Evening star., 1897-04-03

monies may seem. this Is SO in.quitous and
barbarous that II makes one shudder to
think how such excruciating misery can
be endured by human beings. To exemplify
the death of Christ the actual proceedings
of cruc.fxion are gone through. The one
to be crucif;ed Is always a volunteer and
often there are many. because they be-
lieve no part Of penitente Is so exalting
and no death so sublime as that caused
by mimickfng the actions and travail OF
our Savior. The selection is vested in the
chief brother. Lo Hermano. 1t Is often
the wish of the one chosen to be nailed to
the cross, and years ago this was the only
method practiced, but now he Is bound
with leather cords. and so tightly are they
drawn that the pain is almost as severe
as though the nails were driven through
the flesh.
This part of the play, though similar to
the other in its odiousness. is quite different
in the main of production. A little be-
fore midnight the Pitofero's flute is heard
In the distance, and Immediately a faint
light is seen moving about in the neigh
borhood of the Morado. whence a process
sion OF greater proportions and with more
horrible surroundings moves UP the mar
row street. The coun terfeit Christ leads
the procession, bearing his enormous wood
en- cross. the longer beam OF which drags
in the road. causing the poor fellow, by ITS
passage over rough places. to be thrown
to tne ground, only TO be picked up and
started on again. The Pitofero and the
one who carries the crucfix and swings
the ceEser, with the chief actors and other
penitentes, follow close behind.
With the chanting of the women and
the incesssnt fiogging, the procession of
half nude and bleeding mortals moves over
the prepared path of broken stone to the
place designated Ell Calvario. When Cal
vary is reached the procession halts, the
man carefully lays the longer beam Of
the cross on the ground near the excavation
prepared to receive it, while the rest form
in a circle around the sacred spot He
lies with his back upon the long beam and
outstretches his arms along the cross
pieces and in this position Is lashed to
the heavy timbers. Many lend a helping
hand in this part of the performance so
as to make sure that the cords will be
tightly drawn. crown of thorny cactus
| is made and pressed down over his brow.
sending the blood trickling down his
| cheeks.
An Agonixing Picture.
When all is ready the guy lines are at
tached and the huge cross, bearing its
semi-nude, bleeding mortal, is brought to
| an upright position. When 1t reaches the
| perpendicular it suddenly drops. striking
| the bottom of the hole with such force as
! to almost wrench the poor man from the
| cross, and causing the thongs to sink so
| deep into the flesh that the blood oozes
| through the skin, The hole is quickly
| tamped with stone and pieces of sun-baked
| adobe. and there a living picture of misery
\ Is exhibited suspended in mdair Many
| gather about the foot of the cross and
| pray. while others who feel themselves
| more wicked infiict excruciating tortures
| en- themselves and their neighbors. The
| most fanatic often throw their nude bodies
into the cactus bushes and suffer agon!es
| from the thousands Of tiny thorns, which
work their way under the skin, causing IL
| to tester and swell out of all proportion
| After a half hour or more of this most
| intense suffering the crucified man. uncon-
| Scious, and with legs and arms perfectly
I black from the bonds which secure then,
| to the cross, is taken down, but not until
| signal is given from Lo Hermano. If Lo
| Hermano chose, and If he had a special
| grudge against the brother, he could CON-
| pei him to remain hour or so on the
| cross. When the signal is at last given the
| poor, limp and exhausted man is relea sed
| the crown of cactus removed from his
| head and his bleeding body placed on a
| rude litter. made of heavy timbers and
! borne at the head of the procession, which
| marches to the harsh and penetrating
| music of the Pftofero back to the Morado
where the man is cared for and nursed
| back to consciousness by his family and
| sister penitentes. On the Saturday night
following this great occasion there is giver
| a big baile and all members of the brother.
| hood are present. The one that imperson
| ated Christ is the center of attraction. ano
| the most sought after by the senoritas. He
4 Is looked upon as sort of saint for tn,
| balance of the year. Years ago the cruel
fixion often ended fatally. but such seldom
| happens now, as II is rare occurrence for
| a man to choose to be nailed to the cross
though there are some who have been cru
| Gifted by mailing, have survived, and car
| now corroborate their claims by scars OF
their hands and feet.