Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1896-01-03
PADRE PERALTA WILL NOT STAY
BURIED.
From tho Albuquerque Cltizou.

From tho Albuquerque Citizen.
The strangest and NEST supernatu-
raj occurrence that has yet been
brought to public attention IN this
land Of vsnderneHt is the cause Of
extraordinary excitement just now at
Isleta. Merlan0 Annljo and Hen. A.
@. de Baca, Of this city, spent yester-
day ut the quaint Fadian town inves-
tigstiug the miracle for themselves
and can offer 40 reasonable theory 10
explanation Of it. The circumstances
are these:
About two months ago the old meE
Of the tribe held an all night session
In their underground council chamber
and In accordance with instructions
the oldest chief made q formal call
next day on the Catholic priest who
has charge Of the parish. He told the
man OF Cod that according to the ira
dition Of the Islet2s it was about time
for Padre Fcralta to again rise from
his grave as he had done at the end OF
every cycle Of twenty-five years since
the body was translated from Gran
Qui7era and buried near the altar OF
the Islcta church. The clergyman
was ct 1rst inclined to scout the idea
as the records OF that historic ediGce
throw no light on the mattor, but was
1nally induced to make an investlga-
tion. The old chief outlined the spot
on cne s:de Of the altar where he
claimed the remains were entombed.
Although therc was no indication Of
the rising Of the body at that tiue, the
old chief informed the priest that the
phenomeaon would certainly occur
during the next moon.
Father Peralta, from whom the
town Of Perslta gets it's name, IL Gp-
pears, is a sort OF rEtrep saint with
the Isleta indians, and many OF their
prayers are directed &c kim. He is
supposed to have given up his life in
their cause in the seeking OF Gran
QuiverG, several centuries age, and
when the IsletG church was erected
TIE body was sccrcdl- renewed there.
The priest became sufficiently i'm
pressed with the story to communal
! cate it to the authorities at Santa Fe,
and even the story went TO Rome.
He was instructed TO make a thor
ough Investigation and TO keep a
close watch. Shortly afterwards
Archbishop Chapele visited the Isleta
church and heard the whole story
from first sources.
Now for the marvellous part Of the
story as it was told to the Citizen last
night.
All at sace there were indications OF
the floor cracking over the place des-
ignated by the old chief, as il the
earth was being pushed up from beloS
as is reported to have occurred. The
displacement OF the eartk became
larger every day Until fsslly the cof-
nn came to the surface from depth
of twelve feet, Cne void being filed by
| the displacea eartk falling in. The
sofSn is q rude, trough like structure,
hewn out CT > cottonwood log and,
lst-enge to say, is in a good state OF
preservation. It was difficult to re-
mcye the clumsy hand wrought nails.
The iaterior revealed the complete
skeleton Of man whose teeth indi'
Ito that he had not reached advanced
years. A cowl such as is worn by
monks was in it's place at the head of
the coffin and Gill; ctcle, the priestly
insignia of ofioe, Eurrouuded the body
portion OF the skeleton. Both the
cowl and the stole are in gooc condi-
tion and have not rottea IN the least.
The stole shows great antiquity both
in design, make and o7namertation.
The priest renewed enc Of the teeth
which he preserves. ThS cofia and
} its contents, after inspection by the
Gve-stricken people, vas carefully re-
entombeG In accordance With the in
structions OF the chiefs.
MessrG. Arnijo and Baca made O
close investigation and carefully OBJ
served the disturbed portloR OF the
church floor. They talked freely Nith
the Indians about the occurrence and
; tried to reach some reasonable expla
nation sf it. Mr.. ATmijo thought
some strange popularity Of the earth
might account for the resurrection o.
the cofin, but he is at a loss how Il
explain the preservation of the cot
l. tonWood box and the garments mon
{ toned. The Indians believe is is 1
genuine visitation from their saintet
padre.
1t certainly is strange sEair anC
merits investigation.
You Can BELIEVE
The testimonials published In behal
+ OF Hoods sarsaparillA. They ar
written by honest people, who hav'
actually found in their own expert