The Washington times., 1901-09-22

| stroke. y deep, gurgling groan escaped
from their mouths at each blow as the
lash buried itself in the raw flesh of the
| self-imposed victim, leaving trail of
blood behind them as they passed be-
tween two lines of Mexican men and
women. These were chanting mourn
full, weird and almost unearthly song
and waving their bodies back and forth.
There were fathers and mothers whose
sons might be among the number. They
could not tell, as all were masked and
so disguised as to be unrecognizable
This had been going on for several days
in preparation for the grand finale, the
crucifixion.
we We're camped in a ravine near
by. Thursday night we had spread our
blankets, picketed our horses, and eaten
our evening meal Suddenly we were
awakened by the most awful sound
had ever heard. The hideous scream of
the mounain lion and the deadly war
whoop are tame beside it? That un-
earthly 'too-ootle- -te-oo' we knew to be
the last sounds and the calling together
of the Penitente Brotherhood. Some
one of their number had volunteered to
represent Christ and offer himself for
the crucifixion.
I'VE noticed tinge of grey in the
eastern horizon, indicating the ap-
proach of day. So we arose, hastily
dressed prepared and ate a scanty
breakfast, and, putting a few pieces of
bread in our spacious pockets. we hur-
ried forth to the scene of action. AS
we arrived at the plaza we no.
ticed three Mexicans carrying a heavy,
rudely constructed cross into the little
adobe building that was being used as
a place of assembly. 1t was filed with
titude of prayer and great grief. There
were a few chants of a doleful sound.
Then mass was said by the priests,
after which the entire populace began
to move out, stationing themselves on
both sides of the trail, which led three
quarters of a mile away to the place Of
crucifixion.
Directly a man from near the altar
arose, took the cross upon his shoulders
and bore it along, his body bending for
ward as If the burden was almost more
than he could bear. With slow, waver-
ing step he passed out of the church
and moved along between the lines of
people, who began their weeping and
wailing and constant moving of the
body. which was kept up until the jour-
neys end was reached. The cross was
then planted in the ground, the entire
mass of people gathering around its
base. The self-imposed victim then in
vited his compadres (companions) to
lift him up to the cross, where his arms
were outstretched, his hands absolutely
nailed to the cross. and his feet nailed
to the standard of it.
''All of the people were in kneeling
posture, and at each blow of the wooden
maui, as it was given upon the head
of the nail, all bowed their heads and
gave an awful groan as if the pain in
ficted was felt by them. The victim
was left upon the cross from one and a
half to two hours. Actual death is not
the intention, but If 1t occurs nothing
is done and no arrests are made. In
this case the victim lived in agony one
and a half hours, then died. The cross
was lowered, he was carefully taken
from it and buried. Directly one of the
members of the Penitente Brotherhood
who had assisted in the crucifixion step
ped forward and invited his brethren to
tie him hand and feet with ropes, after
which he was dragged over rough and
stony places and jerked hither and
thither, from the effects of which he
also died. Others threw themselves up
on beds Of prickly pear cactus, and
many other methods of self-torture
were used until the sun went down.
This same year there were two or
three other points in Colorado where
crucifixions occurred. One was in Cone
jos, one at San Louis, one said to have
taken place at or near Huerfano, but of
this l have no positive knowledge
There are now but three places where
the great American Passion Play can
be seen, or could have beer. seen six
years ago possibly but two at this writ
ing-one at TERRA Amarilla, New Mex
leo, and one at San Mateo, New Mex
leo. The one near Navajo Springs Sta
ton, in Arizona, on the line Of the
Sante Fe Railroad, 1 understand. has
ceased to exist. ! have been informed
that, up to within a few years, there
were women Penitentes, but tkey are
no longer active. They used to wind
their limbs with strips Of green or fresh
rawhide, which as it dried would draw
so tightly as to stop circulation. They
would bear crosses and march for miles
with unstockinged feet. in sandals or
shoes half filed with sharp pebbles.
"And these were our fellowcitizens
living within the bounds of the most
advanced civilized Government in the
world. / have Witnessed four Of these
Penitente crucifxions. and Of the four
three deaths occurred
A Tramp ON Trial for Murder.
LEBANON. Pa, Sept PA negro