The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1888-01-12

Between the United States
and Mexico.
A Hillsboroan Working In One
Country and Living I'm
Another.


VuOf 1utOTc8UoB 1t000s
EAoIE Pass, Texas. Dec. Q, 1887.
Ma. EDrroR IL quite agree with Mr..
~ mr s. Lyle a. to tho News HERALD
J&tdg ~ good as Z letter. Ny friend,
Mr.. J. 7. Ashford, and take the paper
in partnership, and I am more anxious
to get Il than . letter, for the reason
that Il contains al the news Of the On.
tire county. It has been nearly three
years since / left Hilbboro and quite ~
long since Mr.. Ashford left the county,
and We find many interesting items and
articles in your valuable paper.
This and much different country
from Ohio. Eagle Pass u quite thriv.
ing little city Of about 5000 souls, and u
situate ON the banks Of the Rio Grande.
The surrounding country is we'll adapted
to sheep, goat and cattle raising, and
but little farming u done. The city is
blest with one railroad, the F. O al. n,
which is now about to connect with the
Mexican Central, which will give us .
direct line to the City Of Mexico.
There 10 ono bridge railroad bridge
-across the river at this place, which I
cross twice . day. I am engaged -
tims-keeper at the shops Of the above
named railroad, and board ON this side
Of the river. Any young man with en-
ergy can do we'll at this point.
Across the river from Eagle Pas lies
the town Of Peidras Neigras. This town
would be sight for many. Most Of the
houses are built Of mud-sdobe houses,
and four.flfths Of these houses have but
enc room. They are covered with straw
or wild grass that grows in the valley
OF the Rio Grande. Asa general thing
the inhabitants Of this village let one
day provide for itself, or, in other words,
they never have more than enough food
for to-day and leave tomorrow to look
out for itself. A great many Of the rail.
road employees live in Peidras Neigras,
simply because the place Is handler to
their place Of employment. There ID .
large railroad shop just across the river
which employs over one hundred and
fifty men.
Mexico, for about two hundred miles
back from Peidras Neigras, ID quite .
good farming country, there being .
great many sood-sised streams, by which
the land can be irrigated to raise some
fair crops. Sugar il their main crop, and
corn and sweet potatoes are cultivated
to quite an extent. Their mode Of
farming il very similar to that which I
have heard my grandfather say was used
in his early days.
The Mexicans, - senerol rule, arc
very treacherous. They are exceeding.
ly jealous Of the American people, and
even the best and most highly educated
of them will not use the English lang.
uage. if they can in any possible way
avoid it.
For the past two weeks, fair, - you
in Ohio would call it, in Spanish, q taestd,
has been in progress. They are very
similar to your county fairs, with the
exception that they have a"Bull Fight"
three times . week. As I had never
witnessed one of these fights I deter
mined to attend ona last Sunday, but I
wish never to see another. In an On.
closure bull and six or seven men arc
placed. These men tease and torment
the animal with red blankets and tor.
pedoes until he becomes hostile; then
they commence sticking him with
spears, each man taking his turn then
large spear il used TO ILL the bull.
The whole performance i cruel and dis
gusting, yet large crowds are always In
attendance ct them.
Gambling is another amusement and
one of the main sources Of enjoyment
ct the Taesta. Out In the middle Of the
grounds are large monte games; wheels
Of fortune, roulette, and al kinds Of
games for money. An American citizen
who had never seen the like would be
shocked at the sight Of Peidgras Nei.
gras At the present day.
Hoping that these lines will prove Of
interest to the Nsws.HERALD's readers,
! remain Yours truly,
JAMES n. RHoADn.