The Indianapolis journal., 1890-05-11

An American Travellers Almost Fatal Ex-
perience with Mexican Vampires.


perience with Mexican Vampires.
Springfield Republican.
1t was in the early part of June, 1889, !
was travelling for . San Antonio paper and
printing house. and was just returning from
trip to the extreme southern portion or
Mexico. was on my way from Oajaca to
intending to take q train at the latter
place for the States. 1t was one OF the
most uncomfortable journeys / had ever
undertaken. had ridden for the better
part Of two days in yolancoche "a. Se9cle See.ce
being made of ropes holding up mattress,
on which could either recline or sit Turk
fashion. The motive power consisted OF
three little mules abreast. spurred on by
nately rode the left hand mule and ran
alongside. reeling off q strinG of Spanish
profanity that was positively shocking
whenever the little animals would not go
exactly as he wished them to. The road
was one OF the roughest ever travelled
over. The rocking and pitching OF the
volancoche reminded me more than any
thing else of o vessel in o storm at sea.
only it was worse.
1t was nearing night when we drew up at
times gone by. been Quite collection OF
houses at Oxite, but now, since the pack
trains no longer passed through there, the
main road having been somewhat changed,
there was nothing there habitable but the
posara. or hotel. which, in it's day. bad been
quite large building. The walls of
court, with sheds and sleeping apartments
on the inside, showed its former diinen-
sions, but only four of all the rooms were
in fit condition for a human being to live
in. All in all. the building had deserted
and forlorn appearance. The regular In
habitants of the place were limited to three
souls: Senor Don Tivurcio Beltran, his wife
and daughter.
After supper sat on tho hosts veranda
with hie family, chatting as much as my
limited powers as linguist would permit.
Miss sJuanita entertained me by singing sew
way that thrilled me. She was very piquant,
and what of music the dilapidated guitar
lacked was made up by her really fine
voice and our romantic surroundings. /
was charmed. and though tired from nv
heard Don Tivurcio's polite offer to show
me my quarters for the night. My room
was one somewhat removed from the 9TH
ers. and furnished as we'll as | remember,
with broken stool. jar of water and
bulls hide; the latter, knew from exDe-
rlenee. was my bed. so spreading my
blanket upon it, lay down. but sleep
could not. The night was sultry, the apart
ment poorly ventilated. and there seemed
to be thousand creeping things on my
body. / bore this as long as possible.
and then, seizing my blanket. rushed out
into the open air. After walking about
awhile spread my blanket nnder a stunted
palm some distance from the house and.
disrobing, / gave each of my garments Q
lay down, determined to sleep as much of
the night as possible.
Here said is cool; can sleep
here" The Thousand voices of tropic
feet were. already on the threshold of
dreamland when there came breezy.
whistling sound, and what / took to be a
large night bird swept past me, actually
brushing nv face. must say this was
rather startling. but. looking about me and
seeing nothing, lay down again. Scarcely
were my eyes closed before the rnstling
was heard again. Though this time it's
wings did not touch me, the creature passed
quite near enough to bring o decided cool
ness to my face. am not .superstitious,
but am ready to confess that inst then
every wild story and legend of ill-omened
birds that have ever heard or read come
back to me with remarkable force, and for
child listening to blood-curdling ghost
story. lay still, however. for what else
was left met ut will never do" said, Ito
60 back to the house; can never sleep in
there. and" those wings again! They
came as regularly as the movements of a
clock. Yes, with even fascinating pre-
cision. and fascinating is the word, for
those wings now had an interest for me
akin TO magnetism. The regularity with
which they came and went seemed analo-
gous to the well-timed passes of o mesmerist.
Once more-they are here and gonc. was
waiting anxiously now each time for their
coming, and l remember thinking that the
failure of my AERIAL visitor to put in an ap-
der me wretched. ''Now." / said. II can
Sleep" and / slept
To my mind there is nothing we'll defined
as regards the remainder of that night. 1
have faint recollection OF placing my
hand on my neck and being startled when
it came in contact with large, living
something-a something that struggled in
my hand and was glued to my throat.
There was another creature fastened to my
cheek. near the left temple, and yet another
was clinging to my breast. which had left
barred, owing to the warmth of the night.
Even in my semi-conscious state was
aware that these creatures were drawing
the life-tide from my veins. but / had
myself of them. An utter ind difference came
over me. My mind was troubled by no re-
grets rs to things past or misgivings in re-
gard to the things of the future; for once in
my life. at least, l experienced sense OF
absolute rest. Another moment and sleep
though. 1t seemed that was prone at
noontide within some shady grove, while
the air was heavy with the breath of count
less rare and beautiful flowers. Strange.
eudQOWy 1OIiuS, OOTuc Ou uuSo pIulOuSs
circled about me, but their ever-restless
wings cooled my fevered frame, and felt
no dread of them whatever.
But at last awOke. / was aroused by
the frightened cries Of Juanita. She was
holding my head in her arms and remem-
her hearing her say: Awake. sir! awake.
You should not sleep-My God! Tne blood!
the blood! o, mother, come at once. The
poor American has been killed by the vam-
pires NY God what can / dol He is
| deadn Then i felt one of her hands as she
placed it over my heart. / remember
hearing her say, joyfully: mo: he lives.
sciousness.
1t was five weeks before recovered emf
| ficiently to continue on my journey. Never
| IN my life was l treated with more kind
ness than by Don Tivurcio, his wife and
| daughter.