El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-04-01
A Thrilling Story of the
DAYS Before the MeXi-
can Central Railway
Was Built.
Written for The Herald by Paul F.

Written for The Herald by Paul F..
Hunter.
Its wonderful: nay more, it is mar
velous. miraculous. Why hundred
burros could never pull such a load.
Not even a hundred of the best horses
in the state of Chihuahua. Come. my
friend let us instantly depart. OF
truth it is the work of the Evil One
himself. and to remain longer would
be to endanger the welfare of our souls.
Let us never have railroads in Mexico
Don Enrique was provincial Next
can gentleman who had journeyed
from his far away ranch to the frontier
town of Paso del Norte tThe pass of
the north now JuareZ. where he was
persuaded not a little against his will.
to accompany a friend across the river
to Ell Paso. on the Texas side of the
Rio Grande. there to view wonders be-
ing wrought by the Americans. The
first railroad to enter Ell Paso had just
been completed. and he saw for the
first time in his life that wonderful
machine. a steam locomotive. Its
strange noises filled him with alarm;
the foul smoke pouring from its stack
almost strangled him. and awestruck
by its wonderful strength. he finally
gave expression to his emotions as
the laughing remonstranceS OF his
friend meanwhile piously crossing him
self and insisted upon Immediately re-
turning to the Mexican side of the riv-
err: there he felt they would be safe
from the malignant influences of the
diabOlical machine. And. upon arriv-
ing in Juarez he lost no time in start
ing back home. but it was with heavy
heart: he was oppressed with the fear
that he had committed a heinous sin.
A few months later he was informed
that a concession had been granted to
an American company for the construc-
ton of a railroad in Mexico. whereup-
on he held up both hands in speech
less horror. Regaining the use of his
tongue. he denounced the impious gov
eminent of his country in terms both
vigorous and picturesque. but that ac-
complished nothing; and when the en-
gineers who located the line of the
road entered the bounds of Las Deli
cias he used all the diplomacy at his
command to turn them aside. but to no
effect. for the road was surveyed to
pass within a mile of his own house.
In due time the graders came. mot
ley crowd of rude, rough men who
laughed IN his face. and with many an
outburst of impotent rage he saw them
tear an ugly trench across the breadth
OF Las Delicias. Then came the track
layers. and he rayed and Stormed like
one beside himself as the lines of gilt
tering steel crept up to and past his
house: and he crossed himself in pious
horror at the sight of the telegraph
lines. He was not the least Modified
when the railroad company paid him a
good round sum for the right of way
across his property. and rejected with
scOrn the annual pass that was tender
ed him.
No. no senor." he exclaimed indig
nantly. Il was powerless to prevent
this dissertation of my beloved country.
but did what l could. AS yet the in
famous government has not enacted
laws to compel me to patronize your
railroad and until that is done neither
nor my family nor even my servants
shall imperil their souls by going near
your trains. Take back the pass to
those who sent it. and tell them that
l. Enrique del Toro do eXecrate it and
them
Don Enrique's opposition gave the
officials of the road but little concern;
his was only one of many cases. Never
theless it was decided to proi.itiate him
by establishing a station convenient to
his use. and neat frame building was
erected not far from his house. When
the time arrived to select a man to
have charge of the station. Bob
Evans a man who was thorough rail-
roader and with a reputation for cool
ness and nerve. but utterly lacking
in respect of Mexicans. was chosen. He
was not the man to make overtures to
most decidedly not. and Don
would have repealed such over
lures of friendship if they had been
made. Weeks passed with each SEEM
ing to he inSensible of the others eXis-
tence: but there were agencies at work
that were destined to soon break down
the barriers between them
One morning vaquerO galloped up
% bring Enrique the terrifying news
hat a large band of Apache Indians
lad swept down from the neighboring
destroying everything in
heir path and who were headed that
vay. Many years had passed since the
indians had raided that country. and
20 Don Enrique del TOro was utterly
lnprepared for them.
God of my soul. what am I to do?"