San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-12-12
AMONG THE SIERRA MADRE

In our last letter from here we con-
Quoted the tourists from San An.
ohio to the Mexican National rail-
road depot at Monterey. In this
letter we will inform them where to
90 and how to get there.
AS soon as they land they will
find Major Jules A. Randle's street
cars at the depot to take them to the
hotels and the Topo Chico Hot
Springs.
Monterey is the capitol of the State
| of Nuevo Leon, and has q population
| Of about $1,000. 1t is situated at the
foot of the Sierra Madre, and is sur
rounded by the Smaller Seirr,s.
Few readers ofthe LIGHT have any
idea Of the origin of the name Monte
rey. 1t oc ,urred In this way:
Soon after the conquest of Mexico
by COrtiez, the church of Rome sent
| out missionaries to convest the In
dams. Those missionaries we're &C.
comparing by soldiers for the pur-
pose of protecting them, and to ex-
plore the country.
When they reached the "Aho De-
aqua" the principal spring in the
city. they struck camp, erected tents
under the pecan trees that were grow
ing on the banks. One Of the officers
was an inveterate gambler. and
every pay day he would open
Monte game, entice the men to play
with him. As soon as he won some
of their money, he would deal them
good hand, so as to get them to bet,
he would keep raising them, until
all their money was up He would
see that, and raise them large
amount and rake in the pot. One
of the men would not play, but al
ways looked on, and saw how the
officer was beating them He told
the mon that II they would let him
have their money the next pay day
that he would play with q Q officer
and win back all the money that they
lost. They did so. When they ware
paid off the officer, as usual, invited
the men to play; they declined. He
then got after the soldier that refused
previously to play After some per-
suasion he did so. The officer tried
the same game with him Dealt him
q good hand SO that he would bet; he
did SO; the officer saw that and raised
hun; the soldier raised back and the
officer kept leading him on until he
concluded that he had about all his
money up when he saw him and
raised him large amount, The pri
vate came back at him, saw his stake
aud raised the officer back several
hundred dollars. AS the officer could
not call him, he raked in the pot
This so elated the men that
they named him Monte Rey, or king
of Monte. Hence the name Monterey.
That tree that they played under is
still there, and when ever the read
ers OF the LIGHT will call on
your correspondent when they
come to Monterey. we will sh'"
them the springs and the tree whore
the games were played.
All tourists " no have visited Mon
terey have been amazed at the grand
scenery that surrounds her. The city
il surrounded by lofty mountains
whose rugged peaks rise above the
clouds aud pierce the blue sky; while
her plaz,s public and private gar
dens, churches and public halls are
Incompatible. Her gsrdens aud
springs are we'll worth the time aud
expense OF coming here to see. Her
people are q surprise to all who come
mere, aud they return to their homes
| with better opinion of the people
and the CO 'ntry than they had be
| fore they came.
There are two large smelling works
going up here at present. The
Nueva Leon Repairing aud Manufac
turing company Is one OF the largest
In the republic, aud will be ready to
| fire up in few weeks. These works
| are located north of the Monterey and
Mexican Gulf railway The other is
east of the city on The bank of the
Rio San Juan. A third one will be
started in January next. The three
plants will cost about Sc. 900 900 We
will refer to these in our next.
Your correspondent has been in
formed that there are more Improve
ments going on in Monterey than
there is in the whole republic of Mex
leo. New buildings are going up in
all parts of the city while many old
ones are being remOdsled There is
az present great demand for houses
Of four TO five rooms. In the vicinity
of the railroad depots buildings ar
occupied as soon az they are erected
The Monterey and Mexican Gulf rail
road are going to erect twenty dwell
ing houses near their depot.
Mr.. J.. J. Murphy of the firm of
Burton & Murphy, engineers and
assaysrs, Monterey,is taking u course
. of baths at the Topo Chico Hot
Springs.
. Mr. Edwin Cham berlain, wife and
. son formerly of san Antonio WAS AT
the springs last week. Mr. Cham
| h..Ia,n mill malta ST nula Mo his