River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1902-09-11
MEXICAN INDIANS TALIsMAN.
Most Precious Emerald in the World
Guarded by Them as Sacred
TaIisman.

For years-ever since Mexico was
opened to the white man-every trav-
eler to that romantic land has heard
of the emerald of Oajaca. Rumor said
that it was huge almost beyond be-
lief. Whatever it's size. it is certain
that the Indians believed in it's magic
properties. No white man ever saw it,
but now an American woman has sue
ceeded, through sister woman's
gra altitude, where men found failure,
says the Philadelphia Inquirer.
This emerald of Oajaca has for ages
been the object of covetous interest on
the part of Spanish viceroys, Mexican
presidents and provincial governors.
Great dealers in precious stones have
sought it, too, but the Indians, as the
lineal descendants of the Aztecs, to
whom the emerald is supposed to have
originally belonged, hold it in supersti-
tious reverence, and such safe-keep-
ing that until recent years little but
unconfirmed legends Of the stones ex-
istence was known.
A few years ago President Diaz be-
came so interested in the matter that
he decided to prove the truth or fal-
lacy Of thu reports of this emerald's
size and value. Without warning, he
suddenly appeared in the village where
it was said the gem was secreted. He
summoned the people into the plaza
and announced that if they would show
him the emerald known to be in their
possession he would in return proclaim
public holiday and entertain them
with a fsta at his own expense. He
promised, az president, and at virtue
of the same blood in his ard their
veins, that if they would accede to his
request he would not attempt to take
the emerald from them.
Cpon this a prolonged consultation
enGued among the Indians, the result
of which was that from afar off in the
the crowd one of them held up at
arms length between his 9orefinger
end thumb the famous emerald, scin-
tilating in the rays of the sun. Diaz
was DESTROYS of a closer inspection,
and, turning to his guards. ordered
the man to be brought to him. His
actions, if not his words, were at once
considered by the Indians to be sus-
picious, so they promptly raised tu-
multi, and, amid shouts of "Viva Por-
firio DIAL" ':Viva la festa!" the man
and the emerald disappeared, and
this was the only glimpse the power
full president was able to obtain of it.
An American woman had better for
tune. 1t happened that her husband
was appointed to superintend the med
zeal department of the railroad being
built through Oajaca and incidentally
saved the life of an Indian woman. In
her gratitude this woman begged to
be allowed to make some recOmpense,
as the American doctor had refused to
accept a fee. But half in jest he re-
| piled that if she would show him the
| Oaiaca emerald he would be satisfied.
| At this the woman seemd greatly dis
! turbed. She at first declared she knew
nothing about it, but on being pressed
| further by the doctor wife she admit
| ted knowing where it was hidden.
Finally she agreed that if the doctor
would solemnly promise to absent him.
self she would obtain the stone and
| show it to his wife. For some uneX-
planned reason she held so steadfastly
to this point that the wife must be
alone when the emerald was. produced,
that it was yielded, though much to
| the doctors disappointment.