Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1891-12-12
STATUES OF PURE GOLD.
An Old Catholio Church Containing Treas
urO Moet Rare.

ure M0at Rare.
Up in the mountains. about thirty
miles from the city, Is an old Catholic
mission. The church Is said to be one
OF the oldest ON the continent, having
been built just after the subjugation OF
the Aztecs. This church Is away from
the usual haunts Of white men and all
the members are Indians. The priest.
Father La Lumere. an Oil whlte-haired
Frcnchnian. has had charge Of the par
ish 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 al
ways been supposed that tho cause Of
this rigid exclusion was tho supersti-
ton OF the natives. but an adventurous
young American artist has discovered
that there was u method In the APP
parent 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 TAX
lug pictures of the Indians and old
buildings. When they were refused
admission to the church they at once
concluded that there was something
there that they ought to see.
In the pal was young man from
Illinois, William Morrison. He de-
termined Mt all hazards to see the in
side of the church. and at once set
about laying his plans. He found that
number Of old Indians were con.
stantly on guard. each being relieved
ut stated intervals. He also found
that the door was kept locked, and the
key was at the priests house. but that
the window could be raised by o little
effort.
He prepared himself with n camera.
with q fiash-light attachment. and a
bottle Of aguardiente. or Mexican
whisky, in which he placed enough
morphine to produce sleep. He then
saunlered along to where the old
guardian was sitting and engaged his
attention. The conversation was linn
tied. 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 re-
turned and found the Indian fast
asleep.
He quickly forced q window and
gained entrance to the church. The
interior was very common. but upon
the altar was small statue of the
Virgin, which Morrison ut first sup
posed to be gilt, but rs it was the
only thing in the place that had the
appearance of being of value. and 40
it had o peculiar luster, he gave it .
closer examination. The statue was
about o foot high. and when he took
hold Of it he, could barely move it.
Struck with its extraordinary weight.
he lifted it and found that 1t weighed
not less than $50 pounds. This con-
WINGED him that it was of pure gold.
and he took fash-light picture Of it
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 In Luz
mere. The old priest was much SUR
prsed when asked about the golden
statue of the Virgin and at first refused
to talk. but when convinced that it had
been seen said 1t was pure gold and
had been made from the ornaments
and idols of the Aztecs. When they
were first converted they were induced
to make offerings of this kind. and
when all had done SO the gold was
melted aud run into the statue. Father
La Lumere refused TO give an estimate
Of the value of the image. but IL 1t is
as heavy as Morrison thinks, il must
be worth fully $50. 900.
Father La Lumers said that in many
df the churches in the interior there
were similar statues. but the Indians
were so Jealous that it was dangerous
to attempt to penetrate the mysteries
of the churches. He advised the party
not to let 1t be known that they had
seen the statue, for the Indians might
take extreme measures to prevent it
becoming known outside of the town.
.-Chihuahua (MerIcO) Cor. SGH Frau
cisco Examiner.