The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-05-03
THE MEXICAN MESSIAH.
He Does Deeds That Bewilder the Peo-
pie of the Mexican Border.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.

san Antonio, Tex, April 21.-A new
Messiah is come to Texas. He is an Aztec.
The blood of the seers of that practically
extinct but wonderful race runs through
his veins. He does not know why he is
chosen, but, impelled by something unac-
countable. he is exercising a power that
the Aztecs are said TO have excelled in
centuries ago. He is preaching a practi-
cal religion. He is coming to the sick, the
halt, the blind, and those afflicted with
anJ manner of i'll in body or spirit. He
asks no recompense in the shape of money,
thanks or glory. He says he is bat the hum
BILE instrument Of God. His cures are be-
yond question, and the excitement he has
created in Southwestern Texas is beyond
belief Over ,000 people stand in line
for many hours every day awaiting
their. turn for consultation with the
saint, for the MeXicans believe he is no
less a parsonage than st. Peter.
He is of medium hight, of slight frame
and erect of carriage. White hair and
white whiskers would give him a vener-
able appearance but for terribly distig
ured countenance. Thereby hangs his
story. His name is Pedro Jaramillo but
he calls himself Lon Pedro. The Mexi-
cans call him Don Peddrito, the diminu-
tive of Don Pedro. He will not talk
about himself, but from Bias Vela, his
travelling companion, the following
meager details of his story have been
gathered:
Bias Vela says that Don Pedrito was
born in 1901, and Is, therefore. SO years of
age. He was born in Guadajara, Mexico.
Bias Vela is only about As years old, so
he knows nothing of Pedritos early life.
He says that when middle-aged Don Pc
drito was kicked in the face by horse
and seriously injured. His nose was
broken, and he was hurt otherwise, so
that death was near at hand.
A STRANGE WOMAN
appeared upon the scene who nursed him
back to life. When fully recovered he
asked her what he should pay for the
services rendered. She replied that he
could pay her nothing, but that he must
go out into the world healing the sick
with a power that he would find he now
possessed.
He followed her directions aud his
fame soon spread. The Mexicans became
terribly wrought up over his wonderful
power. He had but to speak few simple
words and dread disease left its victim at
once. People came for miles. The Mex
lean government became jealous of his
power and alarmed at the crowds that
collected to worship him. They ordered
him put in Jail He was finally released
on the promise that he leave Mexico.
Accompanied by his faithful shadow,
Bias Vela, Jaramillo crossed the Rio
Grande and located in the sparsely set
tied district of Starr county. There they
have lived for ten years. Jaramillo was
an enigma to his neighbors. No one
knew how he lived. He wandered
throughout the country at night and was
silent. He came and went from the
ranches without voucsafhing a word, He
healed the sick when they were brought
TO him. would accept no fee or money or
thanks. The natives feared and wor-
shipped him.
Two weeks ago he came to San An
tonic Texas, with Bias Vela. They Sc
cured permission to lodge in a little
shack in the Grandiean homestead in the
Mexican quarter of the city. The place
has been known to the natives for over
100 years His reputation had preceded
him. and he found a handful of believers
waiting for treatment. These he relived.
The news spread. The yard of the old
place soon became a wonderful sight.
The fence about it for a half mile was
used for hitchng post for all manner of
horses attached TO a curious array of
vehicles. Everything could be seen there
from the two-wheeled native Mexican
cart to the stylish turnout attended by a
coachman in livery Inside the yard a
throng struggled for an interview with
the Don. ! he rich and the poor; silk.dresses
were crushed against the greasy blankets
of the natives. There was no distinction
of class or race.
The old man at first sat in his little
cabin, into which the patients were ad-
mit.ed one by one. This took too much
time. He came outside, and a canvas
was stretched to keep the sun from his
venerable head. A rope was stretched
from this canvas shed around the fence,
and about 10 feet from it, for a distance
of 1900 feet Patients are required to
enter this chute from the lower end, and
gradually move up as the cases are dis
posed Of This chute holds about 500
people, and it is always full. AS fast as
the patients are disposed of at the other
end there are many TO take their places.
The crowd surges forward, some on
crutches, others supported on either side
by friends kheumatics, consumptives,
pdralytics, all are there. 1t is a wonder
ful and Diteous sight
AS soon as it is dark Don Pedrito and
Bias Vela climb into a two-seated wagon
and another old Mexican drives them
about the city. They call at the places
from where requests have been sent for
assistance. The OLD man keeps travelling
until nearly daybreak. He then goes
back to his cabin, sleeps about two hours,
and as the first sign of day appears in the
east comes out to where 200 or 300 people
are already in line waiting to speak to
him. He works twenty hours out of the
twenty-fOur.
AS to his method and his prescriptions.
His medicines are water in the form Of
buoths, and drinks. hot or cold, as the
case may be, and the common fruits of
the earth, such as oranges. lemons. po-
tatoes and tomatoes. No two cases are
treated alike, even of the same disease.
The patients in search of relief stands
before Lon, who is apparently
oBLIvIOUs OF ALL SURROUNDINGS.
The Don is deaf, and the patient tells
his tale Of woe 10 Bias Nela who stands
near. Bias Nela tells tito the old man in
Spanish, putting his mouth close to the
ear of the Don. Don Pedrito then writes
on a slip of paper in Spanish some such
prescription as this;
Drink seven cups of cold water on
Monday, Wednesday and Friday morn
ings, until seven are taken"
The patient IS given this, and II he
cares to donate 50 or rs cents to Bias Vela
he can do so, If not it is not
asked or expected. The patient
goes away Cooking shame-faced,
perhaps, and generally doubtful,