The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1898-03-26

tial appearance. It was not considered
bad form to carry firearms and other
weapons at these functions, nor was it
a breach of etiquette to smoke very
long black cigars in the presence of la,
dies. !" "" 3 II - s
A low rumbling sound, as of an
earthquake, came forth from the mass
i've and low adobe structure as we ap-
preached. It was made by the guests
inside getting ready for the entertain
ment. They were shouting, dancing,
stamping their feet, clapping their
hands and doing other things that
would tend to cheer up the spirits of
any who might feel out of sorts. In
front was crowd Of seedy Indians,
half-breed Mexicans and those other
aimless creatures who always turn UP
and hang around whenever there is
big show going on. All were drinking;
some from their private bottles, which
they kept conveniently protruding from
the leg of a boot; others from the nu-
merous bars in the yard Most of
these \hangers-on were on foot, but
quite number were on horseback. For
amusement, they tore around the house
and charged into the court yard, max
ing as much noise as possible. Those
who were dismounted were peering into
the windows Of the ballroom, keeping
at the same time tight hold on their
horses reins. They knew their crowd.
What scene there was in the old
adobe dance room! The apartment was
packed; waltz was being played by
a harp, violin and piccolo, of which
the last was the most effective instru-
ment, the others being all but drowned
out in the hubbub. Among the dancers
were gaudily dressed rancheros and
gamblers of the respectable and fash
lonable type, who were regarded as
great men by those who made their
money in honest callings. The .'tin'
horn" people were on hand, too. There
were also merchants, store clerks, town
and county officials, cattle dealers, ma
val officers in full uniform and persons
engaged in other pursuits.
Everything was free and easy in a
Spanish way. The gaily-decked dan
GERS knew one another. Sometimes the
young woman would be accompanied
by a dark-haired, swarthy Mexican,
who carried stiletto or a pair of re-
volvers, and in most cases all these.
He was her particular company, and
was good man to avoid. Such a per-
son could usually. be marked out by
his bearing, which was one of extreme
haughtiness. There were very few
American women of the better class
IN the neighbofh ii those days, ana
none of them ever visited fandango.
At the conclusion of each dance, the
various couples made their way to a
large table in one corner, where they
drank whisky or guardiente-that Mex
lean liquor which seems like water at
first, but after three or four glasses
makes the imbiber feel as if he had
swallowed a whole torchlight process
sion. This was one of the sources of
profit of the fandango. The others
were the gambling games played in the
open court. The most popular game
was Mexican monte. Besides this there
were a dozen others in full blast-rou-
lette, lasquinette, chusa, twenty-one
and faro, The last was the most gen
eral Everybody took a turn at it some
time during the night. Those tables
were most frequented at which women
presided. They were flashily dressed
and smoked cigarettes. One OF them
wore half-concealed stiletto at her
waist She looked entirely self-pos-
sessed and, as it turned out afterwards,
was perfectly able to take care of her
self.
While the fandango was at it's height
the excited dancers, evidently trying to