The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-08-10

tue NleW OF tue ouy anu Nv tneiT Dhss
flowed n little creek which bounded the |
town on the east and north sides. |
crossed by two stone bridges, near the |
lower of which stood Fort San Rafael. |
Bey ond the fort and nlongshore to Port !
Apra, the view was open to the sea.
On account Of the shoai water for halt |
q mile out, there was no surf. only rip
breeze. Between the church and the
infantry quarters there was a small
open square; aud west of the bar.
racks, between them aud the artil-
lery magazine. was a broad plaza
which sepaDnted the bamboo native
huts from the more pre,eniious build.
ings Of coquina, or coral limestone, IN.
habited by the Spanish element. Out
side Of the town, the valley and hills
were covered with tropical vegetation
indescribably beautiful In Its wealth
cf color and delicate tracery against
the sky line. The streets, laid out In
regular pattern, were wide and clean.
Al the right OF the gobernador's house,
looking east, stood the church, a small
chapel, and the college Of San Juan de
Latran; at the left, between II and the
plaza. were San Ramon quarters, the
administrators Office. the pharmacy
and the tribunal; on the southerly side
OF the plaza, the military hospital and
prison. A few miles back OF the town
and lis foothills rose the peak OF Mount
Tiniquio; and at the southwest the
peninsula OF Orote poked its nose into
the ocean. looked at Orotc, Its rocks
and palm trees glowing red in the early
sunrise, for several moments. II was
to be the base and starting point OF all
my calcula tions.
A few Of the natives were lazily
snuntering into the church Rs I
stepped across the square, and mass
was just beginning. There was a girl.
ish form kueeliug by the pillar nearest
me. and recognized senori,a Doro.
tea, who greeted me demurely MS she
rose from her devotions, expressing
surprise and pleasure that I should
have wakencd early TO attend mass.
My appearance that morning was q
fortunate one in several ways. Padre
Bartolomeo was complimentcd, for one
thing, aud exhibited his satisfaction Mt
my supposed Catholic tendencies by
showing me what there was to he seen
about the place ms soon ns the service
was over.
After inspecting the college build.
iHgs and cloisters, we went through a
narrow door into a room back Of the
chancel, where there were a number
of votiyc images IN wax. representing
either miraculous escapes from violent
death. recovcries from mortal Ill.
ncsses. or the cures OF foul diseases
Although II was as thoroughly un
pleasant a collection as one could look
upon, some horrid fascination induced
me TO examine many of the figures
One, for instance, was dressed In cot
ton brecchcs and shirt, over which
gouts OF blood from fearful knife Gu,
in the side were flowing. the supposi
ton being that it represented the
doror at a moment when the blessed
Santa Catalina interfered In his bs
half and enabled him to recover frou
wound that would have killed an OK
exaggerution Of the injury being pre-
sumabiy the essence Of compliment Il
the blessed saint. Another rccumbcn n
figure hal gangrencd sore over IL,
visit bone that would have made deatl
from blood.puisoning u certainty in I
civilized country; get the blessed Sal
Ambrosio had attended to this littl,
matter for the victim and had got hin
a bdrangay to collect from In the bar
gain; though. as IL usually took TN,
form Of a rcmittcd consideration II
which Bartolomco was the medium
no embarrassing recognition OF th,
latter service appeared. Hanging upol
the wall, were arms with fostering
sores upon them, legs with slnshe
which laid them open to the bone
torsos rotting with lcprosy, etc, eucl
with it's appropriate saint tickeie'
thereon. 1t didn't occur TO me at tn
time tha, | should have occasion to re
member these things; 80 when Padr
Bartolomco lifted an iron trap In tn
floor, and descended u short Hight O
steys, / was more than willing to fol
low him without further examination
The steps led to u series OF vault
which seemed to be directly under IT,
chancel, some OF them being store
with various church appurtenance
and others having the appearance O
: secret tribunals. | afterward learne,
| that In former days n faint rehectio
OF the inquisition had given the islam,
n nnmeiess horror to sundry traveller
!. between Acapulco and the Philippine
a -gobernndors who had grown too sud
r deniy rich, and the like. The vault
5 were connected by narrow aud fou
5 passages, after going through severa
j. Of which we came Ia chamber tina
; npparently served ms the church cata
: comb. There were u number Of niche
around the walls, aud In each was th
n mummiiicd figure of n padre In n sem
= reclining position. similar TO those ]
= the Capuchin cemetery at Rome; ih
!. cowls and gray robes indicated thei
connection with the Franciscan ordei
!. so I was not surprised AZ this; though
n from Halstead's story, had eNpec'e
a Ia find the bodies inclusrd In sal
= cophugi.
J.. Will. we were looking about III
place. Padre Bartolomeo gave me
e general introduction TO the figures
|. The inches, as brothers who had hel
n. his position in former years. TWAS
n easy matter to appear interested
2. was really afraid Of seeming too niue
% so-and asked the name Of n vener'
% BILE mummy with an iron-bound ches
;, rusted and blistered with age. restin
e upon his attenuated stomach.
e THAT Is the blessed Fray ignaci'
ID senor," he said. "the most worthy
10 nlI the brothers who have lived In th
,,F his .yrn N Uanl n