The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1906-05-23
FROM PULLMAN CARS TO MULE BACK
Eighteen Days Tour Thru Old Mexico
in Pullman SIeeperS.

To THE EDITOR: After spending
eighteen days with a Los Angeles
crowd of forty on two special Pull
man sleepers and in the SWELL
hotels of Mexico, they left me at
Guadalajara on the 7th inst, with
their dress suits and their silk hats.
| sent back with them all such un-
necessary encumbrances. They could
not be used on a journey on mule
back for five or six weeks. But it
was a cold plunge from one life to
the other. had nothing to do but
take it as / had agreed to inspect
a tract of land in Topic Territory
containing more than 2, 300, 900 acres.
This tract lies mostly in the noun
famous district, with rich pasture
lands, plenty of water supply,
mighty rivers and some splendid
agricultural lands. So far in my
inspection my report is favorable.
Can you imagine the size of such
farm? Well, it approximates in size
the following counties: Redwood,
Renville, Lyon, Murray and Cotton
wood. AS some of you know have
pretty good knowledge of the five
above mentioned counties, but | did
not gain it in five or six weeks.
| left Topic ten days ago, after
several days work around there. We
arrived here last night and are CIV
ing the animals a day s rest before
starting west for Acaponeta, said
to be another ten days journey, and
then l will not be thru with the
inspection.
Ny party consists of one negro
personal attendant), a faithful fell
low, who "knocks down" all the
loose change that he thinks he dares
without detection | understand
they all do that-and a muleteer,
who has charge of the four animals,
mount for each of US, and pack
mule. l have a general letter from
the Governor of the territory, which
brings a string of letters of instruc-
ton from prefctos and sub-prefctos
of the towns as we pass thru. Two
mounted policemen accompany us at
the expense of the government.
They are called rurales and gen
darmes; the former receive their
orders from the government in
Mexico City, the latter from their
respective state officials. Part OF
the time we are in the hands of each
class. They all dress about alike,
the rurales being known by numbers
and the gendarmes by letters. Us
ually the same couple takes us about
two days, then pass their orders
to another couple as we pass thru
a most out-of-the-way village mag.
Unable. One or both ride close tC
me all the time. The whole seems
farce as the Mexican seems to be
the embodiment of kindness anC
hospitality. However, it is for the
unexpected that they are with US
Besides the above in the party we
must have local guide who knows
the trail from one place to another
He travels on foot and can outdC
us all.
We do not always reach a hamlet
for the night, but it matters not
We camp by stream when nigh
overtakes US. We are provided with
food such as it is. We lie dowr
on mother earth in our blankets a!
darkness comes upon us, and get w
with the daylight, using for trave
the early hours of GOODNESS. Should
we happen to reach hamlet ther.
is no place to stay within, and i
there was | could not be hired t.
sleep inside. The other night W.
came to a little village of abou
fifteen huts huddled together. M.
negro procured for me the only bet
in town. The Mexican country BET
consists of frame work with cow
hide strips wound back and forth
On such a bed | retired early tina
night. | awoke at first break O
day and behold, all around me il
one large family in one large bed