The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-26
RELIGION ann pARBARIrY.
Strange Antics OF u Peculiar Religious
Reet In New Mexico.

DENVER, COL, March 94.-The Hermanol
Penitents, a ianatical religious sect, mum
bering about two thousand in the Territory
OF New Mexico. who believe in periodica
atonement OF sin by inaictiug on theil
bodies agonizing tortures, were originally
within the Roman Catholic Church, but
Archbishop Lamy, shocked by their bar.
barous Crueltes, promulgated a decree,
banishing them from communion. Their
numbers have greatly thinned since, and
they now inhabit principally but
four counties in the Territory. Great
care Is taken to prevent the dis.
covery Of their identity by spectators, and
all are masked while they conduct their
annual penance. The devoteea often travel
hundreds OF miles to undergo their pre-.
scribed torture. Los Griegos, a small Mex.
lean village near Albuquerque, boasts Of a
body Of the Penitents, but the fact Is
known only by the brutal ceremonies
taking place there every year. This
morning the ceremonies were in.
augurated by an Introductory procession,
containing about thirty men and women.
The process Of publication by torture
began at 10 o'clock; five men, naked
to the waist, bareiooted. wearing
black robes and hoods, completely
conCealing their identity, were seen
10 issue from the adobe lodge.house
OF the sect, led by the master OF ceremonies,
carrying veritable cat.o.nine.tails, two
huge wooden crosses, weighing 250 pounds
eacn, placed on the neck OF two self.tortur.
ers, and their sharp edges cutting into the
naked flesh, caused the blood to spurt out
and drop to the ground. One OF the Peni.
tents produced sharp goad, which be
thrust into the flesh OF the fellow sufferers
from time to time while the procession
moved up the street to wild gibberish
chant in Spanish. Hating once, the
crosses were transferred to other shoulders
Of attendants, applying rawhide whips
mercilessly, each blow taking oil skin and
bits Of flesh. The procession took its way
to the goal, half mile away. During the
march not groan was heard, or word
spoken, but just before reaching the goal,
q small adobe hut, an ordeal was encoun-
tered which tried the nerves OF the boldest.
For some distance before the door cacti
plant had been strewn thickly on the
ground, and as the bare.footed cross
bearers approached it one hestated.
Instantly half dozen whips descended
on his bare shoulders, and with a
bound he sprang into the cacti, his every
step and his followers marked with blood.
AS the torture grew more terrible the
chant grew louder, and the thongs fell with
more vigor. Reaching the door OF the
house, they wero lost sight OF, sentinels
guarding the entrance, and only broken
whips and pools OF blood bear witness OF
what transpired within. Issuing from
the house, the procession reformed, turned
to the house Of worship, and the horriiy.
ing exercises continued, one batch OF
penitents succeeding another until
night, when grand procession and
chant wound up the exercises OF the day.
During these marches to and from the
House OF Refuge the scene, at times, was
too sickening for description. Powerful
ipen submitted their bodies to the most
merciless ilagellation, until, in some in
stances, their bare muscles have been seen
quivering at every blow. The whole pro.
ceediDgs were savage attempt TO honor
the Easter season. Hitherto the law has
made no attempt to check the wild exer-
cises, although once penitent, who threw
another bearing a cross into the river near
San Juan and drowned him, was lynched
by infuriated witnesses.