The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-08-02

bath houses, and l am informed that 1t 2
the custom for parties to bring along small
tents in which matters Of dress may be ad-
justed; or matters of undress, for strollers
upon the beach at almost any hour may see
men. women and children disporting them
selves gleefully in the water in perfectly
nude condition, who appear neither startled
nor embarrassed by the gaze of beholders.
The city OF Conception, formerly named
Pence. was situated on the eastern side Of
the bay; but its repeated destruction by
sea- earthquakes and the Arancanian In
dians, finally drove the inhabitants nine
miles inland, where they located the pres
ent city upon the northern bank of the
river Bio-bio-s large, navigable stream
Old Pence, as the former town Is now
called,
POSSESSES PECULIAR INTEREST
from its historical associations, for it was
hers that Pedro de ValdivIa first raised the
cross in Southern Chile, in the year 1850.
All that is now to be seen of its former
greatness are the remains OF an ancient
fort, or water battery, with walls six feet
thick aud of great extent On the facade
the Spanish coat of arms, covering 8 space
eight feet square, is cut in stone, with the
date ''Ano, 1885," The road from Tolcah-
uano TO Conception traverses sandy plain.
dotted here and there by bushes and dwarf
what az first appear to be few scattered
huts at the base OF q range OF sand hills and
not far from the mighty Bio-bio: and is
amazed to find himself, almost Immediately
afterwards, in the midst of q city OF 5000
or 10000 people. 1t was noon when We
reached Conception, and in passing through
long street TO our hotel, we saw only three
animated obiects-a muletoer, boy and a
donkey. 1t was the siesta hour, and the
whole city was asleep; and in broad day,
among thousands Of human beings, utter
silence reigned.
The hotel to which we were directed is
quaint enough to merit description. There
IS passage in the centre, through which
donkeys, laden with wood, water sacks OF
coal, BASKETS Of vegetables. dead pigs, sheep,
etc, are driven on their way TO the kitchen.
The only room to sit in is the dining room,
which is fioored with brick and mas a oar of
liquors IN one corner. All the bed rooms
open on the patio, or central court, and il
you are partial to light and air, theirinter
iors may scanned by all the neighbors.
That the quaint old city has made many
advances in civilization the following true
story will show. Less than forty years ago,
a beautiful girl, whose parents were among
the wealthiest citizens OF Conception mar
ried the son OF another equally prominent
family, and the pair settled down TO house
keeping with fiattering prospects of future
happiness. Children came TO the casa, and
for few years their domestic felicity was
undisturbed. Then the demon Of jealousy
took possession Of the wife whether on
reasonable grounds, do not know; and
one night while the husband slept, sne de-
liberately poured kettle of boiling water
over his face and head. After few hours
Of horrible torture, he died-and so did she
in no less shocking manner. Though her
father offered the whole OF his wealth TO
save her life, and rendered the governor a
million dollars in gold, the woman-who
was still young and beautiful-was dragged
to the Hill OF DEATH" or place OF public
execution. There, according to her SEN
tence, she was snot; and then her yet warm
body was sewn up in . sack, together with
living rats and snakes, and sunk in the mid
ole OF the Bio-bio,
FANNIE B. WARD.