The Wichita daily eagle., 1894-01-14
MEXICAN FANATICS.

MEXICAN tHNA lCS.
MEXICO CITY, Mex, Jan. 13.-An Indian
courier from the town of Lecheria brings
the news of a great uprising of religious
fanaticism at that place. The destruction
of $40, 600 worth of property has already
resulted from the outbreak, and more
serious results are feared. The hacienda
of Lacheria has been burned, 1,C00 bales
of cotton, live stock and other property
destroyed by the superstitious Indians.
and hundreds are focking to the place
from every part of the country.
The beginning of the movement has its
foundation in the superstitious reverence
of the native Mexican Indians for any
thing unusual, or which to their simple
minds seems TO be of divine or unknown
origin. On the 81 of the present month
an Iudian named Vlncente Rugadon, who
was cue of the common workmen at the
large milk ranch called the hacienda de
Lecheria. twenty-one miles north of this
city, found curiosity in the vegetable
world which attracted his attention. On
the leaf of century plant on the hacienda
he saw a peculiar tracing which
at once attracted his attention.
Outlined on the leaf WAS a
figure which at first sight appeared
be but one of the stains of which the
leaves of the maguey are subject 10 by be.
ing eaten quite often by worm infesting
the plant; but, looking closer, he soon dis
covered reproduction of tie world famous
vision of the Virgin of Guadalupe. the
patron saint Of Mexico. The Indian fell
upon his knees in paroxysm OF Joy and
fear at having found such a manifestation
of divine favor, and began to worship the
picture on the leaf. fastening to The
master of the hacienda, Senior ii. Plmen-
L. a lf hAf diEnn war; lad
prayed him to come and see the wonder
full thing which it had been given a poor
Indian TO behold of all men on earth.
To humor the Indian Ssnor Pimental
went with him, and reaching the place the
Indian pointed out the picture. He then
fell upon his face in the dust and kissed
the sacred soil which bore what he called
the heavenly token. The patron carefully
examined the SCARED leaf and then smiled
contemptuously at the credulity of
the Indian, telling him that
there was nothing remarkable about
the leaf, and that any worm
eating the leaves of the maguey could
make just as good 8. virgin as that any
day. The Indian, persisting that it was
nothing less than divine, the patron, to
show his servant that it was nothing more
than accident and to express his contempt
for such foolishness, struck the leaf with
his cane and cut it almost assunder. The
Indian, cowed by fear OF his master, did
not make any open outbreak at the sight
of the injury TO his cherished symbol,
That night the buildings of the hacienda
were fired by incendiary means and prop
erty destroyed to the amount above men-
toned. There was no clue to the perpe-
traitor of the deed at first, but within
forty eight hours enough has developed to
conclusively prove that the fire was caused
by the desire for revenge on the part of
the Indian. heart t-broken and cOwed, but
not unconvinced by the harsh treatment
his master had given his miraculous leaf.
1t is now proved that he fired the ranchera
to revenge himself and the fancled Insult
to the Virgin of Guadalupe.
But the matter has not ended there Ihe
miraculous plant was bruised, but not de-
stroyed. The news of the finding of the
picture of the leaf soon spread among the
other Indians employed on the hacienda and
in the neig ghborhood, and dozens visited the
spot on which the curious plant STOOD. Inc
effect on every one of the simple be-
holders was the same. They all de-
clared new manifestation OF divine favor
had been sent down from heaven to the
dwellers on earth, and that the celestial
desire WAS that shrine be created on the
spot. Hour by hour since then the news
of the wonderful leaf-picture has been
spreading, gathering force as il went. The
result is that hundreds OF pilgrims to
view the wonderful picture are now en-
camped night and day on the grounds.
Hundreds more are pouring in the direc-
tion of Lecheria from almost every part OF
the country.
which many manifestations of fanatic zeal
are displayed is in progress. 1t is feared
that the tension may reach such height
and feeling against the would-be destroyer
of the holy symbol rise to such point
that more violence will be attempted. a
close watch is being kept by the authorl-
ties, who have been notified of the affair,
and if violence is attempted it will be sup
pressed by the military forces OF the re-
public if necessary to preserve life and
property.
Desiring to have the counsel of high
authority on the matter, the penitents who
have gathered sent a petition to the great
cathedral in this city in which reside the
leading prelates of the Catholic church,
asking that one Of their number be sent to
the scene and place the seal of ecclessias-
tical approval on the picture. A delegate
from the cathedral in the person of Arch
bishop Alarcon has accordingly agreed to
make the trip. He will leave for the scene
of the excitement on Sunday morning and
make thorough investigation into
the phenomenon. If he pronounceS the
picture worthy OF credence the Indians
will Immediately build a temple on the
spot. install priest and worship at Lo-
cheria as one of the greatest shrines of
Mexico. If the sacerdotal judge should
happen to pronounce the picture as unwor-
thy attention. it is hard to foletell the re-
suits, as the Indians are worked up to IA
high pitch OF excitement over the matter,
and implicitly believe in its genuineness.
The result of Archbishop Alarcon's visit
will be anxiously awaited all over the re-
public, and thousands will be present to
hear the verdict.