The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1904-12-24
PORTO RlcAN PILGRIMS
thousands of Sick, Lame and Bl1ho
Stream TO Village Shrine OF
the Virgin.

During the first days OF OCTOBER (
tiny village in the Southwestern eo1-
ner of Porto Rico was the scene % 9
pilgrimage after the fashion OF cue
Mahometan peregrinations TO Meeoa'
although on a smaller scale, relates
the New York Tribune. FROM ell
parts of the island, on foot, Without
shoes, in stage coaches, on hofseoach'
in hull carts. on the tiny Insular ran
road. and in fact in every eoneeisaols
way, whole families have tfaseiso
their weary way to the lnslgilihselne'
hut-dotted pueblo of Hormiguefos, -
pay their homage to Our Lazy
Monserrate (the Virgin Nary ~
enthusiasts, blind, sick, lame, crlpplsu
pilgrims poured in by the thousands
to fulfill their promises OF penltehee'
promises which appear to the st1ah-
ger extraordinary, sometimes 70 lhe
point of being barbaric. For instance
one old woman. upon arriving at the
door of the church, dropped On hei
hands and knees and craWled across
the nave to the image OF the V1tsih'
where she stopped and renamed mo-
tionless for full Is minutes, with hel
lips pressed to the tiles IN the MOOT
before the figure Then, rising, she
put several little figures OF silver shto
the hand of the statue Another en-
fhusiast, also a woman, walked neat.
Iy kilometer on her knees IN the lul-
fillment of her promise. She craWled
over the sharp stones of the road the
whole distance, followed by members
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 a great part OF her ao"-
er limbs, her hands were torn ana
bruised by her frequent falls, ane nsr
clothes dr1ppe6 with blood.
Pilgrims to the number of over 80
000 streamed into the town. The
streets were thronged. Every building
was decorated with colored papers
and bright flags of many nations, al
IN striking contrast with the low. dirty,
straw matched shacks of which the
greater part of the town is comprised.
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 theil
heads blocked the way and created 3
frightful din, yelling their fried cess-
fish, boiled plantains, bananas aud
other tropical delicacies. The proyi-
sions of the tiny town soon failed,
however, and most of the travellers
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 so cents
SIS for one miserable supper and a
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
priests from all over the island con-
gregated 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 conceurse of people followed
the bishop and priests to where an altar
had been erected and hung with purple
drapery. Near by was a chair uphol-
stored and adorned with hangfngs 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 .euras,' songs, Rotations, prayers
etc, all with the utmost solemnity
After the service ended. the penitents
poured into the church in a steady
stream to pay homage to the image OF
4tNuestra Sonora The statue is not
work of art and is principally to be no
ticed on account of the rich ornaments
with which it is bedecked. On the head
is a crown of solid gold studded witt
precious stones. It is said to weigh
three kiIos (over six pounds,) and tt
be worth Sc, 600. In the hands had beer
placed gold and silver gifts whose value
must have amounted to respectable
sum Gold eandlesticks, three feet long
surrounded the figure.
The fiesta came to a close with ma
tive dances held in various parts Of tht
village.
The real reason of this pilgrimage ant
/ the selection of Hormigueros (meanin.
"placs Of ants is not clear. There ar,
several explanations; the place Wher,
the sanctuary stands is called the pIac
of the Appeared Virgin And one stor.
| is that many years ago the Virgin her
| self appeared there surrounded by can
| die bearers. Regarding this as mira
/ Gle, the chapel was erected there at tn
| same spot where she was supposed t,
/ have appeared. This has been the cen
ter for religious enthusiasts and peni
tents ever since. Others say that lon!
ago a picture of the Virgin (now in tn
church, was found in the top of a tire
surrounded by lighted candles and tina
Shis was the cause of the establishment
Of the church in that spot. Anothe
/ story relates that long ago a youn
| oanntrv how came into the village an
! stole fruit and vegetables from tn