The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-03-27
DOING PENANCE.
a Band of Fanatics Scourae Them
selves with Whips
And Walk Barefoot Over Prickly Cactus
Plants.

DENVER, Cal March 25.--There are In New
Mexico about 20 persons belonging 10 the,
"HeSnano's PEI sntes, a fanatieal religious
sect, who believe \ the periodical atonement
for sin by infiictbl, on their bodies agonizing
tort1es They ero originally Roman
Catholics, but bishop Laney banshed
the from the communion. Great care is
takesi to prevent tho discovery Of their identity
al pe.ng masked while conducting ther an.
nua penanee The deyotses often travel
huitsseds Of miles to undergo the prescribed
toft9fes. Los Grlegos, small Mexican viii
iage near Albuquerque, contains the great
Dol. 81 tho Penitents. Yesterday morning
thetK ceremonies were inaugurated by an in
tfouActory procession containing about thirty
men anu women. The process OF pnrihcation
py fortnre began at 10 O'clock Five men,
NAKED to the waist, barefootod and wearing
Dlack robes and hoods that completely con.
ceaieu their identity, were seen 70 issue above
tne l0uge house Of the sect, led by the master
OF ceremonies, who carried genuine cat-o'-
nine essails. Two huge wooden crosses weigh
Ing gl0 pounds each, were placed on the
shouldefs OF two of the self-torturers The
sharp edges cut into the naked flesh, causing
the plood to squirt out and drop to the ground.
Uno psnitehte produced sharp goad, which
ne en1nst into the flesh ct his fellow-suffeFers
ifom time 70 time, while the procession moved
up tiie street singing wild chant in Spanish.
Haltlas once, the crosses were transferred 10
the shoulders OF others, the attendants mean
Whtiu HpplAiRg tuelf fAWnlde whips meFciless-
", each blew taking eli skin and bits OF flesh.
The procession again started aud took Its way
10 the goal, half q mile away. During ths
march nota groan was heard nor was q word
spoken, but just before reaching the goal, a
small adobe hut, an ordeal was encountered
which tried the nerves OF the boldest. For
some distance before the door cactus plants
had been thicklp strewn upon the ground and
as the baretooted cross bearers approached
them one hesitated. Instantly half dozen
whips descended upon his bare shoulders, ard
with bound he sprang into the thorny plants,
his every step and the footsteps OF his followers
being 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 the procession was lost sight
OF. A sentinel guarded the entrance and only
broken whips and poles and the blood bore
witness 10 what transpired within. Issuing
nom the house the procession reformed and
turned 70 their houle OF worship, aud so the
horrifylng exercises continued, one band Of
penitentes succeeding another until night,
when grand procession and chant wound up
the exercises for the day. During these
marches 70 and from the house Of refuge TIE
scene at times was too sickening for deEcriI
ton. Powerful men submitted their bodies 70
the most mercileEs faggelation until, ia some
instances, the bare muscle was seen Qaivering
At every blow. The whole proceeding was a
savage att3mpt TO honor the Easter seaCon
Hitherto the law has made no attsmpt to
check these wild exercises, although peni-
the river near San Juan and drowned him was
sttaAf ftxsf ff.a Inf asa fa1 .ntst.