Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1883-09-13
Se1efffd Sfnrny.
A MEXICAN ADVENTURE,


coal-neele the more because she
has SO little wood, Especially does
she need it for the development OF
her silver mines and for the opera
ton of her railroads, which are now
stripping the country Of the scanty
forests that still remain burning the
wood of the mesquite shrub, or pine
brought from the higher slopes of the
Cordilleras.
Mexico suffers from lack Of forests
and the moisture which they draw
and retain. The entire plateau i,
parched by drought. In the time OF
the Aztec empire, $40 years ago, the
country was clad with grand old
woods. even to the mountain tops -
Irritation was not then needed. Now
nothing can be raised without 1T
The reason of this change is that the
Spanish conqucrors isnorantly fellcd
an | burned off the forests-that theiI
New Spain might resemble Old
Spain, it is said.
Geolo-ists and mineralogists dc
not speak enoouragingIy Of the pros
pects Of finding coal in Mexico, Still
it lazy be that future researches will
show that she has an ample supply
packed away beneath the strata OF
some or all Of her states.
Two acquaintances Of the writer
amateur geolosists and mining engi-
neers-havc Of late been peering
about certain portions Of the great
plateau hoping to find indications of
the much needed "black diamonds
of industry; and on one of their pros
pectng trips in the gate Of Durango
they had an experience which throws
a peculiar light Oh the character OF
some of our "ncighbors' in our sister
republic.
At place among the mountains
on what, to All appearances, seemed
to he nobodY's Land, so cra1gy and
well nigh inaccessible w.s the local
ity, they discovered a very promising
tissure ycin OF silver ore, which they
determined to locate or 'dcnounrc,
as the phrase is in Mexico, under the
very liberal mining law Of the coun-
try.
A mining claim may be made, re-
gardless OF any prior ownership OF
the land, by any one and by the
payment of IA very small annual fee
it remains the property Of the discov-
Crer.
For stakes TO Indicate their bear
ings, and for fuel for their camp fire
that afternoon they had tie two
Mexican BOYS who carried their lug
gage, etc, fell two small ash trees
which stood in the bed OF the ravine
below their ''lead." These were
crooked, gnarled little sapplings, not
more than four or five inches in d.
ameter, and of no value There were
scores of others Just like them along
the ravire where the young men
made their camp for the night.
just at sunset an Indian laborer
passed down the ravine carrying a
large iarra of zlrzamoras (black ber-
lies) on his head. Mr.. forney one
of the two Americans--spoke to the
Indian, and asked him to sell some Of
the zarzamoras.
The man stood at q distance and
would neither reply nor come to their
fire. After observing them for some
moments he went on.
His manner gave them some unea-
giness, and ole or the other of them
kept awake to watch, lest the fellow
might return after dark with a party
to rob them.
The night passed without incident,
however, but as they were taking cof-
fee next morning they saw II large
party of men coming up the ravine
on horseback. 1t was headed by Il
we'll mounted Mexican in short black
jacket, silver trimmed pantaloons and
a richly ornamental sombrero. Be
hind him came twelve or fifteen cot
ton clad poems Indian laborers), all
armed with carbines and pistols, or
knives,