Arizona republican., 1895-12-19
4 MODERN RESURRECTION Wierd Tale from New
 Mexico. The Coffin that Rises to the
 Surface.
Four Times a Century Does Padre Peralta Again Visit His
 People.


 occurrence that has yet been brought to public attention in this land of won derment is the cause of extraordinary excitement just now among the h. dians at Isleta, in New Mexico. Ma riano ArGnijo and Hon. A. c. de Baca of this city, says the Albuquerque Citizen, spent yesterday at the quaint Indian town investigating the miracle for themselves and can offer no reasonable theory in explanation of it. The cir cumstan'ces are these:
 About two months ago the old men of the tribe held an all night session in their underground council chamber and in accordance with instructions the oldest chief made a formal call next day on the Catholic priest who has charge of the parish. He told the man of God that according to the tra- dition of the Isletas it was about time for Padre Peralta to again arise from his grave as he had done at the end of every cycle of twenty-five years since the body was translated from Gran Quivera and buried near the altar Of the Isleta church. The clergyman at first was inclined to scout the idea as the records of that historic edifce throw no flight on the matter, but was finally induced to make an investiga tion. The old chief outlined the spot on one side of the altar where he claimed the remains were entombed Although there was no indication of the body at that time, the chief in- formed the priest that the phen menon would certainly occur during the next moon.
 All at once there were indications of the floor cricking over the place desig- mated by the old chief, as if the earth was being pushed up from below, as is reported to have occurred. The dis placement of earth became larger every day until finally the coffin came to the surface from the depth of twelve feet, the void being filled by the displaced earth falling in. The coffin is rude, trough-like structure, he~n out of a cottonwood log and strange to say, is in a good state of pr reservation. It was difficult to remove the clumsy hand wrought nails. The interior revealed the complete skeleton of a man whose teeth indicate Ithat he had not reached advanced years. "A coWl, such as is worn by monks. was in its place at the head of the coffin, and 3 silk stole, the priestly insignia of office, surrounded the body portion of the skeleton. Both the coW1 and stole are in good condition and have not routed in the least. The stole shows great antiquity both in de- sign, make and ornafnentation. The priest removed one of the teeth, which ne preserves. The coffin and its con- tents, after inspection by the awe stricken people, was carefully re-en-I toGnbed in accordance with instruc- ti0ns of the chiefs.
 Messrs. Armijo and Baca made a close investigation and carefully ob- served the disturbed portion of the church floor. They talked freely with the Indians about the occurrence and tried to reach some reasonable eNplana- tion of it. Mir. Armijo thought some strange peculiarity of the earth might account for the resurrection of the coffin, but he is at a loss how to ex- plain the preservation of the cotton wood box and the garments mentioned The Indians believe it is a genuine vis- itation from their sainted padre.
 It certainly is strange affair and merits investigation.