The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-11-12
SIATu-S OF PURE GOLD.
An Gid Catholic Church Containing Treas
Most Rare

Up in the mountains. about thirty
miles from the city. is an old Catholic
mission. The church is said 10 be one
of tho oldest on the continent. having
been bniit just after the subjugation of
the Aztecs. This church is away from
the usual haunts of white men aud all
the members are indians. The priest.
Father La Lumere, an old white-iaired
Frenchman. has had charge of the par
ish for more than half a century.
Tie 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 the cause of
this rigid exclusion was The supersti-
ton of the natives, but an adventurous
young American artist has discovered
that there was a 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
iny 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 party was n young man from
Illinois, William Morrison. He de-
termined at all hazards 10 see the in
side of the church. and ut once set
about laying his plans. He found that
a number of old Indians were con-
stantly on guard. each being relieved
ut stated intervals. lie also found
that the door was kept locked. and the
key was at the priests house, but that
the window could be raised by little
effort.
He prepared himself with a camera,
with nash-light attachment. and Il
bottle of aguardicnte. 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 linn
tied, but the bottle spoke for itself, aud
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 n window and
gained entrance to the church. The
interior was very common. but upon
the altar was Il small statue of the
Virgin, whicl Morrison ut first sup
posed TO be gilt, but as it was the
| only thing in the place that had the
| appearance Of being of value. and as
it had Il peculiar luster, he gave it a
| closer examination. The statue was
about a 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 it weighed
not less than $50 pounds. This con-
WINGED him that it WAS of pure gold,
and he took ilash-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 La 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 it was pure gold and
| had been made from the ornaments
aud idols of the Aztecs. When they
were first converted they were induced
| to make offerings of this kind and
when all had done 50 the gold was
melted and run into the statue. Father
La Lumere refused to give an estimate
of the value of the image. but if it is
as heavy rs Morrison thinks. it must
| be worth fully so. 900.
Father La Lamere said that in MANY
of the churches in the interior there
/ were similar statues but HE Indians
were so jealous that it was dangerous
to attempt to penetrate the mysteries
of the churches. He advised the party
not toilet 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,
--ChihHahtt (.ueCtc0) Cor San Fran
! cisco Er .7Rti1ey.