San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-12-24
W0RLD-THEIR HEALING POWERS
WERE KNOWN TO THE INDIANS
FOR GENERATIONS BEFORE
COLUMBUS DISCOVERED
AMERICA.
They are a Sure Psnacea for the
Numerous Ills of Life-En-
chanting scenety-Charming
Climate-Good Society and
Good Hotels - Per-
sonals
ToPo CHICO, Dec. Is, 1895.

To the DAILY LIGHT:
Where can we go to get away
from the winters cold, the heat Of
summer, enjoy good health, and
drive care away, are questions that
are frequently asked but seldom
answered. For information Of
such / indite this letter.
The Topo Chico Hot Springs is
the place to go to. They are stu
ated about six miles north from the
Zaragoza plaza, and four miles
from the Mexican National depot,
Monterey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
Those springs were known to a
few tribes of Indians for genera
tions before Columbus discovered
the American continent; but so,
closely were they guarded by them
that their existence and h ealing
powers were only known to a very
few tribes.
1t was not until the Emperor
Montezuma contracted chills,
rheumatism and malarial fever
during the rainy season in the
City of Mexico, that their healing
powers became known throughout
this wonderful land.
After being confined to his bed
for a number of months he called
in his medicine and wise men, and
commanded them to provide a
remedy. They did so, but every
thing that they prescribed for him
failed to relieve his sufferings.
While they were in consultation
one of the wise men informed the
emperor that captive Indian told
him that in his country there were
hot springs that possessed the
power OF healing all kinds Of dis
eases. The emperor gave orders to
send runners out for the purpose of
finding them. They did so, and as
soon as they found them they re-
turned to the city with the glad
tidings.
AS soon as the wise men informed
the emperor he gave his officers
orders to prepare an escort to take
him to the hot springs. They
made large saddle for him 10
sit in. This they put on a
mustang pony that one OF
the runners captured while out
hunting for the springs. His escort
was mounted on mules and burros,
bat on account of the heat and the
uncivilized Indians that roamed
over the country at that season of
the year, they travelled by night and
when they reached the springs the
emperor was so worn out and stiff
that he could not move; they had
y carry him to the pool and put
him into it. He took a course of
baths, and in about a month he
was restored to health. AS he was
a kind hearted man he took deep
interest in the welfare OF his peo-
pie; he sent his runners out to no
tify the sick and the afflicted where
the springs were, and to bring
them there so that they might be
healed.
He knew also that the sick and
afflicted would enjoy scenery while
taking baths he commanded his
subjects to erect a chain OF noun
tains around them, which they did,
hence the Sierra Madre.
AS there were cardinals and
bishops of the church with him,
and in order to show his apprecia-
ton of their services, the emperor
ordered crown to be placed on
top of the mountain to the south
west of the springs, and named it
the Sierra la Mitre, and the one to
the south he'named Sierra Obispa-
do, and the saddle that he was
brought on, he caused to be erect
ed on the mountain to the south
east of the springs and he named
it Sierra de la Silla, while to the
north of the springs he caused to
be erected a mountain OF black
marble to keep out northern
hostile Indians, bandits and revo-
lutiouis,s. When all those works
were completed, they started for
home, and as they approached the
city, they were met by thousands
OF his faithful subjects, with bands
Of music, while hundreds of young
girls strewed the streets with flow
ers and ferns. This was the origin
OF the battle of flowers, which they
keep up and celebrate throughout
the republic every year in honor
of his memory.
They gave him grand banquet,
in honor of his safe return, liberia
ted all the captive prisoners, and