The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-01-31

49, ~ v
Deaths Have Been Many.
The tree OF Tula and the tree OF Sad
Night are known throughout the world
but there is a tree IN Mexico which
has acquired a local reputation ONE
what shady.
III Arbol Maldito IS said 20 have
been planted by a gentleman who had
the misfortune to be swallowed up by
Mother Earth on account OF his crimes.
He was known throughout the country
as unhombre muy malo. lie W
went 20 mass, never confessed his
sins, nor did he have the image Of q
saint In his house, veal g rosary
around his neck or make the sign Of
the cross as a respectable man Sdould.
He never gave a beggar even a cCuta-
vito, and when he met a p~adrecito M
the street be did not deign to remove
his hat
Now II was rumorcd. says Modern
Mexico, that this gentleman was re-
sponsible for many murders and afro
cious crimes OF every description. but
he was never confined In Jail because
Il was known that he had a compact
with the devil, so that whenever he
invoked his Majesty he was rendered
invisible to the human eye. or at least
so small that he could easily escape.
He was Stunned by all. and he had
neither friends nor relatives.
But a peculiar thing about this man
was that he loved the trees. the birds
and an the animals. He planted a
great many trees and fed a flock OF
birds every morning.
Il Was many ycara ago that the
event of his departure took place. but
is sdll remembered by the ancient in
habitants OF the nelghborhood. Every
body on the Haciendita ranch had at
tended the religious services Of the
morning. and they were returning
home when a terrific noise was heard,
They rushed 20 the street where It
came from. and there they saw how
the earth had opened up under the
feet Of that hombre muy malo. lie
was envelopod by thick flames and
smoke and quickly disappeared be-
meath the surface Of the earth.
This was considered a just punish.
ment IN view OF the situation. and
every one VAS exceedlnIy pleased
While the faithful bad been attending
the services OF the church the cursed
one had nothing else 10 do but place a
burning cigarette between the lips OF
an image on q big cruclax. carried by
an altar on the street IL was then
that the convenient cavity opened up
and he was enguifod by the earth.
That very day an the trees which
he had planted. except IN Arbol NAL
ditto. dried no and dled-and so ala
the birds which ho had fed from his
own hand An attempt was made TO
cut down the tree that did not dry
up. but the foolish man who made the
attempt dropped dead on stepping un-
der the shadow Of the foliage. AS no
one had the tomerity 10 approach and
remove q the mans body had to be
left there 20 be eaten By the crows.
Since that day many have met a
tragic death under the tree. A pcdcs-
train who went under q for shade pa a
summer day was bitten by a snake
NAA AANA AA AnN MNNANs AAlta NNNA WI
different occasions sought shelter from
rain under It's branches and were
struck by lightning.
a woman hanging some clothes %
dry from the trunk OF the tRe was AT
tackled by a goat that came from no.
body knows whore and was never seen
again, Three years B a little boy.
riding a bnrro. led his animal 10 tho
tree. Ho was thrown on and kicked TO
death.
The last victim Of this fatal tree
was a man By the namo OF Molquiades
Arosalo, who ron under Il for shol.
ter during q rainutorm a year ago and.
Ike his predecessor he was struck
by lightning
The antpathy that tho poems have
ior this tres Is Huoh that they refuse
10 work Ia the fields for halt a mile
around a, Some tlmo ago PrBapero
Garcla, proprietor OF tho ranch where
81 AFhol Maldito grows. resolved to
have Il blown zap With dynamite. but
no doubt he has been unable 10 find a
ban brave enough 90 venture near a
tree which shows such symptoms OF
a haunted hfe.