National Republican., 1885-10-31
THE BRIDES At BATOPILAS.
a SKETCH OF THE HOME OF THE sIIEP-
HERDS IN MEXICO.
The Home the Ex-Governor Has Pro-
Vided for His Family, and the Mines
That Chain Him in His Long Exile.

herd has been revived by the visit here of
his family and the events which signali2ed
their stay In this neighborhood. His two
elder daughters have started with Mrs.
Shepherd and her other children to return
TO their home in foreign land-to home
The surroundings of which are so little
known as TO cause lively curiosity among
their many friends here as to their nature.
With view to obtaining some authentic
information in this relation Il reporter for
the REPUBLICAN sought Mr.. Arthur Shep-
herd, the brother of the ex-governor, now
on business visit to this city, where he
was formerly a well-known journalist. lie
at first objected on the ground that so much
had appeared from time TO time on the
subject
"But none of the publications have given
n picture OF the practical, everyday life Mt
the home Of the eXilcs," insisted the re-
porter "What we want Is clear aud
comprehensive statemcnt-such a one as
you, an old newspaper man, would want to
readp
"Well, he said " I'll give 1t to you as
briefly ms possible. We in Batopilas live
and breathe about the same as the ordinary
mortal. We are located in barranca, or
valley, In southern chihuahua, about seven
days travel from the city of that name;
eight days from Mazatlan, on the Pacific
slope, and five days from the Gulf OF Cali
fornia. The journey thither is mainly on
the backs OF mules, there being about two
days of stage riding ut the commencement
Of the journey. Gov. Shepherd, with his
family. reside In the Hacienda dc San
Miguel, where is also located the plant of
machinery erected at great cost for the
reduction Of the ores Of the several mines
under the governors control. From the
hacienda issue all orders for the conduct Of
work IN the mines, as well as all material of
every description necessary to he used in
their development. At the six or eight
prominent mines in the district
there is o superintendent, who resides on
the premises, and the force is worked at
each by day and by night, labor being sus-
pended on Saturday evening until Monday
inornng-thus Sunday becomes u day of
rest, hut II is generally recognized among
the natives as day of pastme devoted to
horse racing, chicken fighting, and card
playing-the national amusement of the
country. These sports, though occurring
directly in the streets of the town, are
usually conducted with decorum, and al
though large quantities of mescal (the
native whisky made from a species Of cactus
plaIt) are qualfed, and many become under
its influence, still there is seldom any seri-
Gus disorder. Each resident superinten-
dent reports in person on Sunday to Gov.
Shepherd, and an hour or two is weekly
spent IN an interchange of views as to the
best mode Of conducting the next weeks
work as to secure a satisfactory result. by
satisfactory result mean yield of native
silver-for that is what is looked for con-
stantly to gladden. the heart Of the governor
and his stockholders.
"Tell us something Of the home life at
the haciendaW
"The family are as nicely located as 1t Is
possible to have them. Ample rooms are
provided for parlor sitting, dining, and
sleeping accommodations. a billiard room
is also arranged for the amusement Of the
yCung people. All the rooms are light aud
airy, fronting either on the river on one
side or the patio Tor yard) on the other.
Within this patio are thrifty orange,
guava, and other tropical fruit trees, while
lcyord 1t has been arranged beautiful
garden, circular IN shape, and surrounded
ky a slopng stone wall. Steam baths and
running water are arranged within the
dwelling portion, and, In fact, every posi-
Ile comfort is provided. The school room
over which n gOverness prcsides, is pro-
vided with desks, blackb0ards, &c. The
kitchen is commodiOus, and what with the
leef Of the country, the vegetables supplied
from mthecompany's ranches, aud such canned
goods as are imported the table is supplied
more bountifully and in greater variety
than one would imagine so far from
civilization. Each of the children, as well as
tie ladies', have their horse or mule, and
daily rides help to ill up the hours of the
pa ssing day.
The governor and Mrs. Shepherd live
in their children, and when the family
circle is complete it presents n nretty pic
ture. The introduction of the two new hus-
bands will hardly enlarge 1t, as for some
years past they have formed part of the
family, Mr.. Brodie being the mining engi-
neer, and Mr.. Quintard, the assayer, both
with headquarters at the hacienda"
'What is the route by which Batopilas is
reachedY
'By either of the railroad lines to FL Paso,
Tex, thence by Mexican Central railroad to
station called IimeneZ, about 40 miles
south from chihuahua. Here the company's
stages are in waiting, and carry passengers
for nearly two days beyond the mining town
OF Parral TO point at the foot OF the
mountains, known as THE Tenagas' (water
holes). Here saddle mules are taken, and
after five days trip by that mode OF
jouneying Batopilas is reached. Along the
mountain route station houses are erected
and corrals provided for the mules at night
Within the walls Of these stations huge fire.
are lighted, and by their grateful warmth
the beds are laid out for the travellers, who
generally are sufficiently iaded by thei
days ride to be glad to reach a resting
The time Of the trip from New York o
Washington to Batopias is about twely,
days"
"What sort Of place is Batopilas ~
at is a town of about 4 1000 Inhabitants
and extends along the river front-whict
just below the hacienda forms an acute
angle-about one and a half miles. There
are several streets in the village, well LAID
out and partly paved. 1t has good muni
cipal government, the gefc polit!co or mayor
being Don Jesus G.. Hernandez, an cdu
Gated, courteous gentleman, who IN addi
tion TO his civic duties is employed by Gov
Shepherd as purchasing agent for the
hacienda at Batopilas. This position Il
necessary, as at certain seasons OF the yeal
large amounts of coffee, sugar, -four, beans
corn, lard, and other articles Of food arC
brought into the town, and are sold IL
open market. AS at several OF the mines
there are stores for the sale Of such goods
to the employees, 1t is necessary to have
some one TO look after the purchase of these
supplies. There is police force Of ter
men, and good order is maintained day and
night. The streets are well lighted at NIGH
from the proceeds OF tax upon the
merchants. There are about twenty
stores and numerous small shops
the supplies for which are pur
chased IN Chihuahua, the City OF Mexico
and Mazatlan. The cost Of freighting
goods Is great-about 500 per ton-conse
quently to buy from the Batopilas mer
chants we expect to pay large percentag,
above the price paid In towns along the
railroads. Still a good deal of business /,
done, as the Mexican miner Is improvident
content to work hard all the week to in
dulge in luXuries for one day Several o
the merchants are intelligent, cultivated
men with interesting families, and thei
presence (aftcr one has gained a knowledg,
of the language) helpsto make living ther,
little more endurable. Some Of til,