The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1886-05-22
Letter fror,, NEexlco.
ToPo CHICO, mexico, May 8, 1886.
7dftor alra Chorlas Enho.

to give you some items OF our trll
here and of this country.
Boarding the west bound train a
Lake Charles at o'clock a. m. thu
4th Of April, we arrived at the his
torical city of Monterey, $50 miles
from Lake Charles, on the evening o.
the 7th. The entire run is made in
daylight, laying over at San Antonio
and Laredo, giving one an opportunity
to wear out his eyes looking for OBJ.
iects of interest and seeing chiefly
cactus, prickly pears and mesquite
brush. Leaving San Antonio we pass
through 300 miles of 1t solid. At New
Laredo we bad TO pass muster, the
custom inspector went through our
baggage like dose of salts. We had
heard hard tales of these officials, ard
when he suspiciously examined wife's
new frock and bottle of Knapp's best
rye, my thermometer went down to
zero; he smole a smile, closed the
trunk and l breathcd easier.
Before we are fairly surrounded by
low foot hills we pass by the great
hacienda, on Milmo mesa. Mesa means
table land, and this one stands fully
800 feet above the plain, and SEEM
ingly with level surface on its sum-
nit comprising some 10000 acres of
rich grazing land. Perpendicular
bluffs surround the mesa, and its sum
nit can only be reached by one path,
which is easily guarded, making the
hacienda as secure from intrusion as a
fendal castle. This remarkable plan
tation is the property of Patricio Mil.
mo, banker of Monterey.
Patricio Milmo is Mexican of Irish
extraction, and reputed to be the rich
est man in the Republic. He is SON
in-law to the late General Vidaurri,
who was shot by Maximillian. For
further particulars of the family his
tory would refer the reader to Senior
Patricio himself enclose 8 cent stamp.
Monterey lies in horse shoe shaped
chain of the Sierra Madre mountains,
with their peaks rising four or five
thousand feet above the beautiful val
ley below. The scenery is grand and
and ! was seized with an
to climb to their crests, and
particularly that of Saddle mountain,
as it is said that but two Americans
has ever had the hardihood to scale
its dizzy peaks. But so far have met
no adventurous spirit for company, and
have not made the attempt.
| have walked over the historic
grounds surrounding the Bishops
palace, the strong hold of the Mex.
leans when the Americans captured it.
Three of our townsmen, Col. A. R. |
DR.. w. ii. Kirkman and Mr.. |
Il. D. Nix were in the assaulting col |
ann that captured this seemingly i'm
position, its eastern, western
and northern sides are smooth, and |
rise almost perpendicular to the
height of 800 feet, while its southern
was guarded by the palace
tself, a huge stone structure on a
commanding eminence, with heavy
and Notifications all around
md on top, the whole surrounded by
IN open level plain, with no cover
for an assaulting column,
md looking at it calmly with military
'ye, | would pronounce it an impos.
IibiIity TO take it by direct assault,
Apd let me say to these veterans, |
lave seen the combined efforts of the
Army of Northern Virginia hurled
gaiDst the heights of Malvern Hill,
nd saw the dauntless and fearless ].
,ankhead Magruder, and heard his
ersonal appeal when he formed his
olumns for the last frnitless death
rspple for the heights. / saw Burn
ide hurl the serted columns of the
rmy of the Potomac against the
eights of Fredericksburg only to fail.
witnessed the grandest and most fear.
ess charge that history records, that
+ Lees select columns, under the i'm
lortal Pickett, st Gettysburg, with
annop 10 the right Of them, cannon
} the left of them, cannon in front Of
lem, all believing and laundering,
ut on they went, TO finally reeoil be-
1re the terrific ordeal, and none of
lese positions are naturally as strong
J the Bishops palace, and say |
Forths veterans were better, or de-
,Dders Of tho Castle were not made i
as good timber as those who de-
'pded Malvern Hill, Fredericksburg /
! Gettysburg heights =
The old Mexican cannons are here
It, and | was surprised to find some !
them cight-inch, The old Castle
now used as magazine. Many q
,autiful gardens around the city of !,
opieal fruits, flowers, stataeLts and I
There are three beautiful
azas in the city, broad walks, seats,
,wers, shrnbbcry and fountains, kept
rupulously clean and neat. | was
,reeably surprised at their arehitec-
re, which is well displayed in their
arket house covering, market, plaza
"a their churches, all of stone. The
lly protestant church is the Baptist,
beautiful structure. The city Is very
uiet and peaceful, and well governed, |
ply two difficulties in thirty days, and |
lat 10 . population Of some 10000.
'ut few Americans here, and only two
sws, and they are folding their tents,
NE Mexican can out Herod Herod.