The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1892-09-07

ule' out none never escape. They told
me that when an American
IS put III a Mexican prison. whether
innocent or guilty, he r3reIv
ever comes out. The officials Of that
republic try their prisoner when thew
please. saw and talked with one poor
fellow who has been there about ten
months without a trial Another had
been there about ten years without
trial, and had no idea when he would he
gwen one. But the most pitiable of ali
the one hundred or more prisoners in
the building was a poor fellow under
sentence to be shot. He has no more
idea than the reader when he will be en-
ecuted. 1t may be tomorrow, next week.
next month or next year, or five wears
just as it suits the Mexican officials.
had a rather unpleasant experience
myself While in the prison. NV curl
oslty led me off into another
department of the Jail, and when I re-
turned to the front [ found the
other visitors gone and the gate
closed and locked There was a yioor.
Gus palpitation in the region of nv heart
when realized that my friends were
gone and | was shut in Mexican iaiI
surrounded by a hundred or more pris-
oners. 1t was then that the true hor-
rorS OF Mexican Jail wildly present.
eo themselves, and it is needless to saw
tnat was In very uncomfortable frame
OF mind. just then the officer of the
day, Mexican soldier of rank. spied me
among the prisoners, slowly unlocked
The gate and saluted me. I struck I'M a
pretty fast gait towards the door. and AS
I passed out the old officer SAID some
Gnlng 10 me IN the Mexican language.
ala not stop to reply, and neither did
siacken my speed until was on the train
Cnat was to bring me back into the
United States.
While in the city some of the excur-
slonlsts hunted up curiosities to bring
nome. They found out that they would
nave TO smuggle whatever they brought
across the line or pay duty on it. No
oody felt duty bound, so a number of
them went In to Smuggle. Nearly
every man was stuffed with something
dutlable. We crossed the line about
Sundown, when the custom house officer,
a pig, black negro, was tired and worn out
with his days prying. He made mere
pretense at inspecting the bundles of the
EDITORS as he passed through the car,
and molested no one except Republican
editor OF North Georgia, who had bought
handsomely carved cane and had it in
his hand.
AT ten O'Clock the next morning we
started Tor Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Eighteen miles beyond FL Paso is the
line between Texas and New Mexico. and
about that distance further on is Las
Cruces, thriving town in the center of
a rich and beautiful agricultural section.
After leaving this place the Rio Grande
makes wide detour to the west, and we
saw no more lands of especial value until
we again crossed the river at San Mar
clal. AT Engle, before reaching San Mar
cial, not enough rain has fallen in two
years to wet mans handkerchief Near
the Rio Grande, at San Marcial. is a
huge pile of lava, about nine miles in
circumference and two hundred feet
high, and said to be nearly level on top.
1t is the location of a volcano, long since
extinct From San Marcial on to Los
Lumas the road follows the valley of the
Rio Grande. This valley is exceedingly
tertlle, and varies from half mile to
two or more miles in width. Corn, wheat,
oats, grass, alfalfa, fruit, grapes, vege-
taoles, ETC., are grown in prOfGsion.
Along here were seen some Mexicans
threshing out wheat by driving ponit s
in circle over the grain.
At San Marcial, during the war. the
Federals and Confederates had battle
which the Confederates won, and follow
ing up their success made another attack
on the enemy at GlOriata, some miles
northward. This time the Yankees
whipped, and captured the Confederate
guns and spiked them. They are now
on exhibition in Sante Fe.
AT SacarO, the next town to San Mar
cial, are silver mines and smelling works.
Just before we reached Albuquerque
we came to the town of the Pueblo In
dians, who are on a government reserva-
ton. When the train stopped almost every
one of the party got off to look at them,
The women had apples, apricots and In
dim pottery for sale, but their peculiar
style of dress attracted more attention
than their wares. The women's dresses
came 10 their knees, and from the knees
down their legs are wrapped With many
! folds of cloth and tied with strings. In
this town, at least, a windy day and a
muddy street crossing would be no aid
to an enthusiastic admirer of a pretty
ankle. These Indians have large school
in albuquerque, which is supported by
the government A number of the
women have been attending eastern col
leges, and SOME of them have returned
home as graduates. These Indians
li~e chiefly by farming and stock raising.
The valley of Rio Grande from Ell Paso
to Albuquerque is farmed mainly by
Mexicans. Here and there along the
way is seen house of modern construc-
ton, presumably the home of rich
land owner, but the adobe house is by
far the most common.