San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-04-11
THE LIGHTS CORRESPONDENT
GRAPHICALLY DEPICTS THE
EXPERIENCE.
! Very TireSOme And Tedious
Though Exciting And EXhiliara-
ting Affair Sure footed Mules
And Indian Guides Aided In
The Accomplishment,

|
Toluca. Mex, April 5.-Near this
city is a large extinct volcano that ris-
es over $4,000 feet above the level of
the sea. 1t is the famous Nevada de
Toluca and what the Indians call ''Te-
pete Xinantecatl." 1t is one Of the
sights of the city and though its as
cent is very fatiguing it is not difficult
or dangerous if done in the right way.
Bishop Fitzgerald, of the Methodist
Episcopalean church, and his son,
Ray, were recently here. The bishop
is in the republic on Episcopal bust
He has climbed the Andes, assembled
the famous Popocatepetl and express
ed a desire to go up the Nevada de
Toluca. He was the guest of the Rev.
w. d. Powell, d. D., Methodist Epic
copal pastor, and that gentleman ar
ranged for party to accompany the
bishop in the ascent. DR.. Powell in
tended to accompany the party, but
|, on the eve of the departure he had
'>double share of marital happiness in
the~fact that Mrs. Powell presented
him with twins. 1t is not recorded
that the reverend gentleman, like
Spurgeon, sang the hymn:
mot more than others deserve,
Yet God has given me more"
But the event was of such magnitude
as to deprive the party of the doctors
company on the trip.
We were all called early in order to
catch the train and after a hasty but
substantial breakfast we made our
way to the depot to take the Metlalt-
oynca train for MexicaltzungO. 1t is
a queer little railroad intended to con-
vey traffic to the Metlaltoynca colo
ny. There is only one train daily and
at present the road only extends to
Mexicaltlzingo, a distance of about Z
miles from the city. The railroad is
of the slow and sure order and rum
bles over primitive road at the rate
of about five miles an hour.
We had most delightful weather for
the trip the day being nne, clear and
temperate, and soon we were at our
destination. Here a four mule team,
previously ordered, awaited us and,
we were soon on our way to Calama.
va, distance OF z miles further, and
at the base of Nevada de Toluca..
The ride is about z miles, the road
was awful dusty and the dust almost
choked us; moreover, we were well
shaken up, but we arrived there safe
ly. Calamoya is an historic place. II
was once the property of the Monte
Zumas. who presented a large section
including the town, to COrtez, the con
querer of Mexico; that was before
Cortez killed Montezuma, and queer
ly appropriated his empire in the name
of the king of Spain and played the
roll of a Tyrant fanatical king to per
lection. Here we engaged a guide, Sc
nor Don, Somename of some Outland.
ish place, and two Indian poems.
The rest of the ascent had to be
done on the backs of ponies or mules
and, after some difficulty, we succeed
ed in getting a mule and some pO
MES. The guide appropriated the
mule and the ponies were distribute
ed among the party.
And such ponies. | have ridden the
celebrated 'Crick the Steeple-chaser,'
have mounted Texas bTOnchOs and
razor backed equines and | have even
riden ''ROsinante." the only rival to
Hans Mickle's Calamity JIM" but
these Mexican ponies are an awful
mount. They are slow and sure, but
they jolt a fellows inside out and
give the idea that they are slowly cut
ting him assunder. To add to the rid,
er's misery the equipments are of a
primitive and tOrtuouS character, but
IN this case ii is that or nothing and
in one way it is easier than walking
though you pay dearly for the ease
The Don, our guide, was a little
Spaniard who was shabbily attired
In clothes that fit him too much. and
the Indians wore their native cos
tune. This consisted of n cotton shirt
and pants. once white, but now sad
~ in need of washing. and two soles
attached to his feet by means OF
string in sandal fashion. A ragged
straw somhrero and dingy blanke
completed their costume and in fac
worldly possessions.
With much dignity the Don marshal
Ted the procession He lead. MOUNTED
on the mule and could not help thin
That he had secured the best noun
for he rode most easily throughout tn
entire trip Then came us poor tray
eiers on ponies and the Indians follow
81 on foot carrying with them provi;
ions and other necessaries.
Soon we We're rassing through eN
renSive magUey Ids where Indian
were at work I'm MANUFACTURER
PglGu- the national beverage Thi
is done by cutting the heart out o
The plant and alloWing the sap to con