American Caravan - Nun's Tale

The Nun's Tale:

Read the bittersweet story of the life and untimely death and burial of nineteen-year old Sister Mary Alphonsa Thompson who died en route to Santa Fe, New Mexico, July 24, 1867.  Some report that the idealistic young Sister of Loretto died of fright due to the stress from two raids on the wagon train by Native American Indian warrior bands. Other historians conclude she died of cholera that had taken the lives of twelve members of the wagon train.  The official cause of death and her burial site remain a mystery and are currently being investigated by several historians. The nun's story also includes an investigation into the provenance of two photographs purportedly showing her death and burial which took place along the Santa Fe Trail more than fifty miles west of present-day Dodge City, Kansas.

Photos

1. Sister Euphrosyne Thompson, SL [1839-1908] elder biological sister or Sister Mary Alphonsa Thompson.


2. Sister Martinia Thompson, SL [1850-1922] younger biological sister of Sister Mary Alponsa Thompson


3. "The Pieta of the Plains," staged re-enactment photo
[c. 1902] portraying the historical death of Sister Mary
Alphonsa Thompson, SL who died along the Santa Fe Trail July24, 1867.

4. " The Recessional", staged  re enactment photo [c. 1902] portraying the burial of Sister Mary Alphonsa Thompson, SL who died en route to Santa Fe, New Mexico  July 24, 1867.