Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-24
IT WAS SOLID GOLD.
A Valuable Image Discovered In An Old
Mexican Church.


chihuahua dispatch to the New York He,oh
today says: Up in the mountains about thirty
miles from this city, i'd an old Catholic mission.
The church is said to be one OF the oldest on
the continent. having been buils Just after the
subjugation of the Aatccs. This church Is away
from the usual haunts of white men. and all the
members are Indians, The priest Father La
Lumere, an old wbite-haired Frcnchman, has
had charge Of the parish for more than half a
century.
The church is closely guarded and no other
white man than the priest has ever been per-
mitted to enter its sacred precincts by the
Indians 1t has always been supposed that the
cause Of this rigid exclusion was the supersti
ton of the natives, but an adyenturesoyne
young American artist has discovered that
there was a method in the apparent madness of
the descendants Of the MOntezumas.
A party of tourists went out from chihuahua
TO the old village for the purpose of seeing the
sights and taking pictures OF the Indians and
old buildings. When they were refused adj
mission to the church they at once concluded
there was something there that they ought to
see They visited the priest and tried to induce
him to let then, in. but lie was obdurato and
gave them no satisfaction.
In the party was a young man from Illinois
named William Morrison. He determined at III
hazards to see inside the church. and at once
set about laying his plans. He found that a
number OF old Indians were constantly on
gnard. each being relieved at stated intervals.
He also found that the door wds kept locked
and the key was at the priests house, but that
the windows could be raised by little effort
He prepared himself with camera with a
fash light attachment and a bottle of aqua
ardiente or Mexican whisky. in which he placed
enough morphine to produce sleep. He then
sauntered along to where the old guardian was
sitting and engaged his attention. The con-
versatlon Was limited, but the bottle spoke for
itself and it was not difficult to induce the old
man to take two or three drinks Morrison
then passed on, but soon returned anu found
the inttian fast asleep.
He quickly forced n window and gained en-
trance 20 the church. The interior was very
common, but upon the altar a small statue
OF the Virgin. which Morrison at first supposed
to be gilt, but as it WIS the only thing in the
place that had the appearance OF being of value
ana as 1t had peculiar luster he gave it a
closer examination
The statne was about n foot high. and wher
ne took hold OF it he could barely move it.
Struck with ITS extraordinary weight he lifted
1t and found that /: weighed not less than 80
pounds. This convinced him that it WIS OF
pure gold. and he took "a fash-light picture of
the image ami altar and made his exit.
lie told his story to TIE other members OF the
party ana they concluded to get the facts from
Rather La LImere. nc cd priest was ~ uch
surprised sh,l asked about tie golden statue
OF the virgin, aid AZ first refused to talk, but
when convinced that it had been seen he said
That It wns prre gold and had been made from
the Ornaments aud idols of the old Aztccs when
thoy were frst converted
They were induced to make offerings of this
"a. and when all had dome so the gold was
hSted and run into the st.;..o Fnther l.,
Lt;ncrc refused to give an estirna. e % the
!Ue of the image, bu. il il il AZ heavy "a Nor
ri On IN inks it must be worth fully 81, 900
rather la l.uaiere said that In man. Of the
chuEchos IN the Interior there were similar
s'at'os, but the Indians we're 30 joalors that it
was oanSerous to attempt to penetrate the
mysteries OF The chur-hcs lie advised the
party not t, =: L De Lnown that .hey had seen
the statue, or the Indians rnis.. take extreme
measures % pre- vent i. becoming known out
side OF re town