The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-04
TREE FEARED BY MEXICANS.
Many Fatal Accidents Have Happened
Under 1t.

MANY Fatal Accidents Have Happened
Under 1t.
Because Of the many fatal accidents that
nave occurred under huge tree that grows
IN the Haciendita ranch, in the Zamora
district, Michoacan, peasants Of tho region
are growing more and more supersttious
about It's supposed fatal omen and they
begin to call 1t -arbol maldto' (cursed
tree). :
The tree is supposed to be over rs years
old, says the Mericdn Herald, and Is said to
have been planted by man who, because Of
his numerous crimes and his forgetfulness
OF the Divine law, was swallowed up by the
earth That man. according TO tradition,
was ln hon,brs muy malo. He never went
to mass. never confessed. did not have
the image Of saint in his house, did not
carry rosary around his neck and never
made the ign Of the cross. There was not
beggar In the town who had ever received
"tIdco chiquito" (old coins equivalent TO
N cents) from him. He never gave any
thing for the Church and never took of
his hat when he met a -padrecito' on the
street.
1t was rumored that he was responsible
for many murders and other atrocious
crimes. but he was never in jail, neither
could he be inoaroerated, because he had
a compact with the devil, and whenever he
invoked his satanic majesty the latter
rendered him either invisible to human
eyes or smaller than an ant, 80 that he could
easily escape danger. He had no friends
nor relatives, beca use he was Stunned by
all.
One thing he loved; birds and trees.
He planted numerous trees and fed big
flocks Of birds that knew him and came to
his home every morning to pick the crumbs
Of bread which he threw in the patio.
Many years ago-and this IL we'll remem-
bered BY tn g peasants; it was Good Friday
everybody in town had attended the re-
ligious services Of the morning and
were going to their homes when terrific
noise was heard. They rushed to the street
whore it came, from to find out what It
under the cursed mans feet. He wa.
enveloped by thick flames and smoke and
disappeared beneath the surface OF the
earth. This was considered most de,
served punishment. While tho faithful
were in the church the cursed man was
loafing around. and having seen big
oruoifx upon an altar erected on the street.
as was done in tn ose days. he placed burn
ing cigarette in the lips Of the image.
Scarcely had he made eight or ten steps
Wnon ne was enSuueU Dy tne lIlloIuo
That very day all the trees that he
planted, except the cursed one, dried up,
and all the birds he had fed died.
An attempt was made to cut down the
tree that had not dried up, but the man
who made the attempt dropped dead upon
stepping upon the sha dow Of it's foliage
The mans body had to be left there, to be
eaten up BY crows, because nobody had the
courage to approach and remove It.
Since that day numerous persons have
met a tragic death under that. tree. A
pedestrian who went under 1t for shade
on hot summer day was bitten by snake
and died in two hours. Three men on
different occasions sought shelter from
rain under it's branches and were struck
by lightning. A woman who was hanging
some clothes to dry from the trunk Of the
tree. was attacked and killed by billy
goat that came from nobody knows where
and that was never seen again. Two
years ago little boy who was riding a
burro innocently led his animal to the
tree. The burro threw him of and kicked
him to death. The last victim Of this fatal
tree was man named Melquiades Arevalo.
who, three or four days ago. during heavy
rainstorm, ran under the tree for shelter;
like his predecessors on such occasions he
was struck by lightning.
The horror that peasants have for this
tree is so great that poems refuse to work
on the fields half mile around it. Propero
Garcia, the owner OF the ranch where that
tree grows. is said to have made up his
mind to have it blown up with dynamite,
but he has been unable to find a man who
is willing to do the work 80 it seems proba-
BILE that he will have to do it himself