful investigation in the matter did not bring to light sufficient evidence to convict any of the participants, which either proves that the viceroy dared not publicly inflict punishment for rebellion, or that the plan had been so astutely managed as to preclude the possibility of conviction. Many of the prisoners died in the hospital; among them José Gerónimo Perez, who had communicated with the Indians in the