Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-08
A YUCATAN CARNIVAL.
Merry Ceremonies Witnessed by q
Pittsburger at Campeche.
THE WHOLE CITY GOES WILD.
A Mask Ball That Might Furnish Points
for Home Consumption.
GLIMPSE OF TIE WALLS OF THE CITY


CAMPEcHE, YUCATAN, April 17.-Busi-
ness was suspended at noon on the feast day
L was so fortunate as to spend here. The
air was filled with the noise of revelry and
mirth. Fireworks were discharged, much
to the peril of the gay riders on horseback
and In carriages, who Joined the procession,
preceded by the band and the military COM
panies.
The carriages, decorated with flags Of all
colors, were filled with gaily dressed par
ties, some wearing masks and dressed in
most fantastic styles. Every available We
hicle was pressed into service, in some cases
carts rooted with palm branches,
and filled with jolly crowds dressed
ike Glpsles and native Indians.
The small boy seems to be much the same
IN all countries, and he enjoyed himself
here to the full. It reminded me of our
own glorious Fourth of July, for the suns,
rays made it seem like summer. Bands Of
music in the plazas and on the streets
helped to enliven the gay throng. The car
n1Val began on Saturday, and all night long
the excitement was kept up, and on Sunday
morning had reached such heighth that
the streets were literally packed. All day
long vehicles of every kind were driven
hither and thither, the occupants seemingly
wrought up to great pitch of excitement
as the shouts and laughter penetrated to the
ears of those who were trying to realize that
it was sacred day.
Dancing to the Music of Ratrles
AS the carriages rolled bv the gentlemen
threw dulces (sweetmeats) on the balconies
and at the open doorways, while crowds of
persons dressed in the gay costumes of the
native Indians marched past shaking their
rattles as they went from house to house to
dance for the entertainment of the family
and friends.
The first fancy ball of the carnival was
on Sunday night. Monday was a repeti-
tion OF Sundays revelry, with the excep-
tion that the dancers were masked at the
ball. Among the characters represented by
the ladies were: Joan of Arc, " "Day and
Night, might" 'The Huntress," "An
Indian Princess, "The Fisher Girl" ga
Lady of the Twelfth Century" 'The AL
pine Flower" ga Comet" IA Weather
Vane," "spring," ga PEARL" ga Bull
Fighter" ETC.
The "Pearl'' was the character of tho
ball, and was greeted with great applause.
An immense oyster she'll inclosed a lovely
young lady whose tiny feet could be seen
as the ''shell" moved slowly around the
room and then took part in the waltzes and
Spanish dances. The opening in the shell
from which the hand by which her partner
led her through the dance was extended,
gave a glimpse of the fair face within.
When the mask was taken off the 'Pearl"
was very beautiful in delicately tinted
dress adorned with native pearls, with
strings of pearls on neck and arms and
pearl-colored she'll as a cap
The costumes were nearly all composed Of
satin of various colors, trimmed with rich
lace and flowers, which became the fair
owners well. The gentlemen wore the con-
ventional black dress suit.
Other Features of the Carnival
Tuesday, parties were held in many -,
places, the dancing Indians went from
house to house, and the carriages thronged
the streets, many of them containing the
masked dancers of the evening before.
Tuesday night was the ball of Etiquette"
when all were arranged in elegant cos
tunes, while the glitter of diamonds and
other precious stones enhanced the bril-
liancy of the scene. The last act in the
drama" is the burial of Carnival, when
on Wednesday evening a mock funeral is
held.
was rather surprised to hear some of the
say the carnival was rather
tame affair on account of the sickness this
year, as 1 thought it could not be much
more lively. A few weeks ago it was re-
ported that smallpox had again broken out,
and many fearedthe balls would not be al
lowed but it proved to be only what they
call ''the Virgins smallpox" or what Pitts
burgers call chicken-pox, so the festivities
were not iuterfered with
In consequence of the general holiday
and suspension of business, q verv small
supply of fish was displayed at the "Moya,"
Ind the usual Friday dish, turtle, which
was in demand on cash Wednesday," was
very high priced in consequence of the
scarcity of this as of all the treasures of
he deep.
The houses here are all fat-roofed, and,
while walking on the roof enjoying the
'iew that opened up on all sides, saw a
lumber of spent rockets that had fallen
Turing the perfect shower of fireworks that
vas kept up one day, and remarked to
riend that there seemed to be no care at all
IS to where the burning crackers or rockets
hould fall and no apparent dread of fire, as
early everything was stone. The answer
vas: "We have no dread of fire here at all.
IN my 81 years residence in Yucatan have
lever known a house to be burned in
L
)rleans where fires and robberies were of
requent occurrence, my first remark, as I
ooked at the stone buildings and IRON
AIRED windows, was: Thank God! I will
ot be afraid of fires and robbers here.
Tho Ancient Walls of the City.
One morning recently with a party Of
riends, by permission of the General at the
arracks, L made the entire circuit of the
ity on the walls. The walls are a wonder
al work of fortifcation. There are eight
Drts. or bastions, and the walls are 1L
1eters in thickness, in height and 2, $50 in
They were built, or COM
irates. An inscription over one of the
ateways shows they were finished in 1869.
Lfter seeing the work we did not wonder
nat they were II years in building. The
rass cannons were all carried away by the
rench when the city was taken by them,
nd only few old cannons and mortars are
,ft with few large cannon balls in one of
le forts.
A sort of corner or passageway under
ort Charles was the hiding place for the
'essure placed there to protect it from t.
irates. One OF the forts is called ''Tha
in memory of the man who sold
le city to the enemy which made its en-
.ance at that gateway. The man is still
wing, and every year, although he was
ardoned, as regularly as the month of June
,mes around, he leaves the city tor time.
resident Diaz refuses to permit the walls
be torn down, much 20 the satisfaction
many of the inhabitants, who are yerv
roud of them The Government is putting
p a new building near Fort Charles, and in
lie entrance to the tort the carpenters were
work making doors from the beams ofthe
,use that was torn down to give place to
lis new building. The house was more
AN 100 years old ard vet the cedar wnnd