Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1896-07-23
THE CITIZEN
A Letter from Peru.

n ACAANA AAOAiA - -
Mrs. D. D. Moriarty of Emlenton,
lately received a letter from her hus-
band, who lett for Peru sometime in May,
and the following is an extract that will
be read with interest. Mr.. Moriarty
says
''We reached Lima by rail from Callao,
a distance of 40 miles, through some OF
the finest scenery I ever saw. The rail-
road is a masterpiece of railroad engi-
neering.
Lima is 1000 feet above the sea level,
and lies at the foot of Mt. Misty, which
is p, ,oco feet high. The climate IS fine.
1t is as warm and pleasant here as it was
at home when I left, though it is mid
winter for these people.
The city is modern in many respects.
The Park is grand, with fine geological
garden, and museum of "curios' and
fine paintings Most interesting OF all
to me were the mummies. 1t seems that
it was custom of the Incas, when their
people became old and inirn, to tie
them in their teepes, (or huts, IN
sitting position, and let them die.
Three such speciments in a good state of
preservation are exhibited in this
park. The expression of despair and
suffering are plainly depicted on their
faces. One had a fine head of hair,
and looked as natural as life.
We also visited the old Cathedral,
built in 164o 1t has frontage of 800
feet, and two towers with bells i'll them.
Old Pizarro (who founded Lima in
1885, and died il I54I) lies IN this
church in glass coffin The body is in
a good state of preservation, but 1 told
the boys I wouldn't have known him If
he hadn't been labeled.
We went to church in this Cathedral
Sunday morning at 10 a. m. All the
worshippers were on their knees when
we went in, and we stood about five
minutes surveying the church and au-
dience when every one jumped up and
ran screaming towards the doors. 1
didn't realize what was the matter till
a shock came and almost knocked me
down. Then one of our party Ia Cali
fornian) yelled that it was an earth
quake, and we made a break for the
street like the rest, The sensation was
of being sea-sick and made you feel
decidedly queer. 1t swayed that great
Cathedral till the bells rang in the
towers.
never saw. a worse panic. The peo-
pie who are very dark in complexion
looked a sort of ashy grey. The women
dropped on their knees in the streets on
the hard cobble-stones, and with hands
uplifted in a supplicatory position, rattl-
ed off lot of jargon that supposed was
praying. Their piety and faith may be
genuine, but I noticed that they made
for the street in double-quick time be-
fore they began to pray.
was among the last to get out, for
didn't know what was wrong until the
shock came. First came rumbling or
roaring sound, and that is the signal to
the experienced TO make for the open
air, out of reach of falling walls and
roofs. They don't usually stand on the
order of their going, but go at once,
and that mighty quick. Several smaller
shocks followed at intervals during the
afternoon.
1t seems that in rs terrible shock
destroyed most of the buildings i'll the
city, and since then the people live in
constant dread. | don't blame them for
didn't relish my own taste of it at all.
We will leave here on Thursday for
the interior Can go a short distance
further by rail- then secure mules and
start over the mountains to the mines,
We saw one pack train of Llamas to-day.
They are handsome animals, and seem
very docile.
We will be about two weeks on the
| trail, as we intend to build bridges and
fix the trail as we CO."