Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-12-14

supplies in and silver bullion out the COVER
nor has established stations along the trail
every twenty-four miles. AT each station Is
q rough stone house. strong enough for
fort In case Of attack by revolutionists
Around each house Is a corral or stone wall
Enclosure for the animals, with shelter sheds.
Each house has three rooms-two large bed
rooms and a dining room. In each house Is
q full supply of dishes, cooking utensils and
canned goods. corn and -four. Everything Is
under lock and key and our guide carries
the key. There Is a station keeper at each
place to gather hay and fuel and keep the
spring cleaned out and to give the parties
the local news as they pass through; but IL
would not do to trust him with the keys or
10 leave them unguarded a single hour, for
the genial thievfsh temperament of the ma
tives could never resist the temptations of
canned goods and -four any more than it
could that of unlimited gold and diamonds
The freight trains of mules make one sta
ZION per day; but passengers and express are
rushed through two stations per day, and
the natives talk of 1T and wonder at the ter
rtnc haste Of the "Americanos." Not long
distance today on the cars, but try 1t once
on the hurricane deck OF a Mexican mule
the meanest brute that ever kicked the flies
on his riders hat, and you will think 1t the
longest trip OF your life. Long before the
nrst day is done you will say that If the
governor had the nerve to break this trail
he deserves his fortune, yea, verify, two for
tunes and more. Road! There isn't any.
Just dim marks here and there that only the
trained eye of the frontiersman can follow
Four days Of blister and sunburn and the
long hours of toll were over, we thought for
We were camped at FL Cumbre, the summit
OF the great barranca, and at gray of dawn
II was promised that We should look
down into Shepherds hacienda and before
night be at our journeys end.
Alas, what difference in the moruingi
AZ the clouds rolled away from the ocean of
peaks around us there was revealed at our
feet an enormous cash in the face of mother
earth-a huge rift at right angles, TOO, and
m To hal
foundations. Four miles across and 9OOO
feet deepl A canon rivaling the grand canon
OF the Colorado! Mountain peak on peak,
Ossa piled on Pelon, pierced the clouds
around us! Down in the terrific depths be-
low tiny thread of white marked the
course OF the rapid, tormented waters of FL
fuerte: On the banks two white patches
marked spots that our telescopes separated
into the hacienda of Shepherd and the
city OF Batopilas. Not only is every pack
most carefully adjusted, each saddle stirrup
and hoof infinitely examined. but the lazy
escorts look with eagerness at each part and
knot OF their sandals and tighten their belts,
while their countenances grow grave over
tne task before them. The Americanos are
invited at several places to take off their
boots and creep around the points of the
precipices where the head grows dizzy and
the hands tremble at the depths yawning
below The hours drag slowly by as down
we go over slanting rocks sleeper than the
steepest roofs, along the faces of precipices
Ike flies upon wall. where a slip or the
momentary loss Of command of head or
nand means sudden and awful death: over
pains that a self-respecting goat would
snun; down We creep.
Inc temperature, so cool and refreshing
among the peaks, has changed TO the torrid,
sweltering, diSheartening smotheriny breath
Oh tne tropics, for We are down in the tier
IA caliente. or hot lands where the mercu-
~ dances from 30 degrees at night to 100
degrees in the shade during the hours of
nesta- Exhausted, half fayed, every mus
Gle aching, We hardly notice the Struggling
village. the curious looks at the strangers or
tne Wild river torrent, but take a long
preath or relief as our guide stops at the
Iron gates that bar entrance to a fort built
on the rivers edge.
We hear, as in dream, the halt of the
armed sentry, and the words "Americanos, -
al senior Shepherd" the clang of
tne huge gates as they swing open, the ride
along shaded walks and do not wake I'D I'M
vi cheery voice exclaims: Get down and
come come IN. gentlemen, you must be pretty
We are at last in the presence of our friend.
the american baron The same COM
manding form, the same massive head. but
now covered with snow. the same broad
snouloerS. nashinS eye, resolute mouth and
the same warm, genial expression so well
known to his old friends and the great
hearted boss reached out his strcng arms
and half carried US like children into the
cool shade OF mis- sitting room. 1t was COM
ing out Of the heats of inferno into the cool
delights Of paradise
The BnrOn's Home.
The home Of the governor was the frs,
thing to be inspected. Every hacienda .
Spanish for plantation. has a name, and the
name Of this in full is "Haciendas de San
Miguel San Antonio" 1t is a veritable fort.
Tor all Of the buildings are surrounded by a
stone wall thirty-1ve feet high and thick
enough to resist heaviest artillery. There
are corner towers, angles. portfolios for can
non. and Sits for rifles; nor are the cannon
and rifles wanting
There is only one entrance to the fort, and
tnat Is through the huge iron gates, ever
guarded day and night by armed sentinels