Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1893-05-01
JUAN AND YSABEL.

In the rocky but pleasant little valley
of the Rio Floridv, =. the state Of Chi
huahua, not far from the station of Cor
ralitos on the Mexican Central railway,
there may be seen the ruins of what
30 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
huahua 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 splendor. On the left side Of
the entrance, about 300 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-
cuoo iuNieco tAo Pdoocip ny w OhChs
Zone ave maria and pater noster for
the repose Of the soul of Ysabel Mora,
who fell by the hands of the Indians on
the 18th day Of October in the year lS45,
in the flower Of her youth and beauty"
On the other:
Here lies Juan Maria Orteza, native
Of -, killed by the Indians on the llth
of October, 1S45. Christian, for the sake
of God, pray for him."
The story Of the young girl and young
man who lie under these rudely hewn
crosses is sad one and absolutely true.
The rancho do Cadena is about half way
between the cities Of Durango and Chi
huahua. 1t hourished so years ago under
the careful management of its owner, an
aged Mexican known all over the region
as "El 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 "El gallo"
"Colea de toros" in plain English Is
bull tailing-that is, seizing the bull in
the ring by the tail and securing it un-
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 rolling over and
over in the dust, believing with pain
and fright. "El gallo" much more bru.
tai, consists Of fastening rooster by
the leg to tree or to picket driven into
the ground, with its head and neck well
creased. The game is played on horse
back, all, starting together, strive to
reach the bird first, and seizing ii by the
neck try to break the strings that hold
it and ride off with the prize. The well
CREASED neck generally slips through the
fingers of the first who grasps it, but as
soon as one finds himself in possession
he rides off 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 gage
d'amour.
The eight sons Of "El Coxo" were con-
ceded to be the bravest, the handsomest
and the best in handling the lasso of any
young men in the state of Chihuahua.
Their experience from boyhood as va
queros or herdsmen on their fathers vast
pastures had made them as used to sit
ting on q horse as in q 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 young
girl, ward Of "El Coxo," an orphan
and the daughter Of friend and class
mate at school. Ysabel Mora was In
1845 but 16 years old-a very pretty
black eyed, black haired girl, the "toast'
of both the valley of Rio Florido and ol
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 ''El Coxo,
was Just 90, 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 lagoons on the ranch. He wa,
better educated than the rest Of his broth
ers, both in practical sense and in tn,
usages of the best society the republic
Afforded, as he had attended two or thre'
terms at school in the City of Mexico
the great capital Of the great nation II
which he belonged, and which he be
lieved to be the best on earth. In hi
FIRST bull fight after his return from tn
metropolis. he made his appearance Il
the arena in most elaborate suit, fash
ioned from the reigning style at the cap
ital, creating surprise among his owl
vex that bordered upon jealousy and
furore among those of the opposite. ii
distinguished himself further by throw
ing three bulls successfully.
Escamilla's rival in good looks and ez
pertness in the bull ring was his brothe
Juan Maria-in fact, there were man
Of the people of the Rio Florido, both oil
vaqueros and young maidens. VIII
thought Juan far surpassed Escamilla i
manliness at least if not in persons
beauty. He certainly equaled him 1
horsemanship, simply lacking perhap