The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1879-04-12

Tuscon, in Arizona, is one of the old
est ,owg in the United States, having
been settled by Colorsdo's army in 1860.
Nine miles distant from Tusoon, down
the valley. is the old mission church OF
st. Francis Xavier, which is one of the
greatest objects of interest in the coun-
Try. 1t was built about two hundred
years ago by community OF Francis
cans. Compared with q majority of these
old churches, it is in good state OF pres
ervation. One of the turrets is gone,
but the belfry still stands, in which hang
four or FIVE bells in silver cadence; the
others having been either carried away
or stolen. You reach the belfry by a
narrow winding stair, built in the solid
wall. the steps worn into deep holes and
depressions, by ascending and descend
ing footsteps in years gone by. The
church Is cruciform, and is an immense
eiifice, with magnificent arches, and with
really wonderful acoustic facilities.
Strange, there was not a nail used in its
construction. 1t is built of peculiar
kind of cement, hard and resembling
granite. The art of making it is now
entirely lost. The interior is elabor-
ately ornamented; the paintings and
oolorings upon the walls are still vivid
and bright IS though recently executed,
and gorgeous in effect. The altar piece
and several other pictures are evidently
the work of artists. but the others, which
are numerous, We're done by pious but
not artistic hands. At tho end of
the transept, high up, midway be-.
tween the floor and ceiling. is the most
ghastly spectacle imaginable. A Cross of
huge proportions is deeply imbedded in
the wall. surrounded by rays of black,
or dark brown and white. The body
onoe extended upon it has either fallen
or been torn down leaving one arm, lean
and brown as that Of mummy, with
bones protruding, nailed to the arm of
the cross. 1t il u spectacle to make one
shudder in spite OF himself. There are
still sevsnty-fve lite-like statues of
apostles and saints left standing in their
inches. Upon the faces OF some of them
the expression is marvellous. Some have
fallen down, and others are mu.ilated
by time or the irreverent. They ali
show skilful workmanship, and must
have been brought by the fathers from
Spain. The gliding over and above the
main altar is still very heavy and rich.
The main altar itself is covered with
beaten virgin gold, taken by the monks
or their Italian prosslytes from the
mines. The altar service, which is also
of solid gold, was carried away few
years ago by some priests who came
from Mexico for the purpose, and there
are but two small vessels left to show
what the other and larger pieces mus
have been. There are still some of thu
rich vestments left, but their gorgeous
texture is marred by long service ant
abuse. The heavy doors are made o
solid wood of great thickness, which il
joined together in panels by grooves
The large outer doors were not onl,
made of thick timber, but were covered
by thick sheets of copper, procured from
the mines and smelted by the monk
themselves, which, in conjunction witt
the enormous bar, on the inside, max
them impervious to any attack from thei
savage enemy. In connection with tn
church is the monastery or cloister, an
within the surrounding inolosuse is th
mortuasy chapel-a huge sepulchrt
where those who kept their vieils an
toiled in strange, inhospitable Ian
to lead into the paths of peace the b.
nighted nations, rest from their labor
and are forgotten.