Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-02-24
Old Mexico.

NANA Sihho ~ AAA6 6hO 10 lhbOAOouhS
to some of your readers to hear
about some of the things that |
saw while there. bought a ticket
from st. Louis to Mexico City and
return good for three months. |
went vias the 1. M, 1. & g., and
Mexican National, and returned
via the Mexican Central and Texas
Pacific and l. M.
Before reached Longview our
train went in the ditch, all the
coaches leaving the track, tearing
up rails and ties for two hundred
yards. Fortunately no one was
killed; a few broken limbs, plenty
of bumped heads, and all the
women in Mysteries. After a de-
lay of ten hours we were on our
way.
My first stop-over was at San
Antonio, where the negro soldiers
shot up the town and got dismissed
from the service some time ago.
Fort Sam Houston, our military
post, is the largest and best in the
United States. There is stationed
there now regiment of cavalry,
one of infantry and a full battery
of artillery, with a post band--all
white soldiers-with fine buildings
for officers and men. My next vis-
it was to the Alamo. l was shown
all the old relics-pistols, sabers,
guns, bullets, etc. Among the
things priced most are the metal
parts of 116 pocket knives, after
they had been burned with the
bodies of the men. | was shown
the room that Davy Crockett and
Col. Bowie were killed in.
The Alamo is a stone and adobe
building, about thirty feet by one
hundred, one story high; almost
proof against the guns of that day,
but want of food, water and am
munition caused the surrender.
The massacre took place March
9th, 1886, and at Goliad March
9th, of the same year, and was
ordered by General Santa Anna,
the Mexican Commander. The
Alamo stands near the center of
the city and is in charge of an old
Elk Confederate soldier. San An
tonic is a beautiful, thriving city
Of 100, 600 people, with all modern
Improvements, and is growing
rapidly.
After "a hours spent viewing
the sights we are on our way
again. Our next stop is at New
Laredo on the border. Here is
whore you get your trunk and grip
examined for contrabands by the
Mexican custom officers; but they
are very polite, and not over par
ticular.
Laredo is on the bank of the
Rio Grande river. All the land on
both sides of the river is under ir-
,rigation. Garden vegetables were
in full growth. | saw at least
five miles of the spanish onions
growing.
After an hours delay we are on
our way again. We cross cactus
plain 1853 miles to Monterey, our
next stop. When | left St. Louis
it was zero weather. At Monterey
the thermometer stood at 70. |
never saw fire from this time
until my return to Ell Paso, in any
of the hotels or cars, nor did we
need any. Gardens, flowers and
fruits were growing everywhere,
like summer time in our country.
| was told that 400 bushels of
onions to the acre was an average
crop. forgot to say chat when |
reached the border | got my
American money changed into
Mexican money, getting two for
one, which is the proper thing to
do, as it answers all purpose at
half price. Before leaving St.
Louis / secured a letter from Judge
Geo. D. Reynolds and one from
Judge Pat Dyer of the United
States Court. These / presented
to our consul at Monterey. Mr..
Hanna put his stamp on them,
which gave me the entry in all
| places, outside of Mexico City,
which was of great value to me,
The city lies in a valley, sur
rounded on all sides by high
mountains. Their last census
shows $4,000 people. The principal
place of business is the Bishop s
Castle, overlooking the city and
hill, which was assaulted and
captured by General Worth's
forces in 1916. It is easy to see
that after the castle was in the
] hands Of the Americans, the city
surrendered, as it could be easily
destroyed by the guns at the
. castle. The Cathedral San Fran
cisco is a magnificent building,
costing years Of labor and a mill
lion dollars. The main altar is
ornamented with gold. The chap
els, eight in number, are also fine
and very costly. The Hot Springs
have medical virtues similar to
our Hot Springs, Ark. The two
caves south of the city are very
beautiful. The parks are as fine
as any in the Republic, but the
city was visited last May by ter
rible flood which destroyed about
twenty blocks and drowned 1000
people, and destroyed 80 miles Of
railroad. No trains ran over this
portion for four months. Mr..
Hanna told me that he fed and
housed 5000 people for three