The Forrest City times., 1904-12-02
PORTO RlCAN PILGRIMS,
Thousands of Sick, Lame and Blind Stream to Village Shrine Of
 the Virgin.

1 her of Porto Rico was the scene of a l pilgrimage after the fashion of the Mahometan peregrinations to Mecca, i although on a smaller scale. relates 1 the New York Tribune. From all parts Of the island, on foot. without shoes, in stage coaches. on horseback. in bull carts. on the tiny insular rail- road and in fact in every conceivable way. whole families have travelled their weary way to the insignificant. hut-dotted pueblo of Hormiaueros, to pay their homage to Our Lady Of Monserrate (the Virgin Mary1. All enthusiasts blind. sick. lame, crippled pilgrims poured ill by the thousands to fulfill their promises of penitenee; promises which appear to the stran= ger Extraordinary. sometimes to the point of being barbarie For instance. one old woman, upon arriving at the door of the church, dropped on her hands and knees and craWled across the nave to the image of the Virgin. where she stopped and remained mo tonless for full l. minutes. with her lips pressed 10 the tiles in the floor before the figure. Then. rising. she put several little figures of silver into the hand of the statue Another en- thusiaSt also a woman, walked near ly klometer on her knees in the full hilment of her promise. She crawled over the sharp stones of the road the Whole niCtanao f,.I1au.ol I,- of her family and her friends. carry ing lighted candles. By the time she arrived at the altar she had lost all the skin from great part of her low CT limbs, her hands were torn and bruised by her frequent falls, and her clothes dripped with blood
 Pilgrims to the number of over 20.- 000 streamed into the town The streets were thronged. Every buileing Was decorated with colored pa Ders and bright flags of many nations, all ln striking contrast with the low, dirty. straw matched shacks of which the greater part of the town is composed. Multitudes filled every space, all dressed in various combinations of bright red. yellow, blue and white Little stands, carts on wheels, boys with platters and baskets on their heads blocked the way and created a frightful din, yelling their fried cod fish, boiled plantains. bananas and other tropical delicacies The provi- sions of the tiny town soon failed however, and most of the travellers were compelled to go hungry for the rest of the fiesta. With no place to pass the night. scarcely a bite to eat and bad water the sufferings of the crowds were sad to behold. Those who were able to get meals had to pay fabulous prices, such as 50 cents for two eggs. etc One woman paid sl5 for one miserable supper and canvas cot for one night. Not only did the inhabitants of the town make much money from the pilgrims, but at least one priest is said to have sold several thousand copies of his old ser mons al ten cents a cpy Nearly 45 priests from all over the island con gresated at Hormigueros to assist the bishop conduct the religious services They were all comfortably housed in an old edifice called the House of the Pilgrims.
 On the second day were held the sol emn religious services near the chapel The huge coneourse of people followed the bishop and priests to where an altar had been erected and hung with purple J, h.- hoi ir stared and adorned with hangings and surrounded by a screen of scarlet cloth On the other side of the altar appeared the pulpit from which the multitude was later addressed. To the accompaniment of ringing bells the procession arrived at this altar near the church. Then followed sermons by the bishop and the "curas." songs, recitations, prayers, etc. all with the utmost solemnity After the service ended, the penitents poured into the church in steady stream 10 pay homage to the image Of "Nuestra Sonora" The statue is not work of art and is principally 10 be mo- ticed oa account of the rich ornaments with which it is beGecked. On the head Is u GUN Il Ol SO4lu EOiu Stud0tN NIli precious stones It is said 10 weigh three kilos Cover six pounds,) and to be worth S5000. In the hands had been placed gold and silver gifts whose value must have amounted to a respectable sum. Gold candlesticks, three feet long. surrounded the figure.
 The fiesta came to a close with na- tive dances held in various parts of the village.
 The real reason of this pilgrimage and the selection of Hormigueros (meaning place Of ants') is not clear. There are several explanations; the place where the sanctuary stands is called the place of the Appeared Virgin" And one story is that many years ago the Virgin her self appeared there surrounded by can de bearers. Regarding this as a mira cle. the chapel was erected there at the same spot where she was supposed to have appeared. This has been the cen ter for religious enthusiasts and peni- tents ever since. Others say that long