Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-12-26
TERRIBLE ADVENTURE.

In the spring of 1875, Mexico was In
tumult. Lerdo, the Chief Justice,
succeeding to the Presidency at the
death of Juarez, and afterward elected
for second term, announced himself as
candidate for the third. His political
opponents, enraged at the thought of o.
third term, uprose in all directions and
declared for Diaz. In March of this
year only the rumblings of the rebellion
were heard, but society was daily becom-
ing more and more disturbed. Armed
men were everywhere about, and many
bands of lawless ruffians were securing
the outskirts of the cities and towns,
stealing from the farmers, and leaving
behind them desolation and despair
truly peculiarly dangerous and un-
fortunate time for q foreigner to set out
On a journey.
On lovely morning In early March,
young American gentleman left the
town of Matanzas to travel to Jalapa.
The narrow road at first winds up the
side Of the mountain, turning sharply
around sudden bends, where a single
misstep Of the horse Or mule would hurl
the rider far down into the valley below.
It Is as If the great mountain had been
followed out, and the jagged sides left
standing, with q rude path trending
from the base to the summit. The
American was accompanied by six ma
tive horsemen mounted on mustangs
similar to his own, and four footmen.
The whole party were armed. After
passing about half way up the mountain
side the traveller halted, and motioned
to his followers to do the same. For a
long time he sat motionless in his sad
die gazing out at the exquisite picture
before him. In the distance, far below,
lay the wonderful valley Of Matanzas,
the "Garden of Mexico" The rich, ex-
cessiye vegetation could plainly be dis
cerned, and few light and graceful
clouds hung drifted against the tower
ing rocks. The beams of the lately
risen sun were pouring over the hill
tops and Illuminating the vast plain be-
meath with fresh and rosy light. He
must have been indeed prosaic and
unappreciative man who would pass
carelessly by such wonder-work of ma
ture.
His reverie was suddenly broken by a
shout from above Looking up he saw
a single horseman picking his way care
fully toward him. He was soon recog-
nized by the men as resident of Mat
anzas. When he drew near he spoke
rapidly and excitedly to the escort in
their peculiar potots, gesticulating vio-
lentIy all the while
The effect was immediate and startling.
ho ho1 Al
one exception, and all the footmen,
turned sharply around and made their
way rapidly down the mountain side,
without a word of explanation OF fare
we'll to their employer The only one
who remained was Filomeno, who had
been sent by his master, a friend of the
traveller, to accompany him to Jalapa,
and who understood English after fash
ion. He sat motionless in his saddle,
gazing after his countrymen, now fast
disappearing around the curves of the
pathway.
''Whats the matter. Filomeno? ?" asked
the American at length, rising in his
saddle as he spoke, and shading his eyes
with his hand, as he looked after the de-
serters, "what did that fellow say that
has made all this fuss %
"He said" replied the Mexican slow
ly. " that revolution had already broken
out at Jalapa that the terrible soldiers
Of the plains are before us, and that if
you proceed you will be surrounded aud
killed"
"Stuf," said the American, 81 am
not afraid. Filomeno, let us go on.
And, as he spoke. he frightened his hold
on bis horses rein, and was about to
proceed, when. he saw that F'lomeno
had not stirred.
"Come, Filomeno," said he, stime is
slipping by and we must be off. Surely
you are not afraid to accompany me?"
mo matter" answered the Mexican,
''but I cannot go as am. All these
robbers know F1omeno, and would give
good price for my head IF I go with
yofI must go disguised. Wait ;" and,
turning around, he scrambled lightly
and quickly back from the road toward
little hut near by, whence thin
wreath of smoke was curling lazily up
through the clear morning air. He was
gone scarcely fifteen minutes, and when
he again drew near the American hardly
knew him. Flomeno had disappeared
under the guise Of charcoal burner.
CHOW I am ready; have left my
horse where it will be taken care Of, he
said, and now on foot he fell into his old
place close behind the Americans mus
tang.
And so they iourneyed on, up into the
clouds and then down again, over the
rich breasts of valleys which are only
found in the tropics, and along the tracks
of old watercourses, and through brooks
and little rivers Of a peculiar greenish
hue. Around them was nature in all
her wasteful lrlxuriance, but no sign of
anything human to help or hinder them.
That night they encamped in a small
valley, and resumed their journey at
daybreak. At II o'clock on the morn
ing of this day they were drawing near