davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-07-18
VALUABLE GEMS
STOLEN FROM WOMAN

High in New York Social Circles -.
Police Looking For
"CleWs."
New York, July 1S.-The Herald to-
day says: Gems Of a size and value
which make their description read
like the list Of loot Of a royal treasure
house have been stolen and detectives
are raking the city high and low, seek
Ing trace Of them. The estimate
value Of the stolen Jewels at $4,000
was scoffed as wholly Inadequate. While
the police refuse to give out any In.
formation in the case, it is under.
stood that the jewels we're stolen
from woman well known In New
York society and that the theft oc.
cured either at her town house here,
or her villa at Newport
Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-07-18
EASTERN PEOPLE
MARRY HERE.

s. Fitch Of Washington Unit.
ed With Mrs. Chambers Of
New York.
William s. Fitch, of Washington, d.
c., and Mrs. Dee Smith, Chambers OF
New York City were united in marri.
age this afternoon in Santa Fe The
ceremony was performed by the Rev.
George F. Sewer, pastor Of the Pres.
byterian church at the parsonage. Mr..
and Mrs. Fitch will remain In the city
for several days. The groom is promi.
nent in official circles at Washington
and was connected with the Pension
Bureau for eighteen years.
Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-07-18

Declaration Of Independence.
Mrs Dietz's father died at Paris,
Texas, in 1890. She has two half sis
ters living in that state and another
in Kansas City.
Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-07-18

New Mexican advertisers get trade.
Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-07-18
Changed Spirit.

AS a further proof of the changed
spirit at Peterof, it was learned today
that Emperor Nicholas has requested
the members of the Goremykin min.
istry to retain their posts.
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

Finally he seemed TO agree with our
arguments, but did not appear to con-
slider the idea of allowing US to remain
bachelors. If not five wives, why not
one?
Without further delay we were ush-
cred to the "Basrine.' or a sort OF
temple of worship This temple was a
dome shaped building of adobe. gorge
ously decorated on the inside, holding
an altar at one end and row of
carved wood pedestals bearing candles
around the other three sides. In front
of the altar was case, apparently
made of beaten gold. but we were not
permitted to view the contents, and
from this we assumed that it must be
the picked head Of old Inca.
The head man or chieftain Of the viii
lage mounted the platform behind the
altar. Before making any explana-
tions he made a long speech in the ma
tive language to the people now
thronging all the available room. Be
fore he brought his address to close
there was commotion in the rear OF
the room, and, turning TO observe the
cause, we saw that the young women,
our prospective brides. were weeping
and wailing and tearing each others
hair and we suddenly came TO the
realization that they were jealous.
scrapping over the choice as to which
the gringoes. This was settled, how
ever, by an order from the high priest,
at which several young men seized the
women and dragged them forcibly from
the temple, returning few moments
later with three of the best. looking
ones.
The old man motioned for US to come
forward. and we did so, lining up in
front of him in company with the
brides Thereupon we were surprised
to see him suddenly remove the cover
from the golden casket and reveal to US
the wonderful Inca's head. In fact, 1t
was a disgusting sort of thing. perfect
in feature, with gray hair and beard,
and still bearing an expression that
sent a thrill through my bones. The
women then knelt down and we were
informed that we were to stand behind
them. This done. the old man proceed
ed to make another long speech, ending z
with loud shout. at which the women
jumped up and cast themselves upon
our necks with a fervor that threat
ened to choke us
We were escorted TO our abode by
the entire population of the village,
and then left alone behind the gates
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

OF the courtyard with three women TO
look out for We stood for a moment
and gazed at each other. Carson, Nor
ris and l. and then gazed at the women,
and finally giving IL up sat down on a
bench beneath a towering tree to con-
slider the situation. Ny wife was a
sight TO behold. She was at least Is
years old. which is middle age down
there, but was quite well formed. ShA
wore a robe Of coIored grasses and hae<
a large white blossom in her hair. 1t
would give me pain TO describe her
features, 50 L will not attempt ii. Car
sons wife was not bad at all. not over
Is years Old and win much more reg
ular features than the Indian women
usually have Her clothing was not
as adequate as that which my bride
wore.
We consigned the two younger wives
to the care of the ex-widow and re-
tired to our room 70 discuss the situa-
tion- 1t now was midnight and IL did
not seem likely that we would be dis
turbed again.
Anyway" said Carson. I'VE have
seen the picked head, we know where
II is and perhaps this woman who has
lived with a white man will be sum
ciently true TO his name to aid US 10
escape and even to kidnap the one-time
Inca
Knowing that 1t would be necessary
to silence the younger brides. We con-
suited LUlita. and she informed US that
they were safe in the wing farthest
from the village, and that they could
not get out until morning. The woman
then offered to lead as over a short and
safe trail to point where we would
be safe, and we accepted.
With the mules saddled. bags
strapped on, our arms ready and all
in readiness for the start, we mounted
and we rode ont. L'.'itR r-anin4 ahead
We barely had passed the gates w<heu
the noise Of dozen men shouting ca Nps
to US. and realizing our danger urskd
Lulita to greater speed. The voices
were coming toward US. They were
excited. crazed. IL seemed, and II they
caught sight OF US we knew that II
meant probable snnihilation on the
spot. However, we quickly rounded a
bend in the trail and, pointing ahead
Lulita told US to go straight on to
safety. Without stopping to thank our
guide we spurred our animals and
moved OF at a gallop. Once around the
next turn and on. the main trail, we
were safe on our road to Iquitoo with
out another tribe to encounter.
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05
Continued From Page Nine.

as the sky, was threatening rain, we
were glad to have the advantage of
shelter
Night fell soon after we entered the
village. and when we had partaken Of
meal of boiled things q say things"
because have no idea what was in the
stew and had been offered small bags
Of crushed barley and parched corn we
were invited to join the tribe in re-
ligious ceremony. Then came sur
prise which fairly took our breath.
These people informed US that Jesus
Cristo" had paid their village a visit
many years ago, long before even the
grandfathers of the village could re-
member, and had left his image for
them to worship. Thereupon these
poor saVa ges proceeded to light can
dies around a poorly made image Of
Christ, and. lying fat on their stom-
achs, begged it not to send them either
fire or flood. This done. they arose,
blew out the candles, and once more
put the image in its corner. They
knew nothing Of the Virgin or of the
Bible, and If they ever knew such
things il was long forgotten. This one
idol which was supposed to have once
visited them was sufficient
When the religious ceremony was
finished the mallorca, a liquor distilled
from. sugar-cane, was produced and
the whole village proceed to get "squif-
fy" Little naked children were given
the pure white LIQUID fire, and the wo-
men drank even more than the men
BY the time the community became
suficiently drunk to sleep we were
tired out and ready for rest Seeing
that oar animals were staked, we re-
turned to the hut placed our saddle
bags under our heads and were soon
dreaming OF feather beds away up in
civilization.
The sun was high in the heavens
when we awoke the following morning
and fl was with a somewhat shame
faced sense of tardiness that we
emerged from the hut. Much to our
surprise our animals were not where
we had left them Searching for the old
Inan who had welcomed us we found
tracks where the animals had been led
out of the village and along the trail.
Stin, however. we did not suspect our
hosts Of robbing US and it was not un-
i5i the old man came in and assured
US that the animals had been stolen
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

the village and offered us his services
a guide. and we took him. And
it was probably fortunate that we did.
for we had now reached the base of the
Cordilleras again ana surely would
have become lost In the maze of trails.
Our guide assured US that we would
be both eaten and preserved in the
next village, which did not seem pos
sible to us. so on we went.
Contrary to the guides expectations
we were well received, when, after an
other three days travel, we arrived
at the village of the picklers. The
guide. however, did not enter with US,
hurrying off on the trail. toward his
own village when we met the first man
from the new town. This fellow
seemed uncertain as to what course to
pursue, but finally, without saying a
word, turned toward the village and
set the pace. BY nightfall we arrived
at the destination and entered just as
a huge fire was being built in the CEN
ter of an opening much resembling the
plaza of a Spanish city. We were re-
ceived by about dozen men who con-
Quoted us to a large adobe building.
with a courtyard resembling those of
the cities of the plateau.
We constantly were watched, and
even during the night some one was
spying. When alone, however, we con-
versed in English, and il there were
any eavesdroppers they gained no sat
isfaction. For a week the farce kept
up in the same way, and then things
began to develop.
The three of US were sitting In the
courtyard one night just at sunset.
speculating upon the outcome of our
foolhardy venture, when the head man
of the village entered and formally
presented us with five wives each.
stating that the brides would arrive in
few moments. This decidedly was
embarrassing. To refuse them would
probably mean annihilation, and TO ac-
cept them-well, although none of us
was married, we each had a definite
hope. and the situation can better be
imagined than described. ! However,
there seemed no way around 1t and we
told the old man to bring on his wares.
Then Carson. who spoke Quitchua
better than either Morris or l. made
an answering speech, equally hatter-
ing, warning the old man of the dan
ger to his young men and women. and
whole lot of nonsense that did excel
leptly as a bluff. This struck the old
man rather hard, and he paused to con-
slider the natter,
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

lack OF appreciation. We suggested
several times during the morning that
we desired to move on, and 1t was not
until well along toward night that we
realized that. If not prisoners. we were
at least jealously guarded guests. We
still had our rifles and revolvers. but
such weapons did not inspire much con-
fdence when we felt that one of those
deadly blowguns constantly was
trained on us from some unseen point
of vantage, The position was uncom-
Portable. to say the least
In order tnat we might not be sus-
picioned we decided to appear satisfied
and to remain among these people for
several days On the second day, in
the course of our conversation, we dis
covered that we narrowly had escaped
becoming lost in wilderness of which
we knew absolutely nothing.
Instead of turning south and follow
ing the base of the Cord;lleras after
crossing the divide we had kept on
straight toward the coast. This ex-
planned the fact that we had missed
some of the tribes that had been de-
scribed to us, and we decided to turn
south and begin our journey in that
direction as soon as we could break
away.
On the third evening our opportunity
arrived apparently. and while the tribe
was in council we slipped out, saddled
the animals and set off at speed, only
to encounter another stretched cord,
which sent Morris and me sprawling in
the dust. At this moment it seemed as
though thousand arrows flew past us,
although it was too dark to see any
thing of the kind.
We rode all night, and when morn
ing broke were miles away from the
village. We then discovered that our
escape had been even narrower than
we had realized. for in Carson's saddle
bags an arrow was sticking, one OF
the poisoned kind which they use In
the blowguns. With one always Keep
ing watch, we took good rest, and
did not again take up the trail until
shortly after noon.
For five days we Travelled on without
meeting a human being, and on the
sixth rode into peculiar sort or a
ravine occupied by race much re-
sembling the cave dwellers These peo-
pie were harmless and offered us
neither resistance nor aid, permitting
us to take what we pleased. and give
what we pleased One young chap
apparently not yet beyond his teens
came running after US when we left
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

obstacle, and at the same time Carson
and Morris both went sprawling on
the ground, their animals also falling.
Pulling up as quickly as possible
discovered that my companions were
uninjured and that the mules were on
their feet. Some one had stretched a
finely woven cord across the trail, low
enough to be unnoticed on account of
the high grass and strong enough to
throw both animals that struck 1t. We
scarcely had recovered ourselves when
about twenty warriors entered the trail
just in front of us, all armed with the
terrible blowguns. There was no time
to pull guns nor was there any need,
for the men did not make any un-
friendly demonstration. The tallest
man in the group came forward and ad-
dressed US in Quitchua, and seemed sur
prised when we replied in the same Ian
guage. We were informed that we were
In the territory of tribe with an un-
pronounceable and unspellable name,
and were invited to visit the village.
Judging from their appearance, and
from the fact that they held the right
of way, their invitation In reality was
a command, and we gave our assent
without showing any of the reluctance
which we really felt.
The village was much better look
ing place than the one we had last left.
the huts being of. a mud resembling the
usual adobe and arranged in order in
a more civilized fashion. The men were
better built and dressed better, while
the women were kept entirely out OF
sight. Dogs were not to be seen any
where, and the only children that we
saw were inside of an inclosure On
the whole it appeared.to be an orderly
sort of a place.
We were conducted to a dwelling and
discovered that 1t was decorated gor-
geously on the inside, peculiar SORT
of tapestry of woven grass and fiber
covering the WALL and vessels, made
apparently of beaten gold and set with
precious stones. crudely polished dec
Grating the fireplace. Here we were
served a meal consisting of palatable
dishes, which we discovered afterward
we're made of various bugs properly
baked and prepared Fortunately this
was not known to us at the time and
our appetites were uninjured.
On the following morning we made a
breakfast of iguana, sort of lizard
and another sort of meat that / sus-
pected of being snake, but never was
sure. At any rate 1t was good, and
the hosts had no cause to complain OF
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

only indication that aught unusual was
passing in his mind.
This singer had heard something of
the gifted boys skill on the violin,
piano and organ; that he had given
concerts in the principal cities of the
Continent and had even composed
masses. motets and other works said
to be of unusual merit.
willing to oblige the child, the great
soprano consented to give an exhibition
of her power and sang a few notes in
his presence to show what she could
do. Father and son thanked the good
humored singer for her politeness and
withdrew to make way for other call
ers. That night the boy wrote let
ter to his sister, in which he jotted
down the few notes sung by the oblig-
ing soprano The letter was preserved,
and to the chance meeting and the let
ter ii called forth the singer owed her
fame, for to oblige a boy she sang the
highest notes ever recorded as uttered
by the human voice.
The boy was Mozart; Wolfert he was
called; the man was Leopold Mozart,
the chapel master and musical director
of the prince archbishop of Salzberg,
and the singer was the great Agujarl
Little did she or any one else think
that TO this accidental meeting she
would owe her reputation as the pos
SCISSOR of the highest soprano voice on
record.
Had it not been for that interview
and the letter written home by the boy
she would have been remembered in
musical history as the possessor of a
lovely voice, flexible throat and an
incredibly high range" also as one of
the singers at the Pantheon concerts in
oxford street, London, where she re-
ceived f100 a night for singing two
songs. Money was then worth eight
times what it is now, so that her COM
pensation was about $4,000 a night, an
anticipation of the prices later realized
by Patti and one or two others of our
own day.
La Agujari did not live long to en-
joy her marvellous triumphs. She was
twenty-seven when she sang for the
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

sat the tailor. a small parsonage, with
his legs crossed and making an earnest
effort to look as though he were not
the most important person in the house.
The historian of this memorable oc-
casion was the late Auguste Waldauer.
who died not long ago in st. Louis.
which for many years had been his
home. Mr.. Waldaper, who was solo
violinist for the Lind company, was
fond of telling the story.
1t was curious sight. The ladies
of the company were dumfounded at
being expected to sing in penthouse
and could scarcely believe their eyes
when Ntheir carriages were driven up
to the entrance and they were forced
to alight in the porkhouse yard and
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

boy Mozart. She died at forty leaving
the memory of an unspotted name and
the reputation of being one of the best
natured, most even tempered, benevo-
lent and kindly women of her day. Her
singing style was bravura, her express
sion far excelled any singer of her -.ne
and in execution she was so remark
able that the common people of her
day could find an explanation only In
a miracle. Thus in Italy 1t was an
ordinary saying that the saints had
endowed her with miraculous gifts be-
cause of her piety, for she had been
brought up in a convent and had re-,
ceived her musical training from a
priest
The notes she sang for Mozart con-
stitute mere exercise. They have no
value aside from the fact that they
display the extraordinary compass of
her voice. which covered three octaves,
the different registers being so united
that she passed from one to another
with most remarkable facility, the
fexibility of her vocal organs and
their astonishing compass deservedly
placing her at the head of all the long
list of gifted sopranos.
1t is in accordance with the poetry
of life that the soprano who, according
to record, stands next to Agujari should
! be a woman of the same purity of
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05
What A8uJor@l sang FOR Noz art.
The hghest note IS atlsS1no

NE day in the spring OF 1870
81 a card was sent In to the
u suite of rooms occupied by
a famous singer then full
hlling an engagement in the opera
house Of Parma. She was living in
private apartments in the most fash
ionable street. and every day her ante
near and far, attracted by the fame of
her voice; ambitious young aspirants
for Operatic honors, theatrical man
gers desirous of making terms for an
engagement distinguished clergymen
wishing to secure her attendance at
their churches, lords and ladies anxious
10 maze acquaintance with the song
stress who would prove invaluable at
soiree or musicale-all were there. She
meyer lacked for company.
The card, as common in those days,
was a playing card. The backs of such
cards were then plain white or red,
and as cardboard was rare and expen-
sive visiting and invitation cards We're
extempOrized from those used for
amusement, for at that time nearly
every gentleman carried in his pocket
a convenient deck" and the wits Of
Hogarths day made merry at the ex-
pense OF the clergyman who while de-
noUncing the sins and follies Of the
time accidentally drew out from his
pocket with HIS handkerchief his
much used and greasy pack, scattering
the cards over the pulpit and down the
steps, TO the amusement If not the
ediication of all present.
The card was that of a capelmeister
from town beyond the Alps, and his
penciled memorandum indicated that
he was accompanied by his son. In due
course the twain were admitted, for
the soprano had heard of both, the
former as a musician of prominence
and the later as an infant prodigy. The
boy a lad of fourteen, was small for
his years, insignificant in appearance
and had nothing to distinguish him
from other boys except his wonderful
eyes, which in moments of excitement
flashed and sparkled, often giving the
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

pathos with which she sang the COM
mon ballads of her own and other
languages, of audiences moved to tears
by her rendition of nursery songs, and
perhaps, after all, the power to move
the feelings of an audience is the high
est test of a singers genius.
1t was during her American visit,
begun under the management of Bar
mum, from whom she parted after CIV
ing ninety-three concerts. The tour
was continued at her own risk; she
gave forty concerts after the dissolu-
ton of the partnership, and one of
these, at the solicitation of the people
of Cincinnati, was given during the
western tour Of 1S51-52.
Fortunately the burghers of Cincin-
The San Francisco call., 1906-08-05

that we realized that he had attempted
TO remove our opportunity for pro-
crossing on our journey.
Without further talk Carson placed
his revolver to the old mans stomach
and gave him just three seconds in
which to remember who removed the
mules, and to what point they were
taken. The old man was too fright
ened to make an outcry, and quickly
led the way over a concealed trail into
the wilderness In a few moments he
began leaping from one fallen log to
another, and before we had opportunity
TO do likewise we found ourselves in
the mire. Morris. however, was near
enough to one of the logs to pull him.
self out and Immediately brought the
old man back at the revolver's point.
BY the time Carson and / We're extri-
Gated half a dozen more of the natives
came along the trail, bearing them
selves in a manner not altogether
friendly, and in order not to run too
great 3 risk we ordered taem back to
the village, and, although surprised,
they had too great a respect for our
powder and shot not TO obey.
About hundred yards farther on we
came to solid ground and found the
mules staked in the middle of the plat.
Not twenty feet from where we en-
tered, a good. solid trail led to the VIII
lage, and we realized that the old man
had attempted TO lose US in the mire.
Not having time for any more parley,
and desiring to be out of the mess as
soon as possible, we led the horses
along the trail and again entered the
village, and just in time, too, TO see
a couple of the natives carrying our
saddles and saddle bags out the other
end of the town.
This was too much for our patience.
and with flow of words not printable,
we fired volley of shot at the retreat
ing forms. One of the men fell and the
othe- dropped his burden and fled
Leav hg Morris to hold the mules and
watt ne old man Carson and / hur-
ried across the open and recovered our
property. The fallen native was dead
two balls having passed through his
body.
Nothing further befell us until the
afternoon of the next day, when, wish
ing 10 reach a clearing before night
we again urged our animals into a
gallop. We We're flying along at a
high pace between Il growth Of dense
underbrush, when suddenly my animal
leaped into the air as If to clear an