When the Bavispe earthquake struck the Mexican state of Sonora on May 3 , 1887 , it destroyed most of the adobe houses in Bavispe and killed 42 of the town 's 700 residents . Goodfellow spoke excellent Spanish and he loaded his wagon with medical supplies and rode to aid survivors . The townspeople named him '' El Doctor Santo '' ( " The Sainted Doctor " ) , and in recognition of his humanitarian contributions , Mexican President Porfirio Díaz presented him with a silver medal that had belonged to Emperor Maximilian and a horse named El Rosillo
Bavispe earthquake
1887 Sonora earthquake
George E. Goodfellow