Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1867-11-07
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Ell PAsO DEL INFERNO

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Ell PAsO DEL INFERNO.
BY DIR. s. COMPTON SMITH. ..-s
| On the road from Monterey to Pesqueira Grande,
and about four leagues from the former place, is
the noted Paso del Inferno, or Pass of the Evil
One. It is the northern termination of a valley,
enclosed by ridges of the, Sierra Madre which al
this point, appear to have been split asunder by
some natural convulsion, expressly for the passage
Of this road ~.
From the cobaltic veins of the mountain, crop
ping out into the valley, flows little transparent
poisonous stream, which, after leaping playfuly
from rock to rock reaches the path, which Gross
es, and re-crosses mocking the thirst Of the trav
eler, and tempting him to drink of its deadly wa
ters.
To deter him, however, and as q caution not to
permit his road d-heated animals to imbibe from the
poisonous fountain, there is rudely pictured upon
either side of the cliffs, gigantic representation OF
deaths head and cross bones such as the careful
apothecary pastes upon the bottles and packages
containing his deadiest drugs. ,s
At the time passed the spot, the loose rocks
were thickly planted with wooden crosses, those
Spanish emblems Of murder, telling the traveller
that the pass was the frequent scene of assassina
ton and robbery; that crime and violence here lay
in wait for their victim. -. -.-.'.
Near the poisonous streamlet, and almost in the
path, was one Of these crosses, already embrowned
by exposure, upon one of the arms of which, was
nailed by the wrist, mans right hand. This
loathsome object, the skin and tendons Of which
still cung to the bones, was so contrved as to grasp
a naked dagger, with its blade rusted with the
blood of some hapless victim Of assassination
Concerning this fearful spectacle, Jose Maria, the
faithful and intelligent guide, who usually accom-
panied me in my wanderings, told the following
tale:
'Don Vecinte Ziminez, who lives in the hacien-
da we passed just before we entered the valley, is
a rich man, or rather was but the greatest trea-
sure he possessed, was his beautiful daughter, Ia
Senorita Ana. She was the pride of his heart
and many were the youths-sons Of the better
class of hacendados, who had knelt to her lowell
ness, and aspired to her hand. Among these was
Pedro Canales, nephew of General Canales he
who six months ago was the leader Of the guerille
ros of New Leon And Don Vecinte, you remem-
Der was formerly governor Of Monterey. But the
favored suitor of the fair Ana, was Jacinto San
chez, whose father was the nearest neighbor of
Don Vecinte, and whose hacienda commences half
a league from where we now are, and occupies the
valley we are about to enter Jacinto and Ana
had grown up from childhood together, being in
almost daily intercourse, and instructed by the
same tutors; so that they had come to regard each
other with the affection ofbrother and sister. But
when, after an absence of four years in Madrid,
whittier he had been to complete his studies-the
young man returned to his native valley, and dis
covered the developed beauties Of his former play
mate, his boyish attachment suddenly assumed
the character of a stronger and more passionate
love- Ana, also, was struck with the favorable
change, which residence among the polished
Madrianos had wrought in the handsome youth.
"Don Vecinte welcomed the return Of the young
man warmly and it was soon rumored that he was
the accepted lover Of the fair Ana Ziminez.
CAL the Senorita's former admirers congratula-
ted them upon their approaching marriage, save
Pedro Canales who regarding the happy Jacinto
as rival in the affections of one, he was vain E.
nough to suppose looked upon him with pref
erence- declared that the wedding should never
be consummated; and with dogged manner,
Stunned meeting with his former friend.
cat length the time arrived, when Father Eu-
sebio, the former instructor of Ana, and the vene
rable chaplain of the hacienda, was notified to be
in readiness to celebrate the nuptias Of the young
people. -.
"Great preparations were made to sgnalze the
event with hilarity. A fiesta was decided upon,
to which all the friends Of the parties were invited,
as well as all those with whom they were acquaint-
ed, together with the poems and dependents Of the
two estates of Ziminez and Sanchez.
"Among the friends, the discarded Pedro Ca
males was not forgotten, and, as if regretting his
long continued discourtesy, the guerrilla captain
intimated his acceptance of the invitation and all
promised happy celebration Of the wedding fes-
tivities. .-.....-
"Even before the sun had sunk behind the 81
era, the rancho Ziminez began to fl with the as
sembling guests, and by the time the moon flooded
the valley with her early beams the little plaza
had become crowded with dancers, springing gaily
to the lively notes of guitars and castanets.
'The happy Ana never appeared so lovely as
that evening, when arrayed in white, and her dark
tresses adorned with flowers she impatiently a
waited the arrival of her lover. Surrounded by
her attendants, she watched for his coming through
the pass.
"He was to make his appearance after the as
semblage of the guests, accompanied by his rela-
tiyes and the poems of his fathers estate.
''The dancers were in the height Of enjoyment,
when ringing of the chapel bells announced the
coming of the expected cavalcade Of the husband
elect All hastened to join the escort, at the out
skirts of the village But scarcely had they left
the plaza when few scattered horsemen dashed
up the road, instead of the party for which the
welcome peal was echoing along the valley, who
were the heralds of terrible catastrophe! Jactnto
Sanchez had been murdered IN the Rassi
"Horseman after horseman now rode into the
plaza confirming the fearful intelligence. The
young man, on his way to the marriage altar, had
been suddenly struck down in the Pass of the Evil
One, by the knife of an assassin and instead of the
warm embrace of his waiting bride, the grave was
now open for his lifeless body!
''When the terrible intelligence was communica-
ted to the waiting bride, wild, piercing cry broke
from her, and was heard above all the sounds OF
grief that rose upon the air from that agitated
crowd, and exclaiming- !
"'I knoso ms nsurderrP the broken-hearted girl