Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1895-05-24
SAINT" TERESA.

has been spilled, but Immediately afte,
each conflict tho "saint" has disappeared
across the river, and her followers have
melted away for the time being.
The historic parallel, to be sure, is not
quite accurate, for "Saint" Teresa has no
government behind her and not sign Of
regular troops. At best it is but sporadic
revolt, but tho woman Is showing such
remarkable generalship and Is possessed
of 50 much magnetism that despite the
handful OF fanatics that Is behind her she
is today stronger than ever.
Her full name is Nina Gracia Dona
Maria Rebeca, and though no trustworthy
eyewitness has had the chance to examine
her closely as yet she is believed to be the
famous Teresa de Cevera, who a little
over q year ago melted bloody riot among
the Tomechic Indians of the Sierra Madre.
The Mexican authorities caught her in the
act then and forced her to leave the coun-
try. From Mexico she crossed over to
Nogales, A. r., in which little settlement
she performed miraculous cures. Her rep
utation spread among the low caste In
dams and "greasers'' of the territory and
extended over the Mexican boundary.
Regarding her early days there is little
for the biographer to touch upon. Born of
Mexican father and a half breed Indian
mother Of an Arizona tribe, she has in her
blood all tho Mexican gallantry, dash,
daring and intrcpidity and an adequate
amount of Indian cunning and cruelty as
we'll. Physically tho Mexican traits are
mainly dominant The "Saint" Teresa of
the image is tall, graceful and dark.
Even moro than the Jeanne dare of
history, she was born to be leader Of
men. Her 1.-the, slender figure, short skirt
ed gathered, with her neck we'll open and
a brilliant handkerchief knotted about her
throat, gives her altogether such a man
nish appearance that the story has gone
about that Teresa is a man. 1t is only
when in actual conflict that the illusion is
dispelled.
Weird and curious stories como from
Mexican lips as to Santa Teresa's magic
curing. The goddess Of war, vertically,
when in the field leading her platoOns, she
is no less, so tho gossips say, divinity Of
peace and painlessness when she is in the
midst Of her works. The Mexicans, on the
whole, have been chary about divulging
the miracles that they swear have been
performed before many eyes, but it nev-
ertheless is known that Santa Teresa per-
forms her cures in two ways-by the lay
ing on of hands and by the application OF
certain liquids which are kept in tiny bot
ties hung from her neck by narrow leather
thongs and never left in sight.
The liquids are used sparingly, never
moro than drop or two at time, and
their application is purely external GEN
orally the remedy takes the form Of a rub
,, bling on the afflicted part with the liquid
The nearest it ever comes to an internal
application is when single drop is placed
on the tongue. At each touch of the saint
q solitary word Of grewsome import is
1nuttered, the same sound being repeated
| over and over again.
The most of her cures nevertheless are
performed by finger and palm touch. From
all reports she is u marvelously magnetic
woman, and if the whole truth were known
it would doubtless be perceived that she
had the art If hypnotism very fully devel-
oped. Her hands are small for woman
Of her build and height, daintily formed
! while yet powerful.
For the rest she is a woman Of great
physical endurance. Few fronticrsnen
ran handle q pistol better or outstrip her
| in rilo across country. 1t is no small
| task to be n Joan Of Arc on the Texan
! frontier.