Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-11-02
FROM OLD MEXICO,
An Interesting Letter from Charley
Barlow.

Jaw M ANE, NOoANlO,
SINALoA, Mexico, 7
Oct. II, 1889.
ED. TIMEs:-When left Dayton l be.
lieve promised to write you short letter
upon arriving at my destination. Well,
am here, and here goes for the letter. left
San Francisco on the goth Of September,
and after very pleasant voyage Of six days
reached Mazatlan, city Of about ten thous.
and inhabitants, pleasantly situated at the
mouth Of the Gulf of California. The place
has a street-car line. railroad, and fine,
large plaza. in which full military band
plays ON two evenings OF the week. On
these evenings the plaza is crowded with
people, and the bellies Of the place are ouI
in full force. Some of them arc beauties,
too.
| left Mazatlan, after stay Of two days.
at4P. M, by stage for this Town, distant 20
miles, and after a very rough ride arrived
here just at daylight the next morning. The
stage was drawn by ten mules; two were
hitched to the tongue, and the other eight
were hitched up four abreast. We changed
mules four times during the night but had
only one driver. and. what we would call IN
Nevada, \ "swamper." The latter runs
along, bare footed, on the side Of the road,
and lashes the mules.
Rosario is a very old Mexican town, OF
about eight thousand inhabitants. OF this
number think there are not over twenty.
FIVE who talk the English language. There
are only two mines here. Most of the in
habitants are degraded set, and morality
is at a discount. They 60 about their work
wearing only a breech- clout. The women,
Of course, have little more clothing. The
people are all devout Catholics but are the
greatest thieves and liars on the
face of the earth. Every Sunday the people
assemble from far and near to witness bull
fight, which is their chief amusement.
The country is one Of luxurious Vegetation,
and tobacco grows without any cultivation.
1t is also a country where reptiles and in
sec;s grow to magnificent proportions. In
river that runs close to the edge Of town
are scores Of aligat ors, some Of them ~ or
IS feet long. anticipate great sport hunt
ing them soon. Scorpions are as plentiful
as flies, and lizards grow to the wonderful
length of three and four feet. There is a
smaller species, bite from one Of which is
sure death. A person has to be very careful
upon going to bed to see that no reptiles are
between his blankets. Deer, bear and leop.
ards are quite numerous, while small game
is abundant. In fact it is a great country
for sport.
The municipal government is centered in
one man, who is called Project. He has
unlimited power, and in reality is the Sheriff.
Judge and Jury. He can have men taken
out and shss for trifiing ofenses, and occa.
sionally does do so. Men are not allowed to
carry arms, and if a white man desires to
carry pistol for his own protection he must
first 60 to the Project and get license. for
which you pay So year. If you fail to do
this the Project will take your pistol away
and fine you $50.
The mine that am at is one Of the larg.
est and best equipped in Mexico. None on
the Comstock can equal it. About 500 men
are employed in the mine, and as many more
on the outsider The company has 4 large
machine shop, foundry and saw mill. A
store house containing nearly 500. ooo worth
Of supplies is also kept BY the company.
The buildings are all Of brick. with iron
bars IN the window openings. There are no
glass windows in the town. The mine and
buildings are all inclosed by a high brio k
wall and the main entrance is guarded by a
watchman all the time. We white men all
eat and sleep inside Of this Enclosure.
The country is well timbered with valu.
able wool, principally mahogany. black
ebony and Spanish cedar. The shafts Of
the mine are timbered from top to bottom
with mahogany and the wood is also used
for fuel. Our living is very fair; plenty Of
chicken, and beans every day. but we have
no butter nor vegetables, except = few poor
potatoes, which are worth 10 cts. per pound.
l find it a great disadvantage not to be
able to speak Spanish, and have purchased
Spanish primmer and am devoting my spare
time to learning the language. l have not
been here long enough to form much Of an
idea Of the country, but ! imagine l will
like it. Would not advise any one to come
here unless he has = sure thing before he
starts, As it is next to impossible for q
stranger to get employment here. Will
write again when kill an alligator.
Yours truly,
c. o. BARLOW.