Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1884-01-19
Gun Foundry, George H. Pendleton,
Piedmont Dispatch and the growing
neurology of beloved Mine Inspectors.
CORRESPONDENCE
LETTER FROM MEXICO.
SALrrILo, Mexico, NOV. 2o, 1888.

as their fathers did the stone, in
blocks about two feet square, Is carried
on the backs of burros (tiny Mules for
long distances, and arc hoisted to
their places on the wall on the Bonded
backs of the workmen. The mortar is
carried up on boards on the heads Of
the laborers. Everything is done
slowly and very precisely, the stones
fitting into the places for which the!
are cut with nicely that is surprising
considering the way they manage
things.
The weather here is very cool COM
pared to Laredo and Monterey, ano
no wonder either, for it is $500 fee;
above sea level, $500 feet higher tina,
Oakland, Md. What seems strange j
that peaches, apples, oranges, pom, =
granates and figs all grow to perfection.
sometimes i'll one enclosure.
AS in all parts Of Mexico the people
here carry their politeness to extremes
and Americans especially are treated
with great respect and consideration.
Their charges are very moderate
and they generally make favorabl.
impression on all visitors.
This morning | drove to the battle
field of Buena Vista and strolled over
its historic soil. 1t is an exceedingly
dull, uninteresting spot now. EXcep'
for its having been the scene of tn
great battle. and that is dear to me as
much because Whittier's CANCELS OF
Buena Vista" arose from its bloody
turf, as for all else connected with it.
The town at Buena Vista contain!
about 300 people who dwell III foul
long rows of houses which form a
large square. They are built of adobe
and their inhabitants are the tilthiest
looking lot | ever saw. a fine stream,
of pure cold water runs through one
end of the urt-yard between walls
built especially for it. A few lazy
looking soldiers are stationed there as
a garrison; they are dressed in dirty
linen uniforms and are very repulsive
looking, to say the least. guess they
would fight if required to do so; am
sure an attack would never be made
by them. The place is beautifully
situated at the foot of a range of
mountains. or rather on one side of a
plain that is encircled by mountains.
the summit of which have long rows
of bayonet trees that from distance
appear like men walking in single file.
The canyon where the hardest fight
ing occurred is Withholding spot
and | loosened up my siX-shooter to be
ready for use, as we had passed some
hard looking customers on the road
out. | dug around some time hunting
for bullets, but other relic hunters had
been there before me and secured
them all. From the the top of the wall
of the canyon, looking towards Sal
tillo, beautiful scene presents itself
At your feet is Buena Vista away to
the left nestles the little town Of Tab
RIGA, where there are several cotton
factories, and directly in front, seven
miles away, but as clearly defined as
though but one. looms up the fortress
of Saltillc, which Taylor was forced
to build after retiring from Buena
Vista.
The stage road to the city of Mexico
winds through the pain and is dotted
here and there with long strings of
freight wagons, all resting now two
o'clock.) The mules. Of which there
from 20 80 in each train, are lying
down or standing up as they choose,
and their villainous looking drivers,
in all imaginable attitudes. are sleep
ing, or in little groups are conversing
earnestly near by. These wagons
carry from twelve to fifteen thousand
pounds, and it seems wonderful how
they pc it, ''but they do :" One does
not want to show up amy jewelry on a
trip of this kind except Il good revolver
and belt full of cartridges. They
don't attract attention and are apt to
command respect.
From Buena Vista to Saltillo is a
very pleasant drive, the road being
nearly level and pretty well kept. AS
soon as you strike the city everything
is cobble-stones, and you get such Il
| jolting as You never experienced he
fore, and as Your coach rumbles and
roars along, if You will watch those
dry. musty-looking houses $50 dry
looking there is a difficulty felt i'll get
ting your breath as you pass You vii!
see great, curious black eyes pecring
at you from behind the bars of the
windows, that as soon as they see you
have discovered them. disappear on
! the instant. The Mexicans ara II queer
people. especially where their women
are concerned, a.d ! believe if they
thought it would keep impairment
Americans from seeing their sisters,
their cousins" etc, they would build
a wall mile high and have unde)
ground passagcways. But they have
concluded. as one told me. 1t is all TO
no purpose. and have made up their
minds to submit to what seems the in
evitab!e.
| y stiff 'norther" blew up the even
ing returned to Buena Vista and as
everybody staid in the houses | stop
ped home to write. lii the morning
after settling my bill with three or four
different ones and refusing positively
to do so again. started for the depot
with an old leather skinned Indian
carrying my tricks, and as the train
was two hours late starting and | had
been too sick to talk about the night
previous. | went to sleep and was half
way to Monterey before | woke. Our
train used four engines in making the
run: the last one broke down near the
recent train robbery, and as there
was a campfire some distance back
from the track, we thought we We're in
for it sure. But everything PANIED
out all right and We reached Laredo
right side up. 1t took me two weeks
to get over that trip, but it was very
1 ! al