Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-04-29
lOriginal.1


How little we really know of our own
vast country, though we think we I'M
derstand its history and geography thor
oughly. The man or woman residing
in the New England States may by
few weeks travel visit every important
city or pleasure resort, but he has only
become acquainted with very small
portion of that scope of country known
as the United States and Territories. A
single Territory in the vast West is as
large as all New England. One may be
thought insane to assert that we have
within the limits of the United States
living Emperor and real Empire,
which in area at least is considerable.
but such is the fact. This Empire, like
many of the enchanted cities of the
''Arabian Nights" is known to but few.
Newspaper men have not invaded the
fair domain of this monarch, and he
lives in peaceful security and royal
dignity, swaying the scepter with an
iron will. The Emperor's word is law,
and his is as absolute monarch as can
be found in the most despotic countries
of the EARTH He makes his own laws,
is the Chief Executive and judiciary of
the realm. Such is the Emperor of
Chilli" Way out on the Southwest,
where the sun blazes on the white sand
dunes as far as the eye can see. where
the air quivers with heat, is the Empire
of Chilli. One may travel hundreds
of miles over the desert and alkali lands
without seeing human habitation save
the rude adobe huts and pueblos of
two ancient and DIVING races
Chilli is a certain tract of land COM
prising some sixty thousand acres in the
Southeastern portion of the Territory of
New Mexico. 1t is isolated and remote
from all lines of travel. About
forty thousand acres of it
is timber and eight or ten
thousand arabic land, and the re-
mainder is desert, like the desert which
stretches for hundred miles around it.
1t is so distant, so difficult of access,
that it seldom has visitor. Occasion
ally a lost vaquero or hunter may stray
thither, but those visits are rare, and the
population rarely leave it. 1t is vast
oasis where men can live, and perhaps
be happy, and grow old and die without
ever having stepped their feet on the
great world beyond. There are many
human beings living in this strange en-
pire who know little or nothing of the
outside world. The scope of land is an
ancient Spanish grant and was pufs
chased nearly forty years ago by man
named Henry. 1t was then fully fifteen
hundred miles from the outposts of
civilization. Henry owns it still, and
no man disputes his title. He is its En-
peror and acknowledges no other name
than Henry. Every human being who
lives there addresses him as '.your
Majesty and pays him tribute, and
knows no law but his will.
1t is only recently that this Empire of
Chilli has become a fixed certainty.
For wears rumors of it have been whis-
pered about over the plain of a small
nation of people under king, living
within the limits of the United States,
but it has been regarded as myth. Fiji
teen years ago Western Spectator
named Michael Hogarth, having heard
some stories of the empire which In rich
ness in minerals and wealth and beauty
eaualed an FL Dorado, set out to find it
with six men and four pack mules.
Hoparth and his little band have never
been heard from since. and whether they
persisted on the desert, were murdered
bv the Indians, or still exist in a state
of slavery to the cruel Henry, is not
known and probably never will be. But
of late the existence and locality of the
empire are fixed facts. Rev. A. j.
Palmer, in letter recently published
i'm the Christian Adrocate, New York,
states that he met this man Henry, the
Emperor of Chilli. on the train between
Santa Fe and Lamy. The Emperor
had ventured to leave his domain for a
few DAYS to visit the Tertio-Millenial
Exposition which then was in progress
at Santa Fe, in celebration of the three
hundred and thirty-third anniversary of
the founding of that ancient Aztec city.
Mr.. Palmer was introduced to His Maj
esty, whom he found half drunk and
quite talkative. He describes him as
s.little wizen-faced old man of perhaps
seventy, with cheeks sunburned brown
by exposure to southern suns, but with
Keen blue eyes, and very short stature,
not more than five feet three inches In
height" The minister concludes his
description by saying he was 'by no
means a foel So many others have
met him and .giyen accounts of his
country the is abundant testi-
.uony = IS he existence of an Empire
{ og midst