Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-13
IN THE MEXICAN MOUNTAINS.
Mrs. A. r Shepherds Rough Journey
From Batopilaa
Home to Visit Her Daughters ut Bleak
House - Remarkable Experi-
ences for n Woman.


topilas. Chihuahua. Mexico. to make
visit with her daughters at Bleak House,
the country home Of ex-Gov. Shepherd, on
the 7th street road. Mrs. Shepherd left Ba-
topilas on the 18th Of August, and, except
ing few days visit with her sons at the
University of the South, has been all the
Intervening time on the journey. The trip
over the mountains in Mexico must be made
on muleback, and would be enough to deter
any woman from attempting it. and es-
pecially during the rainy season, excepting
devoted mother anxious to visit her child
rem. The mountain journey generally con-
sumes nine days under the best conditions,
but when such obstacles as pouring rains.
swollen streams &C, ARE met with the hard
ships and fatigue cannot be foresecn and
scarcely Imagined. except by personal ex-
perience.
Mrs. Shepherd has made the trip a good
many times. but in them all has not had
to endure any of the exciting experiences
that were crowded together in the last
home coming. Her friends here remember
with pleasure her bright, entertaining style
OF conversation, and the following letter
home, detailing the incidents of a day or
two OF her journey with her young son
Frank shows that she has lost none Of the
buoyancy of spirit so characteristic Of her.
The humor which flashes up in the face of
every obstacle rounds Off a most interest
ing chapter.
Mrs. Shepherds Experiences.
Mrs. Shepherd writes from Pillares and
says:
The first thing I must beg your In
diligence for the pencil. My ink has not
arrived. Don Francisco. whom we have
found here has given me this fine large
sheet OF paper. We left Tebonachic yester4
day at 3:45 and reached La Laja at 1910
the only incident on the way being that in
steep and narrow. slippery ascent my
mule and parted company. (Only twice on
the road when Frank has not had to take
me on2 1 was not at all hurt and less
scared than Frank. This morning we made
late start at 4:30. owing to the clouds and
mist, and slight showers for an hour or
two. Aguas Calientes was crossed without
Frank rode over first to show how safe 1t
was. With Francisco at my mules bride.
and Frank riding close beside me, holding
my right hand, I shut my eyes tight and
was over before / knew it.
Across a Swollen Stream.
But the U-ique ah, there at last have
had an experience none Of you have ever
had on this road. AS the old song says
I'VE came to the river and we couldn't get
across" rain threatened and we were
afraid if we camped and went to house
building it might be a question Of days. as
several parties Of freighte-s were then
waiting. A man whom Frank brought
from La Laja to show the next ford was a
most useful active fellow. He and two
others, one a friend of his who just came
back from freight train to see what we
would do and for fun waded and swan
across to ascertain the depth. They and
our Francisco borrowed some square tim
berS from an Indian roof and with poles
and ropes soon constructed a raft. and on
that they pushed me across that river! Can
you imagine me doing anything SO youth
fully frisky? 1t was sight for a kodak
They put pack saddle on the raft 80 that
l wouldn't get wet, made a rope tafrail 90
on one side for me to hold on to, and that
boy Frank would go along behind me helping
the men, for he would not trust me alone
with them and would not get on the raft
with me. / wasn't bit afraid or nervous,
though after landing l felt in duty bound to
take drink of champagne. and then felt
worse from the drink than from the whole
Of the other experience.
Safe, hut Everything Soaked.
You would have shouted at Franks cos
tune for the journey. Undershirt and
drawers! The men made four round trips,
three for baggage and saddles. The cook
came over in one load. and he soon had
hot coffee for the men, whom you may i'm
agine were pretty wet. The wind was
blowing, so some things got pretty wet, but
we are all on this side now, and all are
housed, or will be shortly. The fellow who
came over for fun" had it, for he was one
Of those who made five trips. Good fellow!
l did not get a drop of water on me, and
my trunk was kept quite dry. But the rest
of the baggage, being heavier than l. is in
pretty bad shape. l am now writing after
supper. while my room is hung with the
clothes hanging to dry. 1 have Burned my
face at the fire working over the bedding,
but. as 1 have succeeded what's the odds.
Everything for road use In my satchel was
soaking. Poor Frank hasn't dry garment
except what he has on. Natividad is much
troubled, some Of his pack saddles were
wet. We comfort him by assuming the re-
sponsibility. Please tell Don Samuel, Mr..
l.. says. that the Guajohic was high. We
will not attempt it until quite safe. The
only danger today was in being detained
unsheltered in the rain. I crossed very
quickly, 1t seemed to me, and not very far
below where We started. Franks little
light head looked so funny sticking out of
the water among the four ugly black ones
/ kept saying, Are you all right, Frank?''
Now, what other method of travelling re-
mains to be tried? / ought to 20 to bed
now, and IL the morning Is clear and moon
lighted we will start early.