Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-05-06
AT BATOPILAS.
Shepherds Mines and
How They are Worked
WORD PICTURE OF THE MINING SETTLE
MENT-THE JOURNEY FROM CHIHUAHUA-A
TALK WITH MR.. r. p. MoRSELL.

Mr. r. P. Morsell, who has just returned from
Mexico, where he has been for four years with
ex-Gov Shepherd, speaks very enthusiastically
of the mining life out there. He says they are
getting out lots of silver but it takes hard work
to get it, and the expense is very heavy. There
are about two thousand inhabitants, twenty
hve or thirty of whom are Americans at Ba-
topilas, where the plant of the Consolidated
Mining company, of which Mr.. Shepherd is
president, is located. All the machinery and
equipment for reducing the ore to bars of pure
silver Is at the companys hacienda, and all the
crude ore is brought there on mule back from
the mines controlled by the Consolidated COM
pany, and from those of the two other COM
panies, who have no machinery, and have to
pay per centage to have their metal worked
out Some of the ore has to be taken for about
Three miles on mule back to the machinery.
he says they work the mines by drilling and tun-
neling. From the tunnels they work upwards
and knock out the silver ore, some times strik-
ore to silver bars by means of the most approved
methods, producing, he says, from fifty to a
auno hnndred bars bars per month, worth thousand
the market. He thinks the work is paying,
though the expense is great. The country out
there, he says, has very much improved, and
the means of transportation will be made easier
The mines are worked by Mexican laborers,
who work very satisfactorily during certain
seasons. But this is the fruit season, and they
don't care to work when they can live on lus-
cious fruits. The "Petahaya' is ripe all through
ing classes are called, are roaming through the
woods to gather it.. All the natives. he says, are
very courteous and respectful to Americans. In
sending out the silver bars there has to be
an armed guard for defense against banditti,
but they have never yet had any trouble, the
6anditu always respecting American property.
The upper class of the natives dress and act
very much as the Americans do, only they are
much more marked in the politeness of their
in disposition and Manners and are very civil
and easily managed. They live I'm brush huts
with palm roofs, plastered over with mud, and
with nothing but the earth for floor.
The Americans OF Gov. Shepherds party, he
says have most of the home comforts. Their
log houses were nicely fitted out, and Mrs.
Shepherd had her piano, which il cost 81 900
to carry from Chihuahua, thirty natives having
70 h up between them and carry it on
many of the things to be had at stores here at
Washington and furnishes the men with beer
at from IS cents toa dollar per bottle, and
smoking tobacco at So per pound. The natives
do not indulge SO much in expensive beer, as
they find more fire to the mouthful in their
Country were Mrs A. r Shepherd, Miss 50 Mas aas
Shepherd, Miss Sue Shepherd, Misses Grace
and end Belle Shepherd, Mrs. r. F.. Morsell, Miss
X. Morsell, in charge of Capt. J. c. White, the
conductor. They had with them about eight bars
Ther Mr. dSrs to the bar
full, though their mode of travel for the first
part OF their journey would seem quite novel
mule-back over the steep and rugged noun
tains, each having a saddle-mule, while the
trunks and luggage was strapped on the pack
animals. The trip was far from a safe one, Mr..
Morsell says, for besides the dangerous noun
:a!n paths there was the fear of banditti, par
have been tempting to the Mexican
outlaws to hold for ransom: But though
gency, none arose. For eight days they
travelled through the mountains, Stopping for
rest at the stations which are log huts erected
some ten or twelve hours apart, and one day,
while crossing the .Maca" level plain on top
q constant cold rain, which wet all the men
through to the skin, as they had to give up their
water proofs to the ladies' Their journey lay
tthrol& = te, tRlck growth Of Petahaya
ih the valleys, and scrub oaks and lofty pines
and o4dafs On the mountain. The whole region
was In full yerdure, and beautiful with flowers
and fruit. The peaches were already an inch in
canaca, and thence to Wacana, where they
struck the first tie of the Mexican Central rail-
little crosses planted in the ground to indicate
that persons murdered by road robbers lay be-
meath hem.