The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1891-09-16
A STATUE OF GOLD.
THE SACRED IMAGE GUARDED IN A
MEXICAN CHURCH.

THE SACRED IMAGE GUARDED IN A
MEXICAN CHURCH
A dispatch from Chihuahau, Mexi-
co, to the New York Herald says: Up
in the mountains, about thirty miles
from this city, is an old Catholic mis-.
sion. The church is said to be one OF
the Oldest on the continent, having
been built after the subiugation OF the
Aztecs. This church is away from the
haunts of white men, and all the mems
bers are Indians. The priest, Father
La Lumere, an old white haired
FIenchman, has had charge of the
parish for more than half century.
The church is closely guarded, and
no other white man than the priest
has ever been permitted to enter Its
sacred precincts by the Indians. 1t
has always been supposed that the
cause of this rigid exclusion was the
superstition of the natives, but an adj
venturesome young American artist
has discovered that there was method
in the apparent madness in the desceno
dants of the Montezumas.
a party of tourists went out from
Chihauhau to the old village, for the
purpose of seeing the sights and taxi
ing pictures of the Indiana and old
buildings. When they we're refused
admission 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 them in, but he was obdurate, and
gave them no satisfaction.
In the party was young man from
Illinois named William Morrison. He
determined at all hazards to see inside
the church, and at once set about lay
ing his plans. He found that a num-
Der of old Indians We're constantly on
guard, each being relieved at stated
intervals. He also found that the
door was kept locked and the key was
at the priests house, but that the win
dows could be raised by little effort.
He prepared himself with camera,
with flash light attachment and a
bottle of 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
conversation was limited but the bot
tie spoke for itself, and it was not diff
fcult to induce the old man to take
two or three drinks. Morrison then
passed on, but soon returned and
found the Indian fast asleep.
He quickly forced window and
gained entrance to the church. The
interior was very common, but upon
the altar was small statue OF the Vir-
gin SIary, which Morrison at first
supposed to be gilt, but as it was the
only thing in the place that had the
appearance of kdng OF value, and as
it had a pecHlfar lustre he gave it
closer exaxhination.
The STATUTE was about foot high,
and when he took hold OF it, he could
ba Wy move it. Struck with its ex-
traS rdinary weight, he lifted it and
foNnd that it weighed not less than
$50 pounds. This convinced him that
it was Of pure gold, and he took flash
light picture Of the image and altar
and made his exit.
He told his story to the other mem,
bers OF the party, and they concluded
to get the facts from Father La Luz
mere. The old priest was much sur
prised when asked about the golden
statue of the Virgin, and at first re-
fused to talk, but when conviced that
it had been seen, he said that it was
pure gold and had been made from
the ornaments and idols of the old Az
tees when they were first converted.
They were induced to make offer
ings OF this kind, and when all had
done so the gold was melted and run
into the statue. Father La Lumere
refused to give an estimate of the
value of the image, but ifitis as heavy
as Morrison thinks, it must be worth
fully $4,000.
Father La Lumere said, that III
many of the churches in the interior
there were similar statues, but the In
dams were so jealous, that it was dan
gerous to attempt to penetrate the
mysteries of the churches. He adj
vised the party not to let it be known
that they had seen the statue, for the
Indians might take extreme measures
to prevent it becoming known outside
of the town.