Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-20
TWO GIRLS LONG JOURNEY.

Fourteen Hundred Miles I'm a WAGON
Through Mountainous Mexico.
From the San Francisco Examiner.
There are two young ladies spending a few
weeks in this city who have recently made
remarkable journey. They are Miss Mary
Jacques of Java Lodge, Hampshire, England,
and Miss Emma Hartley Of Junction City, Tex.
The town of Junction City is nearly 200 miles
from the Mexican border, the entire distance
to the City of Mexico from that place being
about LOCO miles. A light wagon and team
Of Texas horses were purchased and all ar
rangements for the trip had been perfected
early in last September. In the wagon were
stored a complete camping outfit and small
amount of provisions, it being the intention of
the ladies' to procure the necessary supply of
eatables from people along the line of their
journey. The provisions taken along were
only to be used in cases of necessity. The only
firearms carried by the ladies were brace. of
pistols.
The country lying between Junction City and
piedras Negras, where they crossed the Rio
Grande river into Mexico is desolate noun
famous region, the only inhabitants being
ranchmen, the habitations being at intervals
of from twenty-five to fifty miles, The iour-
ney to the Rio Grande river occupied four
days. 1t was ut the Mexican border that the
girls met with their first obstacle. They found
that the Mexican duties on their horses and
wagon would cost them more than u new
outfit. They conferred as to what would be
the best thing for them to do under the cir
cumstances. and finally they decided to de-
spatch their own team and wagon back 70
Junction City. This was DONE and they crossed
over tho bridge to Piedras Negras on foot and
purchased smother outfit in that city, and
again set out on their journey Of 400 miles
overland to the Mexican capital.
The journey to Monterey was made over
mountain trails, but they were beset with no
severe difficulties. They were treated with
universal courtesy and respect by the natives
and wei given every assistance asked by those
whom they met. They were prepared for dam
ger and adventure, but in this they were disap-
pointed. the most thrilling incident OF the trip
being the riding of drunken soldier into their
tent by mistake. The as,onished but courte-
Gus Mexican quickly retired with profuse apol-
ogies for his intrusion.
In the higher attitudes they experienced
some discomforts. owing to the chilly nights
and the scarcity of wood and coal for camping.
They passed through sections Of the country
which had never before been penetrated or
traversed by any foreigner. and the astonish-
ment Of the natives was very amusing. Every
night ef the journey. which occupied nearly
thTee months, was spent in their camp tent alone
and unprotected. They travelled BY the way
OF Monterey, Ss.ltillo, San Luis Potosi and Pa
chuca- At Pachrca they spent several days
visiting the mines. iron works and reducers
They spent several days in the City Of Mexico,
and started to make their rsturn journey BY
overland, but owing to the severe weather ex-
pcrienced on the uplands they were compelled
TO abandon their team and wagon at San Luis
Potosi and finish their trip by rail. But deter
mined to enjoy the unsurpassed climate and
scenery OF Mexico to the utmost, they travelled
good part OF the way to this city on the
locomotive.