Bisbee daily review., 1902-09-25

ceptacle beneath. And the droppin
 of the dollars therein continues a
 regularly and monotonously as tn
 ticking of clock from early mornin;
 until late at night for a week or more
 A greater slot machine was nevel known. You drop in your dollar. an,
 for every dollar you get prize-tha ! is, if you are built that away. Tn. prizes are remission of sin, good lucl
 in this world and eternal beautitudt in the world to come Those who
 wish articles of wearing apparel or personal adornment to come in con
 tact with the image, bring them tc the attendant and they receive the sacred touch, which means more dol. lars.
 sometimes party of penitents. or people who have made vows Casually women) will form in procession on the other side of the town, and each with lighted, long taper in her hand, will walk across the town on their knees 70 the door, into the church and up to the bier depositing thereon their tapers, which are extinguished at the time, and each making a good ly offering of money. Eight yeals ago the writer counted in one such procession thirty women, all dressed in black, marching on their knees, and all bearing lighted wax tapers. The progress of the procession was slow and painful.
 Through more than half a century, now has this annual fiesta taken place at Magdalena. It is related that at tho time fha ,nt !. l. l. nevolent patronage the town of Mazda lena an effigy of the saint was being transported from California to a city farther in the interior, and the mule teers carrying it in their train along with other merchandise, unloaded and camped for the night in the plaza in front of the church. The following morning when they came tu reload their cargo, the box containing the efigy. which up to that time had been easily moved about by two persons, could not possibly be lifted. First two made the effort, then three, and finally as many as could get around the box, but without avail. Then someone suggested that the saint want ed to locate in the church, and it was agreed that if it could be lifted that should be done. Whereat with the next effort it was lifted with ease, and with thanksgiving and praise, borne into the sacred edifice, where it has ever since reposed, with one ex- ception.
 Fame of the miracle here related spread far and wide, and the church of San Francisco Javier at Magdale- na became a holy shrine, which hun dreds of thousands of the devout have itual edificatior.
 The exception mentioned above car ries another lengend. It is related that with the lapse of years people began to lose their faith in the power and efficacy of the saint. and that the annual attendance was regularly and surely diminishing. So one morn ing. while the usual observance was in full course, but with a very small attendance, to the horror of the popu- lace the saint had disappeared; and no one knew where he had gone. Aft CT a couple of days word came from Caborca, about 100 miles away, that upon the night of its disappearance from Magdalena, the saint had arrived at the church at Carboca, the dust stained feet and garments conclusive ly proving that it had walked all the way. The fame of this new miracle was carried to the uttermost parts, the effigy of the saint was restored to it's wonted place, and the drawing power of the shrine was restored to its former glory.
 n,vr fho nf the fiesta there are numerous outside attractions and diversions. The usual prohibition of gambling is suspended, and in another plaza, but couple of blocks away from the church, are erected the booths, where are spread all the al lurements of the goddess of chance. Faro, monte, roulette, and numerous ather games are running all the time, and one wishing to play can find any kind of a game, with a bank roll suit ed to his pocket Some of the games will turn theft cards for bets of a penny. Those are run by poor people for poor people.
 Surrounding the plaza next to the church are many booths where are sold shawls, scarfs, ribbons, etc, the buyers taking them into the church for the holy touch. In the same booths are sold pictures of San Francisco and other saints, rosaries, reliquariees or all kinds, and numerous other articles to attract the fancy of the devout.
 To subsist and house so great crowd would tax to the utmost doz- en big hotels. But that particular need is here met by the system of open air restaurants, peculiar to the country. In the square where are the gambling tables, and elsewhere about town are many little places, just shelter over head, where cooking and eating are constantly going on. And for sleeping accommodations. the crowds camp anywhere and everywhere. In this re- zion everybody is accustomed to sleep ing ont of doors. and if you have to