Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-03-10
Cuernayaca .Feh. % 1905.

Cuernavaca Feb. %, 1906.
The two most beautiful natural pros
poets that l have ever gazed
upon are Lake Louise and the
encireling mountains in the Cana
dian Rockies and the sunset
view from the roof Of our hotel in
Cuernavaca, Mexico. In Mexico most
of the large buildings have fiat roofs,
which are in reality like solid brick
pavements, set in cement The roof
Is in many houses one of the pleasant
est parts of the building, and the one
that is most enjoyed. To go to the
roof Of the hotel here and watch the
sunset is as much a part of the days
program as to get up in the morning,
or eat three square meals during the
day. The golden, red and purple glor-
les, in an infinite variety of constantly
changing shades of these Cuernavaca
sun sets, surpass any possibility of de-
scription in type or adequate
reproduction on canvas, even
by the hand of master.
But they impress themselves on the
memory and can never be forgotten.
Here there are not only encircling
mountain ranges with their green, pine
covered slopes, lofty snow capped
peaks, and the cones Of extinct volca-
noes, into which the sun seems to
drop from mortal sight; there are not
only far extending valley and plain
with their green fields and brown pas.
ture land; but there are ancient domes
and towers, what were once battle
mented fortresses, and massive moss
covered walls, that make one think of
the middle ages, and properly SO; for
here the present extends far back into
the past and brings us face to face with
the age Of chivalry.
There Is no work Of man In all the
United States that is old compared
with what is not only to be seen here,
but with what is at the present time
actually in daily use here. The Pilgrim
fathers landed on Plymouth rock in
1920. Yet almost 100 years before
that memorable event, that daring ad-
venturer and dashing "conquistadore,' .
Herman Cortez built here in Cuerna'
vaca the castle and fort, the identical
walls and rooms of which today are a
part Of the capitol building Of the
Mexican state of Moreles, while the
patio of this old castle constitutes the
jail in. which the victim of Cuernavaca
mescal or other Intoxicating drink
sleeps off his stolid drunk.
Here in Cuernavaca is the cathedral
In which Cortez attended mass and in
which the faithful still congregate for
their daily or weekly devotions. The
construction of this cathedral was COM
menced in 1929 by the friars who came
here to found the convent of San Fran
cisco. 1t comprises group of churches
and chapels, rather than a single
church. In one of the towers is a
clock that was presented to Cortez by
CHARLES N-s,f SIS ys"'ls- Of the
cathedral = covered with moss and
are black and worn with age.
Health and Pleasure Resort.
Cuernavaca is described today as
the great health and pleasure resort
of Mexico" 1t has in fact been a
health and pleasure resort for many
centuries even long before the Span
iards came to conquer and despoil.
Here Montezuma and his chieftains
came from the capital of Tenochititlan
(now the city of Mexico), seventy-four
miles away, for hunting and recreation.
When in April, 1921. Cortez marched
over the mountain to seize this place,
It was already noted resort and Cor
tez came to grab good thing, the
fame Of which had come to his ears.
The story Of the capture is an inter
esting one because the famous "bar-
ranca" or gulch is still here which was
then 30 ably defended and which a por-
ton of Cortezs troops crossed in the
tree tops. History records that Cor
tez approached this city with band OF
thirty cavalry, three hundred infantry
and large body of his Flaxcalan allies,
but deep gulch, the barranca of
Amanalco, prevented their entrance to
the town. 1t was very narrow and the
Spaniards were harrassed by the
shower of arrows from the Flahnicans
on the other side, where they were
entrenched and safe from the fire OF
the Spanish. CorteZ sent detach'
ment UP and down the barranca to find
crossing, but they were unsuccessful
Finally Flaxcalan Indian noticed two
gigantic trees growing on opposite
sides of the gulch with their trunks in
clined 20 the center so that their
branches intertwined and formed a
sort of suspension bridge, over which
the Flaxcalan quickly passed and was
followed by many others, among whom
was Castillo, Spanish officer, and
Notwithstanding the heavy armor OF
the Spaniards only three fell down the
barranca. The Flahnicans were taken
by surprise, not having noticed the
enemy crossing by means of the tree
tops and Cortez having restored one oil
the destroyed bridges, crossed his cav
airy and the rest of the infantry
Speedy victory followed and Cuer
nayaca fell into the hands of the Span
iards to be occupied and ruled by them
for 300 years, before the yoke was
finally thrown off by the modern Mex
leans. Ccrtez left Cuernavaca to com
plete the investment and final capture
Of Mexico City and when this bloody
and destructive business was accom-
plished he returned to Cuernavaca ant
for time made it his home. He Their
constructed the great palace, which is
today used as the capitol of the state
OF Moreles.
Nothing could better demonstrate