Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-05-18

SAINT TERESA.
Down on the shores of the Rio Grande,
and In tho midst of rough and thickly
settled country, an American Joan Of Are
has arisen, with trappings and surround
ings as picturesque, IL not rs grand and
imposing as her historical namesake OF
the 18th century. Like the Maid of Orleans,
this modern maid of northern Mexico OF
the state of Chihuahua has a mission that
at first sight seems purely a religious one
While Jeanne d. Arc carried before hcI
the standard of white, with the Supreme
Being among the clouds depicted on one
side and the annunciation on the other,
Saint" Teresa advances on horseback
with small wooden virgin, its paint
worn and blistered from exposure to the
weather, but yet u sufficient talisman to
muster to her side hundreds of followers
And 1t Is interesting to know that this ex.
traordinary woman
Rides Her Horse Astride.
1t Is q border war in which this new
Joan Of Arc figures as general, backed up
by q mob Of uncivilized Indians and low.
class Mexicans, religious enthusiasts OF
the most despicable type, who one day hide
themselves on the American side of the
river in the ravines and amid the sand.
hills with which that region is dotted, and
the next stealthily ride into the the rich
mining country Of Chihuahua, and, sweep.
ing like whirlwind, headed by this
mountain woman bearing the image high
above her head, her black hair falling fan
below her waist, her bosom undulating,
stampede and sack the little Mexican
towns.
The law and order authorities of north
-rn Mexico are at their wits ends. Their
troops avail little, and even the United
States rangers of the region, clever scouts
and used to Indian warfare, seem power
less to handle the elusive mob. Several
fierce battles have been fought and
Blood Has Been Spilled.
Born of Mexican father and a half.
breed Indian mother, of an Arizona tribe,
she has in her blood all the Mexican gal.
lantry, dash, daring and intrepidity, and
an adequate amount of Indian cunning Us
well. Physically the Mexican traits are
mainly dominant. The Saint" Teresa OF
the image is tall, graceful and dark
The actual revolt started on the evening
of March Is. For several days previous
"Saint" Teresa had been proselyting in
the little Mexican village of FL Polve, a
few miles from the town Of Presidio del
Nortc, displaying her image, praying and
calling upon the inhabitants of the coun.
try round about to follow her in u great
and glorious movement for the egenera-
tion Of Mexico, the overthrowing of the
civil government and the establishment of
a religious kingdom. She proclaimed her.
self to be- Saint" an inspired messen.
ger from heaven, sent to relieve the people
from suffering and poverty and to guide
them
Directly to the Holy Virgin.
The enthusiasm grew unboundcd and
continued unabated. The people at Eel
Polve believed her and flocked aboue her
by hundreds The civil authorities ar-
rested her and placed her in FL POlve's
tiny Jail, but within an hour the Jail doors
were broken open by the mob and the Gin
spired" maiden was carried out in tri-
,umph.
BY profession Teresa is q medicine wo-
man, and has made n great reputation as
"a healer of diseases and wounds by the
laying on Of hands, bncantations and the
application OF certain mysterious liquids
she always carries In TASKS hung about
her neck. She hears voices in the air and
sees visions She claims that no bullet
can hit her, and Ii is said that some of the
best shots In the army have tried to kill
her in win.
just now she is said to be safely I'm.
trcncbcd In her mountain stronghold,
practically safe from disturbance, arrang-
ing for more raids on the valleys and no
fusing to see or treat with commissioners
the government of chihuahua sent to offer
her full amnesty IL she would only aban.
don the Joan Of Arc role and become once
more the peaceful medicine woman.
IL looks as though Teresa had the better
OF the situation mt present and might
make tho government considerable trou-
BILE before she Is killed or captured She
has the ignorant and supcrstitious people
all with her. and her undoubtcd ability M
n leader makes her an antagonist with
large powers for mischief