The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1905-07-05
Tree Feared By Raexicans.

in the Iamora district, Michoacan.
peasants of the region are growing
more and more superstitious about
its supposed fatal omen and they be.
gin to call it ''arbol maldito" (cursed
tree.)
The tree is supposed t. be over IS
years old, says the Mexican Herald,
and is said to have been planted by
q man who, because of his numerous
crimes and his forgetfulucss of the
Divine law, was swallowed up by the
earth. That man, according to tradi-
tion, was an humbre muy malo. He
never went to mass, never confessed,
did not carry rosary around his neck
and never made the sign of the cross.
There was not beggar in the town
who had ever received "tlaco chioui-
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
ponsible for many murders and 9th
er atrocious crimes, but he was never
in Jail, neither could he be incarcer-
ated, because he bad 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. lie mad no
friends nor relatives, because he was
stunned by all.
One thing he loved; birds and trees.
He. planted numerous trees and fed
big focks of birds that knew him and
came to mis- home every morning to
pick tho crumbs of bread which he
threw in the patio.
Many years ago-and this is we'll
remembered by the peasants; it was
Good Friday-everybody in town had
attended the religious services of the
morning and were going to their homes
when terrific noise was heard. They
rushed to the street where it 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 a most deserved
punishment. While the faithful we're
in the church the cursed man was
loafpg around, and having seen big
crucifix upon an altar erected on the
street, as was done in those days, he
placed 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 deg 81! the trees that
he had planted, except the cursed one,
dried up, and MI the birds he had fed
died.
AL attempt was made to cut down
the tree. that had moi dried up, but
the man who had made the attempt
dropped dead upon stepping upon the
shadow Of its foliage. The mans body
had to be left shere, to be eaten up by
crows, because nobody had the courage
to approach and remove it.
Since that day numerous persons
have met tragic death under that
tree. A pedestrian who went under
| it for shade on hot summer day was
bitten by snake and died in two
hours. Three men on different ooea-
sions sought shelter from rain under
it's 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 q
billy goat that came from nobody
knows where and that was never seen
again. Two years ago little boy who
was riding a burro, innoosntly lod his
animal to the tree. The burro Threw
him of and kicked him to death. The
last victim Of this fatal tree was o
man named Melqueades Arevalo, who,
three or four days ago, during heavy
rainstorm, ran under the tree for shell
ter; like his predecessors on such oc:
casions he was struck by lightning.
The horror that peasants have for
this tree is 80 great that people re.
fuse to work on the folds 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 man who
is willing to. do the work, so it seems
probable that he will have to dc 1T
himself. ~,