The St. Johns herald. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 1885-1903, 1888-06-14
Witches i'm New Mexico.

our pilgrim fathers to eXterminate
! the pestilent breed of witches, there
are still witches and to spare in
! New Mexico; and the natives, al
most to a man, believe in and fear
them. They are generally women,
but sometimes men; usually OF
middle age, but occasionally very
old, and rarely very young. 1t was
my privilege the other day to pho
tograph three live witches-the first,
[ venture to say, that ever faced a
camera. They live in San Rafael,
and are named Plasida Morales,
Antonia Morales (Placida's sister,
and Josefta (Placida's daughter.)
Our witchology is full, detailed
and graphic. Every paisano in New
Mexico can tell you their strange
habits, their marvellous powers and
their baneful deeds. They never
injure the dumb animals, but woe
to the human being who incurs
their displeasure. Few, indeed, are
bold enough to brave their wrath.
If a witch asks for food, wood and
clothing, or anything else, none
dare say her nay. Nor dare any
one. eat what a witch prOffers; for
if he do some animal, alive and
gnawing, will form in his stomach.
By day the witches wear their fa-
miliar human form, but at night
dressed in strange animal shape
they fly abroad to hold witch meet
ings in the mountains or to Wreak
their evil ways.
In dark night you may see them
flying through the sky like so many
balls of fire, and there are compar-
atively few Mexicans in the terri
tory who have not seen this weird
sight. For these nocturnal sallies
the witches wear their own bodies,
but take the legs and eyes Of the
coyote or other animals, leaving
their own at home. Juan Perea, a
male witch, who died here in San
Mateo some months ago, met with |
strange misfortune in this wise
He had gone off with the eyes of a
cat, and during his absence q dog
knocked over the table and ate up
Juan's own eyes; so the unfortu-
nate witch had to wear cats eyes
all the rest Of his life.
A drunken fellow over at Ce-
bolleta once kicked witch. He
was instantly taken sick and was
confined to his bed for nine months.
Then he sent for the witch, hum
bly, begged her pardon, land besought
her to cure him. She gave him
mysterious draught, he vomited up
a live mouse and was cured instan-
ter.
A pretty girl at San Rafael, just
married, had a quarrel with one of
the witches there. That night a
strange cat came into the room.
Feeling sure it was witch she
locked the door and window, and
her husband came with his six
shooter, but the cat melted into1
thin air before he could shoot. A
little later an owl suddenly appear
ed, flew against Margarita's cheek
and cut it, and then disappeared as
mysteriously as the cat had done.
A horrible sore formed on the cheek
and could not be cured until Mar
garita appeased the witch with
presents.
Jose Patricio Marino, one of the
most respected men in San Mateo,
had a most unfortunate experience
not long ago. There was then in
town witch named Marcellina, q
thin, withered woman of so years.
Marino had the bad luck to offend
her, and she rctaliated by turning
him into woman. He was in this
predicament for several months, as
he is keen to swear, and recovered
only by bribing the witch to restore