Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-06-27
@iseellaneuus Rsaaing.
TREE FEARED BY MExicANs.

TREE FEARED RY MExicANs.
Many Fatal Accidents Have Happened
Under u.
Because Of the many fatal accidents
that have occurred under q huge tree
that grows in the Haciendita ranch,
In the Zamora district, Michoacan,
peasants Of the region are growing
more and more superstititious about its
supposed fatal omen and they begin
to call 1t 'arbol maldito" (cursed
tree.)
The tree is supposed to be over 75
years old, says the Mexican Herald,
and Is said to have been planted by
la man who, because Of his numerous
crimes and his forgetfulness Of the
Divine law, was swallowed up by the
earth. That man, according to tradi-
ton, was un hombre muy malo. He
never went to mass, never confessed,
did not carry a rosary around his neck
and never made the sign Of the cross
There was not q beggar In the town
who had ever received "tlaco chiqui-
to" (old coin equivalent to II cents)
from him. He never gave anything
for the church and never took off his
hat when he met '"padrecito" on the
street.
It was rumored that he was res
ponslble for many murders and 9TH
er atrocious crimes, but he was never
In Jail, neither could he be incarcer-
ated. 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, so that he could
easily escape danger. He had no
friends nor relatives, because he was
Stunned by all.
One thing he loved; birds and trees.
He planted numerous trees and fed big
fiocks 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 Is well
remembered by the peasants; 1t was
Good Friday-everybody in town had
attended the religious services Of the
morning and were going to their homes
when a terrific noise was heard. They
rushed to the street where 1t came
from to find out what It was. and saw
the earth had opened under the cursed
mans feet. He was enveloped by
thick flames and smoke and disappear
ed beneath the surface Of the earth.
This was considered most deserved
punishment. While the faithful were
in the church the cursed man was
loafing around, and having seen big
|crucifix upon an altar erected on the
street, as was done In those days. he
placed a burning cigarette in the lips
Of the image. Scarcely had he made
eight or ten steps when he was engulf-
ed by the inferno.
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 drop
ped dead upon stepping upon the
shadow Of Its foliage. The mans body
had to be left there. to be eaten up by
crows, because nobody had the courage
to approach and remove 1t.
Since that day numerous persons
have met a tragic death under that
tree. A pedestrian who went under 1t
for shade on q hot summer day was
bitten by a snake and died In two
hours. Three men on different occa-
sions sought shelter from rain under
its branches, and were struck by light
ming. A woman who was hanging
some clothes to dry from the trunk Of
the tree, was attacked and killed by a
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 Off and kicked him to death. The
last victim of this fatal tree was
man named Melquiades Arevalo, who,
three or four days ago. during a 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 80 great that poems re-
fuse to work on the fields half a mile
around 1t. Propero Garcia, the owner
of the ranch where that tree grows.
Is said to have made up his mind to
have 1t blown up with dynamite. but
he has been unable to find a man who
Is willing to do the work, so 1t seems
probable that he will have to do 1t
himself