The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-27
LIFE IN SOUTHERN COLORADO.
A Religious Feast and n Carnival of sin
From me LIBERAL Chrsnaa.

AT THE FOOT OF THE SPANISH IEAKS,
SOUTHERN COLORADO, ST. Jamess Day,
july ~ ls76.-Pray look a second time at
the ecclesastical date Of this letter You
shall not say that there is nothing reilly
ious In IL; II IA probable, however, that this will
be the only pious utterance can squeeze out Of
Day, and to- morrow will be the feast Of St Ann.
To-day the men hold high carnival. and to-mOr-
row the senortas Will take charge Of the day :
pleasures and shows. As the day wears
Oh the excitement and the liquor begins TO tel
on the crowd. There Il much bolsterous humor,
several 1ghts. aud once at least discharge from
/ pistol. The daJ 5 festivities are To wind up
with dance or fandango. Having some
acquaintance with these institutions out Of our
california experience we respectfully decline
all Invitations aud seek In early sleep the
strength needful for to-morrow's long ride. liut
sleep Is out OF the question. All night long the
sounds of reyelry are waited To Us on the cool
night oreeLes. The scraping of hddles, the yelp-
ing ~ Mexican dogs, the click Of billiard balls
and glasses, the shufiiing of dancing feet, form
u singular medley Of sounds.
suddenly all this ceases, as II by magic, and
there Is an ominous silence broken bv a pistol
SHOT and the loud screams OF women As my
host prophesied, the days festvty has culml-
mated in an ARRAY. Stealthily entering the ball
room, treacherous Mexican singles out his
victim, aud with loud imprccaton shoots him
down with "A mortal wound. There Is mo-
mentary recoil and cry OF horror, the gay music
ceases then IN al Instant the lights are put out
and the whole mass of men and women rush
out struggling swearing ana screaming, into
the darkness Of the street. Several pistOl-shots
follow In quick succession. Fortunately no
one Is hurt save "A poor horse tothered close bN.
Then, with a wild yell, this excited maddened
crowd PUSHES down the street, through the
black night, Ia pursuit Of the murderer. They
have guessed rightly; he has sought the prOtec-
tion OF the Mexican sheriff Of the county, who is
also his nephew. Crouching ON the Ncrandah, he
battcrs against the door for admttauce. A
hundred hands are outstretched to seize the
miserable wretch, when suddenly the door Is
opened and across the threshold steps Manuela
the beautiful vile Of the sheriff, with "A lamD in
her hand. her long black hair streaming over her
white robe. In an instant she takes in the situa-
tiun. Grasping her relative by the collar, she
raises MN up, snatehes the pistol from his
trembling hand and thrusts him into the house
Then turning 10 the astonished crowd. with the
revolver In one hand and the lamp in the other,
the beautiful woman, whose father is a Jewish
merchant OF Trinidad, and who is the belle Of
the village, presents a truly heroic picture.
u II some aim Inconsistencies OF this, or IL IL
their native Cowardicef Slowly the crowd falls
back, though nuttering threats. The next mo-
ment the sheriff arrives, and with two or three
Americans who volunteer their services. "A guard
II formed and the prisoner handcuned and held
Tor justice Hut Justice Ia empty word in
this community, aud Is not their prisoner uncle
to the sheriff What surety that lie will not per
init, even connlve AT his escape Meanwhile the
victim OF his cowardly attack lies in agony in II
Htte nut near 10y, surrounded by wailiug women.
lie IL of the largest family IN town, aud his re-
ldtuns are thirsting to avenge his blood. A
Gordon II quickly drawn around the sherlfs
mouse, ana with arms cooked they watch and
walt the coming morn
slowly the red sun rises over tho prairie cid
lng the mountain peaks with speudur; rises
over the cabin OF the dying man, at whose door
stands the priest dickering with the relatives
over MS Zee ior administering extreme JUNCTION;
rSes over the suen guard keeping watch
around the house Of the sheriff rises over tho
group OF hhggard men ut tho rum sho >. threat
ehlhE ueath % the murderer, and printing them
serves WIN llquor Tor the coming assault; rises
10 usher IN with light and beauty this holy day
Of st. Ann. -