The Arizona sentinel., 1888-06-30
MExCO'S SIBERIA,

MExICO'S SIBERIA.
 How the Mexican Government D1spOses
 of Political Criminals.
 For many years Yucata an has been the Siberia of Mexico. whither are ex- led the offenders whom the Govern ment does not know what to do with since the amended constitution of the Liberal party practically does away with capital punishment It is handy in case of political prisoners. and troublesome people generaliy--who might turn up again if banished else where-fOr from that bourne none has ever returned, IL has been the fashion to conduct such obnoxious persons under military guard 10 the frontier of Yucatan civilization, or to some out-of-thc-way landing place along inc coast, and simply let them go. What becomes of them none can tell. The interior is known O be populated by war>like peo- pie, who have towns and cities and & certain degree of semi-barbaric civ ilization. Whether they enslave new corners or naturalize and make citi- zens of them, or put them to death is food for conjecture. Probably the mystery of it adds to the punishme nt its greatest terrors However, it is well-known truth that among the tin- fortunates condemned to Yucatan few reach their destin alton, the soldiers in charge having secret orders to give the prisoners opportunities to escape and to shoot them down the instant the seeming chance is acted upon.
 Especially dangerous is the eastern shore of Yucatan, and should any traveller be so mad as to land there it would as certainly be the end of him as if he were dropped into hadcs. As for redress, his friends might as well appeal to the winds as to the Mexican Government, the latter having even less control. The chief tribe of Eastern Yucatan Indians are known as the Chan. Santa Cruz, having city of that name in the southern part of the peninsula. about thirty-six miles west of Ascension bay and some sky miles below Lake Bacalar The lake is about fifteen miles long, and on Its western shore Che Indians have their seaport-also named Bacalar-where they go to trade with British Honduras via the Hondo river
 Recently they determined to flee themselves, once for all. from Spanish- Mexican control. They named their stronghold Chan Santa Cruz (.Little Holy Cross''O, and chos3 its site be- cause near a spring of clear. cold water they found a great tree upon the bark of which small cross had been carved. The leader of the revolters, priest-wise, induced the others to be- lieve that the cross was of Heavenly origin, cut by an angel who had descended for the express purpose of guiding them in their con- tinuation of hostilities against the Mexicans. Being so fortunate as 10 discover a ventriloquist among HIS AOlIONOAoI llle CulnluP l0du6E LOOK him into confidence. A biz church was built, great cross set up within it. and the ventriloquist instructed to throw his voice so that it would sound as coming from the wood thereof urg- ing the people on to bloody deeds against the Mexicans. Believing that. the mandates issued vertically from the cross and must therefore, be of Divine origin, the people blindly obey cd them.
 But in the very next battle the ventriloql list was killed. and for long time the cross was speeches.. Finally another fellow was taken into con- tidence, and being no ventriloquist, he disguised his voice in sharp squeaky tones and spoke only at night when the church was in com plete darkness, so that none could see a man standing near 'fhe holy speak ing cross" The deception was kept up many years, and the mysterious voice was worshiped and obeyed-so little does it require to start new religious sect. -PhaadeLDhiG Record.