The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-31

letter of Introduction TO a certain Mexican
gentleman. who readily agreed TO take US
20 the meeting place OF the PenitenteS.
assuring us. however, that should we be
discovered II would not be very comfort
able for us He dressed us up after dark
In some old clothes and gave US each a
meal bag. or something similar TO meal
bag, which he put over our heads. and
then we sauntered forth. The meeting
place was in little church. built like all
the rest OF the churches throughout the
territory. a low, squat building. oblong in
shape, whitewashed within and without.
with one wooden door taking up ore end
of the church and studded with enormous
hrass-headed nails arranged in the shapes
Of crowns and crosses. In front over the
door or top OF the church was a triangu-
lar structure with a square hole. In which
hung the silyer-toned bell. Inside the
church at one end was the altar, and In
the body OF the church are number OF
plain wooden benches on which the old
and feeble sat, the younger women and
the men squatting on the floor all about
the place. We found everything in dark
ness. In the body OF the church had been
erected a cross. and on what was intended
TO be a throne OF plain wooden benches
sat a man who. we learned, was the latest
saint" All about the throne and the
cross had been scattered cactus thoras.
and when we entered the penance was In
progress. The din was frtghtful, and the
mad ecstacy OF the fanatics bloodhound
ling. We three Rugged the walls. and in
making our way TO the door 10 leave after
some ten minutes we suddenly ran UP
against some Penltente, who. IL seemed.
preferred the comforts of corner to the
cruelties OF the cross. When he saw that
we had discovered him Sinking his duty.
he. thinking we were his fellows. with A
IF ntt. tufn tho
and we heard him louder in his shrek
ings and more energetic In his penance
than the rest.
The sect was founded by Father Mar
tknez, a Franciscan monk, about 200 years
ago. At first the church recognized the
sect and approved OF II, but In later years.
when the penance became nothing more
than fanatical self-tor,ure, the church
proclaimed against 1t and ordered that
the practices be stopped. The Penltentes
then withdrew from the church ard
formed church of their own. Each VII
lage has it's own lodge or society, and de-
spite the fact that all members are ex-
communicated, the practices stiil con-
tinue In giving me this brief history or
the Penitentes, Father De Fury, of this
nIace, and secretary to Archbishop Chap
peile. told me this story. which has Its
funny as we'll as it's tragic side. few
wears ago while a number OF Fenltentes
were engaged In crucifying man some
little distance TO the westward or Santa
Fe. a band OF rowing Apaches. the born
enemies OF all Mexicans, came upon them.
At once all penAnce was forgot, and the
Pen!tenses with a cry OF "Apaches." took
10 their heels, leaving the poor fellow on
the cross to the mercy OF the Indians.
The Apaches seeing the man on the cross
selected him for a target. and the next
day he was found dead. with no one
knows how many arrows sticking In him
and any number OF bullet holes through
him.
The members OF the sect have more or
the Indian than of Spanish blood, and 1t
seems that In the intermarriage all the
viciousness OF the white man has been IN
herited and all the goodness or the IN
dams lost TO posterfty.
The Mexicans and the Pueblo Indians
live IN their own villages: the United
States authorities do not bother their
heads about them: they attend TO their
own government. and seem TO get along
very well. too. WARREN McVEIGd.