Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-03-07
A DISTINGUISHED OLD CITIZEN
Returns 10 this Country after an
Absence Of Forty-fOur Years.
GALVESTON Journal, Feb. Isl

Galveston Journal, Feb. ISL
MI. Bloomenkron, consul general at
Pueblo, Mexico, during General
Grants administration, has been in
the city several days. He compli-
mented the Journal Office with a visit.
He may be safely pronounced among
the liveliest seventy three old men
living. He has been many years a
resident of Mexico, having gone there
when a very young man, and estab-
lished business. When General
Grant visited Mexico Mr.. Bloomen-
kron rendered the distinguished party
great services. During this time he
was so unfortunate as to have his leg
broken, aud was prevented carrying
out a desire to revisit the United
States. General Grant and party in
sisted upon his visit as soon as his
physical condition would admit; and
his present extended tour was in re-
Spouse to this very pressing invita-
ton. Mr.. b. desires his warmest
thanks extended to Generals Grant
and Sheridan, Colonel Fred Grant
and many other distinguished people
who have during his tour treated him
with the greatest consideration and
courtesy. At Chicago he was called
upon by Colonel Grant, with letters
from General Sheridan to Secretaries
Sherman and Evarts; was banqueted
by General Sheridan and others, and
in every way made to feel that the
people Of the United States knew how
to appreciate and honor true charac-
ter. He returns to Mexico profoundly
impressed with the wonderful growth
and development of the United States.
He has noted with deep interest the
rapid approach of the railroads to the
rich region where he has made his for
tune, and anticipates vast advantages
to both republics when American en-
terprise shall link them together with
the iron rail. He says that men not
posted cannot form the faintest con-
ception of the volume of trade in that
country, nor of the very small amount
of it this country has been receiving.
Under the new order of things it will
all come this way, and a new era of
prosperity is expected to visit thay
country in consequence.
When the church property was sold
by the Mexican government in Pueblo
he was a heavy purchaser. Among
the buildings he thus secured was the
San Domingo church, the church Of
the inquisition. This property he sold
to Bishop Haven, of the Northern
Methodist church, and is now occu-
pied by that church for worship and
for theit school. Although a Jew,
Mr.. Bloomenkron has been a true
friend of this mission, ~exerting his
great influence with the governor and
other officials for its protection. The
school room connected with the mis-
sion is separated from the church by a
wall ten feet thick, and in that wall
are still remaining the cells in which
the unhappy victims of the inquisition
were imprisoned. When the church
was cleaned out cart loads Of bones
were removed to the cemetery and
buried. 1t is a remarkable fact that
a descendent Of that race who have
suffered so seriously at the
hand of the inquisition, .and
who was even bauished from Spain
should become the purchaser of this
church Of the inquisition in Mexico,
and should sell it to the N. Z. church
and prove himself the steadiast friend
of the mission. He does this, as he
said, in the interest Of civilization.
After an absence of forty-four years
and seven months he revisited Cincin-
natl, the scene of his earlier life.
He called at the home of his daugh-
ter, Mrs. Josephs, whom he had left
when but three years of age with her
grandfather. She had received from
him his photographs at different times
and when she met him unannounced
at her door, she recognized him as her
father, and, overcome by deep emo
ton, fell fainting at his feet.
Mr.. B. is stopping at the CONNER
cial hotel, and will remain in our city
several days. He will be happy TO
impart information to parties desir-
ing to post themselves respecting his
adopted country.