Mexico weekly ledger., 1902-05-22
MEXICAN SHAM BATTLE.

MEXICAN SHAM BATTLE.
The greatest fiesta OF the year in
Mexico is on the 10th Of September,
which celebrates the freeing Of this
country from Spanish rule.
The next most important fiesta is
on the 9Th Of May, which is a great
day or rejoicing for the victory Of the
Mexicans over the French In 1862.
This is known in history as the battle
of Puebla, aud was fought a few miles
east OF Mexico City. Every 9Th u
May this event is reproduced In the
most important cities, and this year
we had the pleasure Of witnessing this
sham battle in Guanajuato.
Puebla itself could not have been
better situated for the battle. Gnana-
juato is right In a nest Of beautiful
mountains, and 1t was on one OF the
most imposing Of these peaks that the
battle occurred.
The stream OF people began pouring
out to the hillsides by day light. Our
family had a special invitation from
the Governor to sit under his canopy,
so we took our time in vending our
way up the mountain paths under
this s~corching sun OF the tropics.
We wound all around the old Pan
theon and got a fine view Of the rear
of the Crypt which is 800 IT. long and
has within its vaults the bones Of
1900 people. What a CHASTITY con
srast to the streams of living people
that were at that moment trailing up
all over the mountain sides, like so
many ants creeping in from every di-
rection. $1,000 or $1,000 people were
assembled on those heights, Of every
grade and class Of society, from the
gallant cavalier, dressed in bis elegant
charro suit and Spanish sombero,
stitched and embroidered in gold,
dashing up the mountain sides on a.
charger, bedecked with scarlet and
tinsel, on down to the poor bare
footed peon in his shreds Of dirty
white cotton, with perhaps arape
dragging in the dust behind him.
This view of the Mexican Republic
enmasSe, and the magnificent view Of
the lofty mountains, with the desert
ed city nesting below, was sufficient
Of itself to interest me the rest Of the
day; but promptly at Q a. m. the first
gun was fired and soon the battle was
''on" in full force.
The two military schools Of this city
represented the French and held the
strongly fortified fort way up on the
highest mountain. The regulars"
and the reserves we're the "Mexicans"
and stormed the fort from every d.
rection.
At first we could hear only faint and
distant firing as the Mexicans began
shooting in ambush from the other
mountains. This camenearer and nearer
louder and louder, and one by n we
would see the divisions Of the Mexi.
cans emerge from the thicketS and
start up this bald mountain from all
sides. OF course there Vas a regular
volley Of artillery and clouds Of smoke
from the French above, all the time,
and occasionally they would venture
down upon the enemy In small diyi-
sions. But these were driven back
behind the nmparts by storming
forces below; and these latter gained
their way, step by step, up the steep
heights 70 the fort For several hours
this deafening thunder and roar kept
up. Often the whole mountain seem
ed consumed with fire and smoke, and
not being able to distinguish the
soldiers even with our field glasses, we
could only jump up ON the benches,
wave our banners, and yell, Vivian
los Mehicanos, . "Viva la Republican
As the volumes Of smoke rolled away
we could see the dead and dying %
lying around owe the battle field and
the ambulances flying hither and
thither rescuing the perishing.
At last the Mexicans gathered from
all sides, surrounding the fort, and
rushed, IS n man, upon it. The
guns ceased, the smoke rolled away,
and the bugle sounded the surrender.
The French eolors were hauled down
and the Mexican flag was unfurled
from the top of the fort.
Our glasses did not reveal to US the
secrets Of the ending Of this tragedy,
but we afterwards learned that many
Of these young military lads, belong
ing to the ''school Of correction" had
concealed real balls about their per-
sons, and toward the last were shoot
ing down upon the regulars with
actual fire and ball and were determin-
ed that their fort should not be taken.
So what was intended to be a farce
came very nearly being a real tragedy.
We could see much confusion and tu-
multi but thought it was all sin the
play" and did not know until that
afternoon that when the regulars did
get control Of the fort and could dis
arm their opponents, they took of
their huge leather belts and strapped
these young upstart "Frenchmen" I'M
til they could scarcely stand upon
their feet. This, they say, was also
true to life, for in the wind up Of the
real battle Of Puebla, the Indians,
with their war clubs, beat the French
men numerically.
This all shows the fiery temper Of
Spanish element in these Indian
races. They cannot ''play battle"
without turning II into real blood
shed.
There was no one killed but a num-
Der very seriously wounded. Eow-
ever, the confusion soon quieted down
and the yictors filed down the noun
tain side with their French prisoners
in ranks, and earth and sky rang with
the patriotic national airs OF the
Mexican Republic.
ANNA d. HisDE.
Guanajuato, Mexico.
Il
Earnest, But Confused.
II