The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-04-20

April, 1906.
The capital of the isthmus is the an
Gent town Of Tehuantepec, which is
older than history, and was the seat
of the aboriginal government when
the Spaniards came. 1t has not chang |
ed much since hat time, and the
large number Of the houses were stand
ing at that time. The government
building, facing the plaza, is Of the
old Moorish type Of architecture,
with wide arcades, or portales, and is
particularly interesting because Presl-
dent DiaZ of Mexico began his politi-
cal career within its walls. The first
Office he ever held was that of jefe
politicO Or mayor. When he came
down to Salina Cruz about a year
ago to inspect the harbOr works n
the ~Tehuantepec railway lie told the
gentlemen who accompanied him an
interesting story of his official exper-
fence. 1t appears that a party of rev.
o~lutionists had arranged to land and
conceal a cargo of arms and ammuni-
ton in a little bay called Salina Mar
QueZ, pust above Salina Cruz. Diaz
received information from a secret
source about the movement and coll
lected a force Of men, marched down
TO Tehuantepec, hid in the brush until
the cOnspirators had landed everything
and were concealing their cOntraband
cargo in the sand. Then he pumped
Upon them and captured everything
and everybody. 1t was his first mill
tary experience and his first notable
achievement, and when he was down
here he climbed to the top of a hill
where he could overlook the scene of
the exploit and describe it ICON mucho
gustO,' as the MeXicans say.
The only resident of Importance who
refused to call and pay his respects
to President DiaZ while the latter was
in Tehuantepec was a Canadian, Ihos.
Woolwich. who was a fOrty-niner, and
crossed the isthmus with a party on
his way to the California gold fields.
But he did not get rich as fast as he
expected, and returned to Tehuantepec
in 1853. He has been here ever since,
has never returned to his old home in
Canada, and has had Il varied eXper-
fence. He is the most important pri-
vate citizen i'll the community, is n
Of the largest merchants in this part
of the country, has one of the most
extensive haciendas and represents
LlOvds' shipping concern OF London
on the isthmus. He is eighty-slX years
old, and declares that he never had q
sick day IN his life. He married a
Mexican woman, by whom he has had
several children. His sons are men
of wealth and Importance in a social
. and commercial way, and two of them
nave occupied high official office.
Mr.. WOolwich, however, is a bitter
enemy of President DiaZ, and his
amnesty grows out of something h a
occurred while DiaZ was jefe pOllt1co
here. He was accused OF treason 10
the government, or something of that
sort. He escaped the penalty in some
miraculous manner, but never fOrgave
DiaZ would never meet him or cOmmu-
nicate with him, and has never been
willing to conciliate him in any way.
When the president came here a year
ago he expressed q wish to see Wool
wich. and his invitation was carried
by mutual friends to the Canadian,
but the latter refused to respond, and
Sent back an insulting reply.
Tehuantepec is a quaint old town,
with narrow, irregular streets, some
paved with cobblestones, others with
deer sand. There are several large
shops in the neighbOrhOOd of the rail-
way station and a number of commits
sion houses, for this is the center OF
Il rich and productive agricultural re-
giOn and ships a great deal Of produce.
The houses are all Of one story, with
blank walls to the street, and are
painted in brilliant colors, and most or
them have roofs of old red Spanish
tiles. The city government built an
admirable market place many years
ago. 1t is quite a large pavilion, with
Il wide spreading roof supported by
rows of brick columns succeed with
plaster, and anything and everything
can be bought at the stalls which are
neatly arranged and cleanly kept. The
vegetables and flowers are fascinating,
and that portion of the building deVo
ted TO dress goods is even more so.
THE women of Tehauntepec wear
y distinctive costume which prevails
throughout the state of OaXaca, but
is found no where else in the republic.
They are fond of bright cOlors, and
almost every one, young and old, that
we have seen in this section has worn
n scarlet or Il crimson skirt ana a
tunic or shirtwaist called a guipll OF
yellow or red, either printed or en-
broidered in gay tints so different
from the usual black skirt and man
tilla usually worn by their sisters IL
other parts of Mexico.
The headdress is very striking.
have never seen anything more fan
rastic in the way Of costume any
where in the world, and there is a mys'
terry about it. 1t is made exactly nSe
the gown Of an altar boy in the Catho'
lie church, but is worn folded back
from the waist. The body is made OF
gauZe, cotton, silk, or any other light
fabric, with a wide ruftie of lace a
tho bottom. accordian pleated an6
stifiy starched, so that it stands ou'
from either side of the head half q
yard or more. 1t would be diflcul
for a woman wearing one OF these