Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1886-05-14

They at first feared it was only deceiv-
ing mirage, but it did not recede or dis
appear ut their approach. 1t seemed to
be u reality, and it was. They were in
the land of Chilli, and met dark-faced
men and women who spoke boil. the
English and Spanish language with a
dialect peculiar to themselves. They
were taken to q stream of clear, cool
water where their thirst was slaked, and
then for hours they lay under the spread
ing branches of a palmetto, the delight
1nl breeze from an orange grove tanning
their checks, and bearing the sweetest
odors they had ever known.
The soft tones Of maidens in the mel
low Spanish language seemed soothing
to the sufferers, and they could half be-
lleve themselves in the land of fairies
and enchantment. Had they been per-
mittcd to eat rs much of the fruits,
bread and roasted meat, as they desired,
doubtless both would have died, but a
prudent Old man who was doubtless q
doctor of the realm, forbid their eating
more than just enough to aggravate
their cravings. They were conveyed to
houses of some kind and put on beds.
The long fast and journey through the
sun without water had brought on nerv-
ous fever. Their brains were recling,
even as they were conducted through
the streets of the small hamlet. The
distant mountains seemed webbing, the
houses turning topsy-turvy, ''greasers''
grinning and rolling apparently in
every direction, while the ~senoritas
seemed to go sideways u on their
heads, waltzing along the narrow streets
in most unnatural attitudes. The old
Mexican doctor felt their pulse, temples
and feet and made his professional
diagnosis:
"Cnraia; Tres dies q nocAcs en- CARO-
"a Nal dc ca6eza y des0rre Clio de los
nerros." He began administering strange
drugs which soon produced q refreshing
sleep. They awoke after several hours
very much refreshed. and after eating q
sparing meal We're all right, except very
weak. The people RECALLED them with
strange, curious stories. There were some
almost white, but the majority wore
mixed with the Indian-what is COM
monty known us grcasers. Though
nearly all spoke the Mexican language,
the better class also spoke English quite
%tluently. The majority were m~iserably
Ignorant, but a few We're quite
intelligent. In answer to inquiries
as to where they We're, they We're in
formed in Chilli. To them Chilli was
Greek, until they heard the name of the
Emperor Henry mentioned. They had
heard the floating rumors of this abso-
lutte monarchy IN the heart OF the desert,
but this was the first time they had be-
licved in it's existence. Here it was-a
strange nation. Il new world, an uneN-
plored region to outsiders, and yet
something like civilization. AS they
walked out upon the streets they behcld
houses of adobe, wood and stone. They
We're built chiefly on the Mexican plan,
but one was evidently English archi-
lecture Of what is called the Queen
Elizabethm period. They saw several
carts, n or two wagons and an old
carriage, which they were informed be-
longed to the Emperor. This house,
they were informed, was His Majesty's
residence. Tho palace, Il large building
of stone, with some ~pretenSions to ele-
gance, stood upon 81 cminence at the
end of u village. 1t was surrounded by
Il stone wall about eight feet high, and
with Il gate entering ut the front and
one at each side. Halt dozen soldiers,
in q uniform which was a mixture of
Mexican. English and of the United
States, sat in front OF each gate. They
We're IN ignorant-looking set of knaves,
and. in fact, Il well drilled company of
United States infantry could put the
entire army of the Emperor to flight.
Four or five old rusty pieces of artillery
lay in inches made for them in the wall
about the palace. The Emperor had
taken the utmost caution for his own
safety.
AS the two Americans were walking
about the village, adark-skinned officer,
with a heavy saber dangling at his side
and 4 brace of pistols sticking in his
belt, came to the front and, saluting
them. said in very good English:
ellis Excc'lency, the Emperor, has
sent for you to come to his palace"
The prospectors could only assent,
and yet, with their hearts tluttering in
their bosoms, they hesitated. There
was nothing better than to comply with
tho request. Ii rumors were true con-
corning this petty tyrant of the desert,
he was subject to fits of cruelty. He
might be incenscl at this invasion of his
country, us he might term it, and have
them put to death, imprison them, or
worse, condemn them to slavery. They
were satisfied that they might pass a life
time in slavery in this strange land with
no hope of ever being rescued. They
expressed their willingness to meet his
Majesty, and were conducted by the Of
ticer toward the great front entrance.
The soldiers, six in number, rose at
their approach and stood at a ''present
arms,' until the officer and two Ameri-
cans had passed within.
They found a spacious lawn, very
beautiful, with paths of white pebbles
leading through it. There were orna-
mental trees Of almost every variety
the palm and cedar, the paradise tree,
the pine and fig tree. Rare eNotics
bloomcd on every hand. Two foun-
tains were playing on each side of the