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The Hermit of La Cueva — an Obscure Character in New Mexico History
Last updated on Thursday, July 17, 2003
Site of La Cueva (The Cave) near Las Cruces. Photo by Bob Dickerson 
During a recent trip to Las Cruces I visited one of the local archeological sites, one which I later discovered was also the site of an unsolved murder dating to 1869. This place is called "La Cueva," The Cave.
Taking University Avenue east out of Las Cruces, it will turn into Dripping Springs Road by the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. The road climbs steadily for the entire 11-1/2 miles, and it is paved for the first 5 or 6 miles. It turns into a dusty washboard road about a car and a half wide, then back into a paved road shortly before reaching the cattle guard and swinging yellow gate that make up the entrance to Dripping Springs. This area is in the care of the Bureau of Land Management and is manned by some kindly retired folks who volunteer their time and knowledge.
Not too far past the entry gate, looking to the left you'll see a sign indicating a picnic area down off of the main road a bit. Follow that road and you’ll end up in a paved parking area at the foot of the Organ Mountains. Directly in front of the parking lot is a massive sand colored wedge of a rock. Look at the highest point on this rock, then follow the vertical crack that runs from just left of the peak down the face to near ground level. There you’ll see the black, almost square entrance to La Cueva.
Excavation in the 1940s tied this site to the Jornada branch of the prehistoric Mogollon culture. It’s also common knowledge that this area was the frequent stomping grounds of 18th and 19th century paches, so most likely they were aware of the shelter provided by La Cueva as well. It was during the 1860s that La Cueva became home to one of the more obscure characters in New Mexico history, an individual by the name of Agostini-Justiniani, "El Ermitano" . . . the Hermit.
Information on Agostini is hard to come by, but he is thought to have been born in 1800 to Italian nobility and to have studied for the priesthood, but he refused his vows. He spent considerable time walking through Europe, Mexico, South America and Cuba. At the age of 62 this fellow walked with the wagon train of Euginio Romero, from Kansas to Las Vegas, New Mexico, a distance of roughly 600 miles. He lived awhile in Romeroville before winding up on Cerro Tecolote, locally known as Hermits Peak, northwest of LasVegas. He struck up an acquaintance with the Penitentes and got along well with them. The Penitentes believed in the hermit’s healing powers and sanctity, and on Easter a "Sociedad Del Ermitano" still makes rosaries of native plants to honor his memory.
In 1867 Agostini headed to Mesilla, a distance of about 250 miles, to seek advice on a legal matter with Colonel Albert Fountain. He then walked 530 miles to San Antonio, Texas, then back to a cave near Juarez, Mexico, another 500-odd miles. It’s amazing to think that a lone individual at that age, during what were less than peaceful times in New Mexico, could cover such distances on foot.
In 1869 he spent time on the Old Mesilla Plaza visiting with the Barela family, sometimes preaching in their home. He told them of his plan to live at La Cueva. The Barela family, and probably anyone who had the opportunity to do so, warned him of the danger of living out there alone. He answered their concerns, saying "I shall make a fire in front of my cave every Friday evening while I shall be alive. If the fire fails to appear, it will be because I have been killed. I shall bless you daily in my prayers."
One Friday night in the spring of 1869 the Barela's fears were realized when the usual fire failed to appear. Antonio Garcia led a group up the mountain to find the Hermit lying face down on his crucifix with a knife in his back. He was wearing his penitential "metal girdle full of spikes."
El Ermitano is buried in the Mesilla Cemetery with the following Spanish inscription, "John Mary Justiniani, Hermit of the Old and New World." He died the 17th of April, 1869, at 69 years and 49 years a hermit."
You have to spend some time to ponder the difficulties brought on by everyday living at La Cueva. The insects are unrelenting, the terrain unforgiving, but as with many places in New Mexico, the harsh beauty and serenity that existed then still exist today, virtually unchanged. If you take the time, you may see and feel what attracted "El Ermitano" and others to this place.
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