Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-03-17


makes his escape usually. This is
repeated three times. By this
time the audience is worked up to
the right pitch for the finale. The
matador, with a long two-edged
sword, now comes on the scene
for the final act. When the bull
makes his charge a red cloth is
dropped just in front of him on
the ground, and when he drops
his head the matador plunges his
sword in the top of his neck just
in front of his shoulder which
penetrates the heart and the work
is done. This was repeated six
times the day | was there, six
bulls being killed and eighteen
plug horses. 1t is the most brutal
sport that / ever saw, and yet the
Mexicans go "bughouse" over it.
| suppose it is the way they are
raised.
Our next visit is to Vera Cruz,
down on the Gulf OF Mexico, 33S
miles from Mexico City. The
scenery on the route is very fine
mountains and rich valleys.
Within about hundred miles of
the coast we begin to go down,
down, until we strike the hot
country, which is tropical with big
trees and rank vegetation-almost
impenetrable. 1t rains here often.
and plenty. The temperature was
80 to 100, and then some. The
railroad follows near about the
same course that Gen. Scott and
the American troops took in 1S47
to Mexico City. Vera Cruz has
about 10000 inhabitants; fine
harbor with good sea walls; the
largest shipping port in Mexico.
The fort stands out in the harbor
about mile, but think Uncle
Sans guns could demolish it in
half day.
We return to Mexico City, and
after a days rest start on our re-
turn home, via the Mexican Cen
trail railroad. 1t is 1881 miles to
Ell Paso. We pass through the
garden spot Of all Mexico which is
Tareon Valley, about 150 by 400
miles. 1t is very rich and well
watered. They raise two crops
each year without much labor. |
see them using the old wooden
plow drawn by oxen, with the
yoke tied to the names. There
are several large towns on the
route-Tula, Querataro, Zacatecas,
Cazmecho, Gomez, Jiminez, Chi
chuaha, Montezuma and Ciudad
Juarez; but they are all so much
alike, these Mexican towns, that
it is not interesting to describe
them.
We are now back on American
soil, after the usual inspection at
the custom Mouse, but not away
from the Mexican language, for it
is spoken almost as much in Ell
Paso as any other Mexican town.
We took in the rces at Juarez, and
managed to pick the winner in one
of the races. Ell Paso is growing
rapidly. They are claiming 150,-
900, street cars, electric lights,
water works, and all modern i'm
provements. The hotels were all
full. The town was full of tourists,
and everybody seemed to be full
or pretty full, which is an easy
thing, as every other house is a
saloon.
After two days rest we are on
our way homo, over the Texas &
Pacific, via Abilene, Fort Worth
and Dallas, to Texarkana. Here
we take the Iron Mountain and
side trip to Hot Springs, Ark,
the mecca for all the ills Of life,
and no doubt cure for many. AS
I didn't have anything the matter
with me but curiosity, was soon
cured. We hired an automobile,
took in the sights of the city, took
a trip eight miles out in the noun
tains to view the scenery and vis-
tied the lithia springs, In this
trip you walk up hill and ride
down, but it seems to me there
are two ups and one down. A Wis
it to Hot Springs, purely for o
sight seeing tour, only takes about
two days, when you have seen all
there is to see. If there is any
thing ails you, and you go there to
be cured, it takes longer. The
next morning we are off again for
good old st. Louis where we ar
rive safe and sound, after a
months absence. Our trip cost
about three hundred dollars, but
we had about a thousand dollars
worth of fun. Yours, Truly,
w. H. WEBB.