Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-01
THE MINES OF MEXICO.


Late from ISAtOPfIaS-The Operations
Oh Gov. Shephefd-His Years Work.
"A Steam Engine i'm BreeChes.
The following extract from private letter
written by Mr.. L. H. Stevens to a friend in this
city will interest many readers here:
CHIHUAHUA. April Is, 1882
My Dear -: Your careful study of Mexico
has doubtless sufficiently famiiiarized you with
its geography to cause some surprise at receiv-
ing letter from me at point so far east of
BatOpilas when you knew 1 was making my
grand attack on that silvery valley from the
Pacific. But Gov. Shepherd is concentrated
dynamite, and the unexpected is always oc-
curing IN the Kaleidoscope atmosphere he
carries around with him. And SO the third day
after my arrival In Batopilas, almost before
had brushed Off the dust of travel Iairly, some
annoying things turned up which we talked over
little. The solution seemed a little difficult
and left him to meditation while retired to
my room TO write some letters. In about five
minutes he came in and after little preliminary
skirmishing he said: II tell you what it is
Stevie, old boy. its pretty tough on you just as
up to chihuahua you could straighten all these
things out. l can't get away you know andits too
bad to ask yOu to break camp, and" ALI
right, Governor" said !, ''That's the thing. I'll
go. I'm off in the morning." and daylight of
climbing the first mountain. And that's how
my first Mexican letter is dated chihuahua, in
stead OF Batopilas. And, by the way made
the fastest trip on mule ever made by almost
two days Ten days was the old standard time.
1t has been done in nine and eight and rarely in
seven. did it in five days and one hour. but it
was pretty hard on man and beast.
wrote you on the steamer just before we
reached MaZatlan and the soft Spanish tongue.
We left N. the same night by stage and had
uni 0 min conkf riy, for f,y1r
FL Fuerte, the first vexatious thing occurred in
that our lazy Mexican agent there had paid no
attention to my telegram from MaZatlan, and no
mules had been provided. My limited knOwl-
edge of Spanish is almost altogether confined to
useful and polite phrases, aud my indignation
had to find its vent in what little profane Eng
fish have picked up from time to time. And
do you know the rascally fellow kept US there
three days. However, on the fourth we were
OF bright and early in what really think with
good company, Is the most delightful mode of
travel. Nothing equals trip over Mexican
mountains by muleback.
PICNIC ON A MEXICAN MOUNTAIN.
We sent runner in to tell the governor when
we would arrive on the top Of old Descubridora
mountain, as he had expressed desire to meet
US there. We arrived on the appointed day,
half an hour ahead Of time. Principally to the
minute the governor came around the mountain
trail, followed by four or five of our congenial
spirits and q mule loaded with "bustamento,"
which is the Spanish for the edibles and arinka-
bles required on days picnic Had you ac-
companied us and had no other pleasure on the
trip, think the next few hours would have re-
warded you for the journey. 1t was a jolly party
OF friends meeting on wild mountain after
many months separation. and the Imagination
better than the pen can paint the happy hours.
At night-fall we mounted our mules and dashed
down the mountain and through the arroyos
into the town, and thence up the river to the
hacienda. There the governor halted us, formed
line, ordered the big gates to be thrown open
and in we tramped. Behold the portal decorated
with lamps and Chinese lanterns and fes-
which were grouped the governors family and
other friends to bid Us cordial welcome. It was
pleasant meeting, and the hours of the evening
stole rapidly away.
AN AGREEABLE SURPRISE.
The skilled hands Of Mrs Shepherd aud her
fair daughters had prepared a most agreeable
surprise for me, inasmuch as I found myself
quartered in most delightful rooms-a pretty
parlOr and cosy bedroom, nicely furnished and
decorated as only woman's taste can provide
was simply astOunded, for Of old had mud
floor. two simple chairs, a rude table, few
nails to hang garments on and bed made of
two horses with reeds stretched over them
But for many months good Mrs Shepherd had
been preparing place that would Danish any
inconsistencies might be disposed to have and
she succeeded wonderfully with the meager
facilities at hand. Among other pleasant 1ea-
lures Of surprise there was a mysterious cur
tain on one side Of my little parlOr. over which
was inscribed in illuminated letters 'Blue-
boards Closet" Dividing the curtains, as pretty
an array of drinkables ranged on series of
shelves met the eye as one could possibly wish.
Whisky, brandy, beer, champagne, bitters-a
goOdly selection that her thOughtfulness had
been providing for months. And so, altogether.
you cannot wonder that among such kindly
friends and with so pleasant surroundings felt
quite as though had arrived home. They one
and all half robbed themselves to make pleas
ant quarters for one who has heart full of
respect and esteem, and love and devotion for
them. But my agreeable surprise at this was
nothing compared with my wonder of amaze
ment when next morning early went out to
glance at the work Governor Shepherd has done
since 1 left Batopilas. To put up his mill he
had to
BLAST OUT HALF MOUNTAIN SIDE
on the east, and I'LL up don't know how much
to the west. To bring down his ore he had to
blast out OF the mountains bounding the river q
railroad track mile long, with culverts and
bridges over ravines. Twenty stamps were pull
veriZng silvery ore, every bit Of the machinery
for which had to be transported 800 miles on
mule back, and put together piece by piece To
make proper grades for the various parts Of the
site from rolling rock on the mountain side and
from sudden freshets on the river side, thousands
OF cubic feet OF stone masonry had been built.
All these, with hundred other Accomplishments
necessary to make the system complete, had
been done in about one year in a country where
labor Is scarce and skilled labor none; where
nothing can be bought. and every screw and
nail must be thought of and ordered months
ahead-every piece Of timber and bushel of lime
and brick Of adobe foreseen. And vet when
it's time came every article was there, and when
the mill started it was complete and in perfect
running order. At the mine q ton Of ore is
dumped into car. One mule trots along the
easy grade with three cars, and the carload is
dumped into bin that feeds under the stamp
as required. Only one handling is required.
1t Is all work Of genius. and
SURPRISES ALL THE OTHER WORK
Governor Shepherd has ever done, vast as his
old time labors WERE Early and late, here and
there ubiquitous, he was the hardest working
man physically, with all the business matters of
vast enterprises to occupy what to the rest were
sleeping hours. The first half holiday this
wonderful man had taken in Is months was
when he came out to meet and welcome ms.