West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-06-04
THE ENCHANTED TOWNS.
Superstition and Tradition i'm the
Mexican Wilds.
The Beautiful VcrmiIIion sea-scarchinr
for Lost cities and Heavenly scenes
An Old Indian Guide REEVES
Current Legend.
lOriginal.

lOriRinal.
NO scenery in Southern or Central
Mexico exceeds in point of grandeur
and beauty the view from the heights
oi the Sierra Madrc. Standing ON the
top of this range and looking to the
west one sees on the horizon "A long
line of gold, which has been called the
Nermillion Sea. The panorama pre-
sented is such as Mexico only contains;
Peaks to their very SUBMITS covered
with verdure, canyons W hose vast depths
the light of the sun never penetrates.
cliffs Springng from the regions of
perpetual summer, on whose brows the
clouds cternally rest. In the near dis
lance may be seen the foot hills. gradual
~ shading oil into the vast plain bound
ed on the further side by the ..Vermil-
hon Sea. The hight of the sun shin
Ing on the grand scenery. or bursting
through some Handicapped mountain
peak, gives the whole AN air of grand
eur and beauty calculated to astound
one even familiar with Alpine scenery.
In what Is now the border between
the States OF Durango and Sinalou. this
region eliminates i'm mountains of rue
Sed grandeur and canyons of dizzy
depths, remarkable even i'm Mexico.
Los Tres Frailcs, III Cerro Prlun and
Quaguento lift their rOck-crowned
heads above the clouds into the glare
OF eternal sun. and from their feet.
through canyon, which. only the Yose-
mite can rival, flow the rivers San
Lorenzo, Piastla and Preside. These
streams, almost dry in the dry seasons,
ar sWeiled To roaring torrents by the
rams. surely nothing i more sublime
thah the mad, dashing torrent thunder
ing down mountain cascades to the sea
OF gold. Countless rainbows represent
ing every color of the prism. has crys-
taliZed the beauties of San Lorenzo
waterfalls for the world TO admire
Surely more fitting subject could not
tempt an artist, and i'm the near future
we may expect some ambitious student.
tired of copying the great masters. to
enter the study OF Los Tres Frailcs
and bring back with him fame and
money There he will find height,
sufficient for his Imagination. rugged
grandeur lights shades and color that
would delight the heart of any painter.
III Is IN these canyons that tradition
says the RcGkS PcrdidoS y EHcanti,los-
the lost or enchanted towns-are stu
ated. Often around the camp fire or
ON the deer trail, climbing those rugged
heights, or hiding from the fierce ravs
Of the sun beneath some SPREADING
tepiguage, the traveller listens TO some
GraN-hared Aztec recounting the lost
GloTe- OF Fl Naranjal and ,Juego de
barras, which even the old Spanish
records mention, until fired bv their
enthusiasm, he has almost resolved to
search for the orange groves, deserted
haciendas amt rich mines said 10 exist
III some Ql these craggy canyons. The
outrageous peaks and deep, mfathom-
aDle canyons are in places almost
without inhabitants An occasional
prospector searching for the Real, Per-
didOs. or lost mining towns. "a fugitive
from Justice or az occasional yaGucro.
searching for lost stock are ali who
enter that trac<lcs- labyrinth Of rocks.
FORESTS and rivers But the lower
country j. not entirely populated with
enchanted towns. LO, Realities are
hidden away iu hooks and corners of
thus world set ON edge Ncntaur. Guam
eama1. San Dumas, Fyoltita. San Vim
cente, Baei~. Hirahulpau and San Jose
Dc 6uaguaia-. all mining towns. some
scarcely worthy Che name. struggle
for existence against the barren
rock. swollen Torrent, and ever
varying iuck Of the miner How true
the adagc Of thc Mexican miner. La
ksplr0Uf" Uu,re m UUiH0: hOpe
dia- last Of aI.'J and well Doe illus
iraic- Dr. pounding away 200 barren
veins. hoping against hope With
UH.tu 'u InHf|f. ~ IY sara rfr. It'ff1