Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-06-13

yond computation. Around the cathedral
altar and all over the walls of Del Cerrito
may be seen multitude of testimonials
from grateful believers who have been mi
raculously healed of infirmities or rescued
from dangers by interposition of the vir-
gin. Among these e1-votos are cords of
cast-off crutches, wax figures representing
every imaginable phase of disease or de-
formity and hundreds of small oil paint
ings, each setting forth its story. Some Of
the pictures are extremely ludicrous, as, for
example, one represents o woman in wide
hoops and gorgeous attire, thrown from her
horse into a pile OF rocks and standing
plumb upon her head, without a hair ruff
fled OF fold of drapery disarranged, while
the fractions steed stands gazing at the phe-
nomenon with a comical expression of sur
prise upon his equine face. Here are
counterfeit presentments' Of all the woes
that unfortunate Pandora let loose. in col
ors and outlines that are enough to make
angels weep. People are being dashed over
precipices, attacked by robbers and ram
pant beasts unknown TO zoology falling
victims to vomito and all manner of deadly
diseases; plunging into abysses from broken
bridges standing in the way Of bursting
boilers and rushing locomotives about to
be hung, shot or beheaded, and from every
peril simultaneously rescued by calling
upon Guadalupei Innumerable children
are shown in the act of sitting down in tubs
of boiling water, others enveloped in flames,
and one man was actually
DEAD IN HIS coFFIE,
When his weeping widow appealed to the
blessed Virgin, and she restored him in a
twinkling. Lest any of these marvels
should be doubted by the ungodly, mi
mute account OF all the circumstances at
tending each is appended, together with
the name and residence of the hero or
heroine.
Half way up the mountain side stands
queer monumental one man S devotion--the
mast and sails of ship in stone and NOR
tar. The story runs that sailor, about to
perish in violent storm at sea. bethought
himself of Santa Guadalupe, and vowed, if
she would rescue him, to build her tenn
pie in the form of a ship. But when safe
ashore again, either his piety or his funds
failed him, and he got no further with the
promised temple than the foremost And
there it stands, remarkable feature in the
landscape, probably the only stone etfigy
of a ship in existence. Tradition says that
the faithless sailor returned to sea, and
found himself again in peril; when, call
ing upon Guadalupe, she came-not to
succor, but to remind of broken vows, and
the waters ClOSeu ABOVE MN.
A poem has been written on the wonder
full works of this Virgin, which is sold in
book-f0rm at the door of the cathedral.
Rosarie5 are also offered for sale, the beads
made from berries that grow on the bushes
of the sacred mountain; also ribbons Of
gorgeous hues, which are said to give the
exact measurement of the blessed Virgins
head. AS the ribbons are nearly yard
length, one is inclined to believe that she
is wearing an unCommOnly :" long face
perhaps over the woes and miseries to
which her attention is constantly being
called.
GRAVE OF GENERAL SANTA ANA.
Close behind Del Cerrito, on the summit
of Tepeyacac, is a populous cemetery, where
lie many OF Mexico's most distinguished
dead. The chapel itself is filed to over
flowing with believers bones, and during
the last three centuries their graves have
struggled farther over the mountain till the
hight where Guadalupe stood has become a
vast camping ground for her silent
followers, Near the entrance may be found
the grave OF Santa Ana, the " Butcher of the
Alamo" 1t is incosed by row of inverted
iron torches joined by chains. A scraggy
cactus is growing on the grave, and at its
foot tall cedar tree struggles for existence,
being nearly bare of branches from the de-
mands of visitors, who gladly give dollar
to the sexton for q bit of living green in
which such illustrious dust has found res
direction. A plain granite slab, hung with
wreaths of faded immortellcs, bears this in
scription: