Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1897-03-11

Silao, the latter station being on
The main line Of the Mexican Cen
trail railroad. The road from ST.
lao winds around among the hills
and in many places suggests that
the engine might possibly telescope
the rear sleeper. Finally Marfil
is reached, where there is a change
to horse cars-thuugh attached to
mules. They follow the creek, for
the very good reason there is no.
where else a goat even could make
his way in safety. The mules 60
at a gallop, passing some OF the
greatest silver mines of the world
and the haciendas where the re.
duction works are. The road along
which the cars pass, is crowded
with people going to and fro, and
with burros loaded with leather
sacks of silver ore. The peculiar
houses on either side make the
trip most interesting. The hills
rise up high and steep on either
side, and wherever there is a place
big enough, or a niche can be cut
IN the rocks, house is built, the
getting up or down being a secon-
Diary consideration apparently.
Three miles Of this Moorish street
are traversed, when the cars stop
opposite one Of the handsomest
little plazas seen on the trip. Here
are some of the prettiest houses in
Mexico with which those of the
City are not to be compared, for
loveliness. Mexico is overridden
with churches, to the impoverish-
ment of the people, and the one
here cost a quarter of a million
dollars, nearly half Of which was
spent in blasting a space in the
hillside for it to rest on.
Here is located one of the larg-
est mints Of the republican fact
il coins more money than any Of
the others. The process is the
same as at Philadelphia or prob
ably the others in the United
States; but there is the white haired
old lndiaN, his locks seeming sill
vered by the metal he has ladled
from The furnace to the molds in
thirty long years, with never a
days lost time, it is said. Two
younger Indians are seated upon
low stools literally surrounded by
silver coins. Handling every piece
they are able to detect the minut-
est imperfeciion, and no coin
"turned down" by them is ever re-
inspected, but goes directly back
to the melting pot Just twenty
coins, no more or less, are picked
up at time, with more certainty
than tie most adroit faro dealer
who ever handled chips.
The building now used as a
prison was erected in 1855 for a
chamber Of commerce. 1t was
captured by the priest and patriot,
Hidalgo, in the early part Of the
war for independence aud after his
execution with other patriots al
chihuahua his head and theirs
were brought here and hung on
hooks on the wall Of the building.
The hook occupied by Didalgo' =
head is ,till shown Dolores, near
| Guanajuato, was the scene Of the
commencement Of the revolution
and was Hidalgo's birthplace.
% high hill in the western
part uf the city is the public pan
theon-ihe city cemetery-reached
generally on a burro, by the tour.
| ist. The bodies Of the dead are
first deposited in inches in the
wall, if the people are able TO pay
for such luxuries and there remain
so long as the rent is paid-s4 q
month When default is made the
body is removed and placed in the
catacombs-an airy cellar some
twelve or fifteen feet deep and wild,
by three bundled or more in
length. Ii the body is in a stat,
| of preservation to warrant it, which
| is not uncommon. it may be stood
against the wall, as shown in the
picture, and in which condition
| raco0nition IL not infrauuent