Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1893-04-29
JUAN AND ISABEL.

of the Rio Florido, in the state OF Chi
huahua, not far from the station of Cor
ratios on the Mexican Central railway,
there may be seen the ruins of what
50 years ago was the magnificent
manor house or hacienda of q large
rancho. There, too, were raised the
strong, black bulls for the arenas of Chi
nuailua and the lower provinces Of
Mexico. The gateway to this once IA
nous place, although dilapidated and
thrown down, has not yet crumbled
into dust, but still shows the marks of
its former splcndor On the left side of
the entrance, about 500 feet distant from
the broad road which led to the stately
mansion, side by side, are two wooden
crosses roughly fashioned out Of oak
logs, on both of which with care may
still be traced rudely carved inscrip-
ton. The words are in that crude
Mexico-Castilian language common to
the country. That on the right as you
face the line Of what was once the fence
surrounding the grounds of the haci-
enda invites the passerby to offer:
One ave maria and patcr noster for
the repose Of the soul OF Isabel Mora,
vino fell by tire hands of the Indians on
tie Ilth day Of October in the year 1915,
in tho flower of her youth and beauty"
On the other:
Here lies Juan Maria Orteza, native
of -, killed by the Indians on the llrh
of October, 1916. Christian. for hesake
OF God, pray for him.
The story of the young girl and young
man who lie under these radely hewn
crosses is a sad one and absolutely true
The rancho de Cadena is about half way
between the cities of Durango and Chi
huahua. :fourished 80 years ago under
the careful management of its owner, an
aged Mexican known all over the region
as Eel Coxo" (the game Leg. He was
widower, with a family of eight sons,
each of whom was an expert in the ex-
citing games of the country-"Colea de
toros," or the more cruel and barbarous
pastime Of Gel gallo"
..Colea de toros" in plain English is
bull tailing-that is, seizing the bull in
the ring by the tail and securing it IN
der the right leg. The rider then, by
wheeling his horse suddenly outward,
upsets the bull in the midst of his mad
career, the huge animal rolliH,: .->r and
over in the dust, believing with pain
and fright. Eel gallo" much more bru-
tai, consists of fastening a rooster by
the leg to a tree or to q picket driven into
the ground, with its head and neck we'll
creased. The game is played on horse
back, all, starting together, strive to
reach the bird first, and Selling it by the
neck try to break the strings that hold
it and ride off with the prize. The we'll
creased neck generally slips through the
fingers of the first who grasps it, but as
soon as one finds himself il possession
lie fidas on pursued BY the rest, whose
object is to rescue the fowl. Of course
in the exciting contest which ensues the
bird is torn to pieces Then the fortu-
nate possessor of the bleeding morsels
presents them to his lady love as a gage
glamour.
The eight sons of "El Coxo" were con-
coded to be the bravest, the handsomcst
and the best in handling the lasso OF any
Young men i'll the state OF chihuahua.
Their experience from boyhood as va
uueros or herdSmen on their fathers vast
pastures had made them as used to sit
ting on horse as in a chair, and the
character Of the fierce bulls which were
raised ON the ranch expressly for the are
mas of the City OF Mexico inspired them
with the brave nature of the famous ami
mails themselves.
Residing with the family was Il young
girl, ward of ''El Coxo," an orphan
and the daughter of a friend and class
mate at school, Ysabcl Mora was in
1915 but 16 years old-a very pretty,
black eyed, black haired girl, the toast"
of both the valley of Rio Florido and Of
the valley of Nazos. Her extreme love
illness even had been the talk Of the great
fair held in San Bartolomo.
Escamilla, the third son of lei Coxo,"
was just 20, stood feet 10 in his shoes.
was as straight as an arrow and as 1.-the
some as the reeds that grew on the mar
gin of the lagoors on the ranch. Hcwas
better educated than the rest of his broth
ers, both in practical sense and in the
usages Of the best society the republic
afforded, as he had attended two or three
terms at school in the City Of Mexico,
the great capital of the great nation to
which he belonged, and which he be-
lieyed to be the best on earth. In his
first bull fight after his return from the
metropolis, he made his appearance in
the arena in a 1noss elaborate suit, fash
toned from the reigning style at the cap
ital, creating surprise among his own
sex that bordered upon jealousy and :.
furore among those Of the opposite. He
distinguished himself further by throw
ing three bulls successfully.
Escamilla's rival in good looks and ex-
pertness in the bull ring was lis brother
Juan Mari,.-in fact, there were many
of the people Of the Rio Florido, both old
vaqueros and young maidcns. who
thought Juan far surpassed Escamilla i'll
manliness at least if not il personal
beauty. He certainly equaled him in
Workmanship, simply lacking perhaps
some Of that "brilliancy of execution
which Escamilla had acquired in the
City Of Mexico.
Before the return of Escamilla to Ca
dena Juan Maria was always the first at
Gel gallo" and "Colea de toros," and had
ever laid his trophies of the sport at the
feet of the bewitching ISABEL. At q
gallo in December, fourmonths before
the arrival of Escamilla, Ysabcl was
wooed and in a measure Won by the
presentation of the remains OF Il gallant
rooster at the hands OF juan Maria, who,
his offering being we'll received from
that moment looked upon the beautiful
girl as his sweetheart.
When, however, Escamilla took up
his abode at the hacienda again, he. too
much of an exquisite to work with his