The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-02-28

Covered Her Head with a Blanket
Whom ! Pointed My Camera at Her.
ton of lady of the peroxide tint of
blonde, who smuggled in small
monkey and large-sized flask. The
monkey was hidden beneath the berth,
so she would not have to put him In
the baggage car. 81
The greatest exciteraent ensued;
nightgear and lingerie u trust use
the right word) were in great evil
dence. Everyone asked everyone else
what the trouble was, but none seemed
to know. .-..-.
Finally the mystery was solved. .
The blonde lady pleaded Oh her
knees in very maudlin accents that
the hard-hearted conductor would not
car; but he was obdurate, and poor
Chico was banished to the accompani-
ment Of his mistress sobs.
At Ell Paso we were stalled all one
Sunday; but with the expectation of
leaving every moment. A bull fight
was on, over in Mexico, just across
the river, but we dared not go for fear
of being left by our train. .~a
From Ell Paso we kept north across
the arid table lands, the low hills, like
crumpled, rusty tin, lying along the
horizon. They are treasure houses OF
copper, these hills, and, every few
miles, a mine opening may be seen
perched high up on hillside, q short
spur Of the railway leading to it.
Crossing the desert between Tucson
and Fort Yuma, we ran into q sand
storm. The fine sand sifted into every
smallest opening and made breathing
wellnigh impossible. Fortunately it
did not last long. We had only run
into a corner OF it, and were soon out.
The desert showed us several of her
| capricious moods, for presently we
were treated to most perfect mirage.
Apparently lake or broad river in
mirrored in the most beautiful, cool
and wettest looking water Imaginable.
Fort Yuma claims the distinction Of
| being the hottest place in the union.
A story is told of a soldier who lived
there, and died. The night after his
death his spirit appeared to some Of
his comrades at their camp fire. They
| asked him what he wanted, and he
| said Hades was so much colder than
Yuma he had come back for his
| blanket.
1t certainly lived up to its reputation
the day we were there.
A number of Indians were seated by
| the platform displaying articles Of
| beadwork for sale. They object stren-
uously to being photographed-think
ing the camera has the evil eye, and
while it takes their portrait will also
steal away their soul.
However, these scruples can be
overcome at the rate of so cents q
scruple. Who says the commercial in
stinct turks not in the breast Of the
Indian?
| One old woman, who was said to be
q hundred and four years old, covered
| her head with her blanket when I
/ pointed my camera at her. For her
entertainments did a little sleight-of-
hand work, making the pass with a
quarter, pretending to swallow it,
then picking it of her blanket, finally
rubbed 1t into my ,trouser leg and
made it disappear entirely.
+ only succeeded in frightening the
poor old creature almost to death.
She clasped her hands in fear, made
the sign Of the cross, crooked her
fingers to avert the evil eye, and.
pointing to me, put her fingers to her
head like horns, indicating that I was
a gentleman extremely well-known
but of unsavory reputation
Leaving these interesting remnants
of the great race that once owned the
land, we continued upon our sadly
interrupted journey.