The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-29
BACK FROM MEXICO.
Capt. John FIannery Home After six
Weeks Across the Rio Grande.


Capt. John Flannery has returned to
Savannah after trip of about month
and a half. the most OF which was
spent in Mexico. He went to join his
daughter, Mrs. r. T. Semmes, who
has returned with him.
Capt. Flannery not only saw the
places and sights that are seen by the
average tourist, but had the pleasure
of attending a unique ceremony, not
the less interesting, because of the
calamity that it COMMUNICATED. 1t
was a memorial service for President
Mckinley, and was held by the Ameri-
can colony of Mexico in the City of
Mexico, Sept. 10.
The service was attended by Presi-
dent DiaZ and the members of his cab
met and by other distinguished men
that happened to be in the city at the
time.
With what views the people of Mex
leo, at least the better classes, COX
upon the United States and their Pres
ident was shown when the death of the
| late President was made known in the
City of Mexico. Though it was the
birthday of President Diaz and though
splendid programme had been ar
event, at the Presidents own request
all festivities were abandoned. On the
following day, one of the chief holidays
of the republic, the anniversary of
Hidalgo's achievement of independence
because of the pail that hung over her
sister republic across the Rio Grande,
Mexico suppressed the music, the mill
itary parades, and the Nominations
that usually are held on this occasion,
4 H. nr~4r <1F h a
ceremonial that are prescribed by law.
Among the cities that were visited by
Capt Flannery was Gomez Palacio and
Lerda, situated in the cotton growing
section of the country and the chief
seats of the manufacture of cotton
goods. At the former place is a factory,
modern and up to date in every partic-
ular, and employing about 1000 hands.
Its product, as is the case of practfc-
ally all of these factories, consists of
brown goods, stripes, checks and home
spuns, all of which are consumed by
the Mexican trade.
A popularity about Mexican cotton
is that 1t is planted only once in every
four years. Having no frosts in the
section where 1t is grown, the plant
does not die, and might be allowed to
bear Indefinitely, but for the fact that
after three or four years the staple de-
prectateS, ana II is necessary 10 secure
a new crop of plants from seed.
Another interesting crop, peculiar to
the country, and which is grown chiefly
! in the vicinity of the City of Mexico,
| is the century plant, from which is Sc
| cured the native beverage, pulque. This
drink is not intoxicating, said Capt
| Flannery, and it's consumption is quite
| as common as is the consumption of
beer in this country.
The method of securing the drink
! from the plant is very simple. When
| the flower stalk shoots I'D from the
| center of the plant, it is cut off and in
the receptacle formed at its base by
the closely growing leaves, flows the
sap, two quarts or more day for
three months or so. This is dipped out
and drunk in its natural state without
| fermentation, distillation or any other
treat ment.
Preference is shown for fresh pulque,
and so special trains are run to the
| City of Mexico each morning, bringing
in a days supply Of the fsvorite bev-
| erage Mescal and other intoxicating
drinks are also made, but are used but
little.
Capt Flannery was very much i'm
pressed with the new system of sew
erage that has only recently been COM
pleted in the City of Mexico, at cost
| of $4,000, 600. Not only the sewage,
but the overflow of the lake near the
city, is carried IN canal thirty miles
long, and through six-mile tunnel
under a mountain to a river on the
other side that carries IL to the coast.