The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1885-01-29
THE LAND OF REVOLUTIONS.
Life in the Home of the Greaser and
the Land OF the Bull Fight.
CRY OF MEXICO, January 10, 1885

y
From an Occasional Correspondent.
We left Los Angeles, from.Yhich point
I wrote you last, on January 18th, at .
pm, and had long ride through sand
and cactus of 2.O31 miles to this city,
where we arrived on the 10Th inst, at
$40 am, having been four days and
eighteen hours on the road; we stopped
at Ell Paso del Norte about twelve hours;
this is city of 6 200 or I, 600 inhabitants,
situated on the Mexican side of the river
Rio Grande; never was in city before
where it was not safe to walk about In
broad daylight; by this | do not mean
to say that person Is liable to be killed
If he appears on the street, but if you
go into any place to get a glass of beer.
cigar or lunch, you are liable to be
drudged and robbed; it is the greatest
place for bunco men ever saw or heard
of; there is hardly day passes without
some tourist being robbed, and the
roughs only have to cross the line either
way, and they are measurably safe from
punishment.
Our party has two Pullman buffet
sleeping cars; there were thirty-three in
the party, and as not one of us was
robbed, we all feel very proud of the
fact; good guide, who gave full warn
ing, was the main cause of our provi-
dental escape.
This city has a population of 800, 900
inhabitants; it is 7,400 feet above sea
level; the streets, and sidewalks are
very good; the city is well governed,
the police regulations being first class.
| believe z person is perfectly safe in
any part of the City of Mexico, either by
day or night real estate is not taxed
here, but every thing that is brought
into the city, or that is manufactured
within the city limits has to pay duty.
| went out to the city gate the other
day on the old cauSeway that leads to
Guadalupe; this causeway was here
when Cortes conquered the Montezumae.
While here | saw the taxes collected on
stone, adobies. lumber, straw, fruit,
chickens, etc., all of which we're packed
either by men or donkeys. saw men
carrying on their backs about ninety feet
of lumber, n weight of about 300
pounds; all lumber is sawed by whip
saws, and all timbers are hewed: L
visited the Viga market, where fruits
and vegetables are sold; watermelons,
strawberries. bananas, oranges and
fruits of all kinds were here displayed
IN abundance.
There are said to be 10000 people'here
who have no home. E. no regular
place to sleep, or eat. As | walk ABOUT
in the evening, see men, women and
children huddled together. sleeping
upon steps, in stairways and upon the
| sidewalks. The Deseret National Bank
steps would be grand place for about
twenty or thirty of these night vag-
rants, because there would be little
danger of their slumbers being dis
turbed by their being trod on.
| went to see my first bull fight yester-
day Sunday, and if the Lord will tor
give me for going. | feel sure it will be
the last time. The ring is about lac
feet in diameter, and is surrounded by
two tight plank fences, six feet high
and about four feet apart, and both
! fences have an inch rope. fifteen inches
/ above the top of the planks. Seats are
provided for 5000 or 1000 people, and
on this day there was an audience OF
about 1000 in attendance. In the ring
there were four horsemen-two well
! mounted and two badly-two clowns
and five men with banners. The first
bull brought out jumped the fence, and
as the space between the fences was oc.
cupied by number of policemen and
| OtherS, L surely thought tnaC some
one would be killed. all however
escaped. The animal was soon in the
ring again, and after fifteen minutes OF
torture. the poor beast was killed and
dragged out by three mules. The third
bull brought in lasted eight minutes, but
during that time he killed two horses.
l had had enough of it by that time,
and left, but learned afterward thai
the sixth and last bull killed one OF the
banner men and two horses.
This is very interesting city, and a
visit well repays the long and expensive
trip necessary to reach it. We have
been very busy sightseeing all the
time, and having only four days here,
we are trying to make the most of it.
l wish l could remain at least ten days
| longer, bCt our excursion tickets are
limited.
The weather here is most delightful.
am sitting now while writing. in the
Grand Plaza in front of the Cathedral,
and the temperature is of the most
pleasant and agreeable balminess.
Yours,