Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-11-27
enEAr ,lnxIcAN Mr,NIrs.
Curious objects.
fhcy Arc Not ns Bir AS LIFE mi

Wy OF Mexico, Nov 22.-onc OF the
nos, n, curious and picturesque cities in
NeNie9, one which few tourists visit
~ 'neir IRIS through orr Sister rcpub.
~, Is Huana1uato. tho capital OF the
state bearing the same name Its at
unetiohs afe widely talked Of but sci.
uoh written about. This name Guam
aIuato' IKE many of the old Mexican
"y.us, LOOKS very formidable when
written, but when iisped BY some dark.
eseu senorlta, and there aro numbers
~ tnen there, sounds music itself. II
pronounced Wanowato. Built in
u ,ne eahons or hills adjacent 20 the
IuahhluAto range, which Is n con.
hunilon Of the magnificent Sierra
Maare, many OF the streets OF the
Sl'y are very deep, narrow and rough
paNed-being impossible by way
ons, iet there are many ilAi. bnild-
mss ana the streets are necessarily
picturesque. The churches are of ne
culiar architectural beauty Showing
great skin In interior and exterior
construction. The sculpturing. design
ca ana executed by Aztec Indians. IL
especially worthy OF note. The city
Also has theater building. which Is
an Investment OF the state aovern-
ment IL IS OF beautiful and striking
leslgn, the front being adorned by
Tour large and Imposing bronze stat
u'es, typifymg art, literature music
anu science The Interior view Is
very ilch. being characteristic Of the
architectural and decorative styio
characteristics OF spanish-Amerldan
countries
visit Is always made by newcomers
10 La Presa, or dam, which Is tho
source OF the clty's water supply. Dams
are built across marrow portions OF
ucrp canons or aroyas, elevated above
tue rMh. me rains III The winter sea-
son M these and sufficient water Is
nhnked or stored to meet all the de-
mands OF the city. The farthest OF
these dams or reservoirs IL at a dis
lance OF two miles, necessitatlng tnn-
neling through mountains OF solid rock
10 convey the water to Its point Of con-
sumption. where IL arrives fresh, cool
ana sparkling. But the most interest
Ing Of the sights OF Quana1uatO Is the
Pnntcon, or burial ground. Have YOU
visited the Pautcone Have You seen
the mummies2" These questions bone
bard one, until to preserve his life the
traveller rushes on TO the inspection Of
the dead.
The authorities OF the Panteon will
guarantee to turn You into mummy
Ia three short years. OF probably IN less
time should their word be doubted. The
Family OF q deceased person. II provided
with means, pay To the cemetery the
sum Of S2j for the occupancy OF a space
In the vault for three years Al the
expiration OF this period the body il
luken out perfectly mummlncd and
neatly stored away IN an underground
cellar or c1tacomb. In this catacomb
stand side by side between one and two
hundred mummles; some with am the
clothing sun Intact. others entirely
destitute OF covering while others boast
merely boots or shoes
During our visit, by feeling the Gus
todian. We had three muminies carried
up the spiral stairway aud placed
against one OF the few monuments.
where our party with the three dried |
up bodies In coed light could be pho
tographed' This peculiar disposition |
of the dead is due to the exceedingly /
rocky formation, making grave dig |
gng an imposslhllity. A remarkable |
feature Is that within n certain period
of time after the three years have ex-
pred the surviving members OF the re-
spective dead can reclaim the body to
10 what they please with II
The poorer classics are doomed 10
the pit about the only place where
success In digging secured what We
would call n grave. This space Ia
.herefire reserved for the poor, and
lerc hundreds and hundreds of bodies
rave gone In 20 come out glsclptona
These are then aired, blcached and
brown In the heap OF confusion nt
.ach end Of the catucomb The skulls,
shown q triie more respect, are used
or urnamentation being piled In lay
RS IN uniform order from the floor 10
he ceiling In the rear OF the bone
ledp II is a weird scene, not easily
'anished from memory.