The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1909-01-05
Child Buried
Alive
To Guard a Dam, Accord
Ing to an Old Mexican
Superstition.
u+est&Nsss /, \. Gygssy-E.x

ALtSI uay on the plantation SlmD-
son discovered that the late proprie-
tor had tarried on his property but
two months, then placed it in the
hands OF his agent to dispose of at
any price. And incidentally Simp-
son found that the late proprietor
was the fourth for that year: he de-
cided to investigate.
He was returning late one after
noon from the cane fields along the
river which ran through a part OF his
plantation. His horse was one of
the best and the trail through tho
fields was in good condition. but It
was long ride, and he knew it
would be after dark before he reach
ed his hacienda house. Already the
shadows were stealing through the
twilight, drawing down the curtain
OF darkness which precedes the play
OF the moonlight. Suddenly he stop
ped, halted his horse with sharp
check and listened. No, 1t was moth
ing, and yet he could have sworn
that he heard cry of distress.
He spurred his horse on-then.
there II was again-to the right. Low.
like dying moan, it stole over his
senses; he first felt it in his finger
tips, then it crept cautiously up his
arms'-his heart stopped still. He
shivered, though the air was warm.
1nvoluntarily he checked his horse
again, and listened. Not was not
woman's cry; 1t was not mature.
though it was not like that OF any
child he had ever heard. The cry
was low and weak. weird and plain
tive, though it was incessant and
seemed to have supernatural
strength in it's weakness.
Simpson glanced around and saw
that he was in a washout which was
probably an arroyo during the rainy
season; 1t was not very wide or deep.
He peered through the dim light to
his right and saw at some distance
away what appeared to be a black
wall; on triding nearer he perceived
that 1t was the ruin of an old reser.
voir dixie, built out of big blocks OF
stone. He did not ride around to see
whether or not the reservoir
was dry. but from the crumbling
condition of the dixie he decided that
it was. And all the while the low
cry continued. insistent, like sob
which will not be choked down. 1t
seemed to come from the wall of
the reservoir.
It was just three days later when.
without any apparent warming of the
coming catastrophe there was
cloudburst up the mountains. The
little streams, swollen with the
heavy rains, rushed down the noun
tain sides like mighty rivers. II
was the worst flood in years. The
valley was yelled in tears. and the
only sign of Simpsons plantation
was the spot where his house ought
to have been.
Like the true optimist that he was,
Simpson was delighted to discover
himself safely sitting on top OF some
floating wreckage. He rightly rea-
soned that It was wonder he was
on top, and not in a watery grave
under his household furniture.
But Simpson thought nothing in
particular OF a strange sight which
surprised him as he drifted down
stream for he low hills to the south.
The dead body Of an infant i'm q per
feet state OF preservation passed him.
floating with the wreckage. drowned
men, women and cattle. II was the
unclothed body OF a baby girl She
fioated by him. her nar stringing
IN wet strands behind her. In one
hand she clutched a tortilla; in the
other a piece OF pilcncillo.
Years ago the poor poems OF the
hnciondas thought that an infant in
closed alive I'm the wall ~ a reser.
voir or the dam OF n stream. would
give warning with cries at any an
preaching danger such as storm
or a food so 90 was considered a
commcndablc act for n peon mother
% sacrifice her child. and such
sacrifice WAS not without mercy. A
toriilla in one hand and a piece OF
brown sugar IN the othcr-these were
supposed 10 sustain The little one so
that % would have sufficient strength
20 cry out Boo time of danger. Then
me wall was completed the baby
boy or girl being buried alive.
In Che course of Nmc-sav. forty
or dfy yen fho wall of tho rcgcr.
voir m.gh' crumbie in places. though
Tho part protecting fho tomb might
perfectly preserve INC body of the
infant should a n0oi or storm Of
suG~io iHueer ba imminent the
departed spirit of the infant might
eiFe nanInr with cries of disireet
and fheFr rrIes mieht be heard bf
como ono in .nr Should q food
fna'ir come ono weh away tho
rwmhHrr tmb OF fho infant the
drifting boif mIrhf he econ by nc
como one uh1 h0arl tho cries
hu who un' b.Hrve lhe aiae-