The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1911-10-12

for the third time the preate told him thai
he must bring some sign. When he repeated
this to the Virgin she told him to go to the
top of the hill which was always barren, and
that he would find the ground covered with
roses. He was to fill kis zarape with the flow
ers and hasten to the bishop with them. Juan
did as he was hidden. and when he spread
out the roses before the bishop there. on the
inside of his coarse zarape was painted a
beautiful picture, another miracle, of the Vir
gin Mary This was enough; and one of the
finest churches In all Mexico was built at the
foot of the hill of Tepeyacac.
This remarkable portrait was placed in
prominent part of the edifce, where 1t may
be seen to this day, enclosed by beautifu
frame, said to be solid gold; and 1t is known
throughout Mexico as Our Lady of Guada
lupe."
On December IL the festival of Our Lady
of Guadalupe occurs, and thousands make
the long pilgrimage to her shrine This has
taken place SINCE 1852, in which year the vir.
gin of Guadalupe was officially recognized.
On the hill of Tepeyacac is little chapel
which marks the spot where Juan Diego cut
the roses that he took to the bishop. Just
hack of Ii is the Guadalupe cemetery, IN
which some of Mexicos most famous men,
among them are Santa Ana, Viceroy Bacaren
and Colonel Obergon are buried.
This edifce is reached by two series OF
long, winding stairways, which go up the
steep hill from opposite Sides About half
way up one of these flights are the mast and
sails of a ship, made of stone and plastered
with cement How long they have been there
no man can say. There Is a legend concern
Ing their origin which Is as follows: Many.
many long years ago, centuries, perhaps,
ship was In great storm on the Gulf OF Mex
ico The vessel was in danger OF sinking, and
SO the sailors prayed to the Virgin. and prom
ised her that IL she would save them they
would take the mast of their ship to her
shrine at Guadalupe, and there set 1t up SO
that It ould remain forever as a monument
to her power The vessel was saved, and
true to their VOW, the sailors removed the
heavy mast and carried 1t upon their shout
ders over the long, weary miles from Vera
Cruz to the City of Mexico and thence TO
Guadalupe, where they erected 1t, the sails
set 1t was covered with stone and cement IN
order that 1t might be preserved for the bene-
1T Of future generations; and there 1t re.
mains to this day. high up on the hill where
all may see =
On the spot where the Virgin is supposed to
have stood vixen she appeared to Juan Diego
a spring the waters of which are supposed to
cure any ILL., gushes forth Over this fountain
little chapel one of the most beautiful that
have ever seen. stands. Over the altar is
painting OF Our Lady of Guadalupe and
every dag many go to her shrine . worship
One OF the most pathetic scenes that can be
imagined takes place in front of the cathedral
Among the passengers of EVERY street car
that arrives are the lame. the halt and the
blind. Some have to be carried, others are
led, while many who are friendless. hobble
and drag themselves to this sacred spring to
obtain drink of its magic waters
No description of this interesting land
would be complete without some mention OF
the picturesque city Of GuanajuatO This "a
nous old place was founded by the Spaniards
in 1864 and the attraction which brought
them there was the rich vein of silver known
as veta Madre (mother vein). which has been
worked steadily for over three and half
centuries. The great Valenciana mine, To-
Gated near the city, has produced about $780,
100000. Mining Is carried on in the same
primitive manner as In the days Of the early
Spaniards.
The cemetery and the catacombs are, prob
ably, OF more interest to the stranger than
any other point in the city. Armed with q
permit which the hotel proprietor gave me
climbed the steep hillside streets to the city
of the dead, situated upon the summit OF one
Of the mountains
This cemetery is rather small, and won
dered that there were so few graves in 1t, but
the mystery was soon explained to In
the walls that enclosed the place are thou
sands of vaults, just large enough for coffin.
These may be rented for stated periods. but
when this time has expired. If the relatives OF
: the deceased do not renew the lease, the re-
mains are taken out and thrown on the bone
pile beneath. The crypt Is then ready for
occupation again. The ground where the
graves are located is sold outright
However the greatest surprise of all was
before me. MY guide opened a small door
built in some masonry on top of the ground.
and a fight of narrow. winding stairs was
exposed. These we descended, and they
brought into q long, underground passage,
where is one of the most remarkable and
gruesome sights In all Mexico. About half OF
this chamber is occupied by number of
corpses In that dry climate flesh will not
decay when protected from the weather, and
these bodies SO withered and dried up
that they looked like leather The express
sions on the faces were horrible In the ex-
treme.
The other end Of this chamber is piled full
of bones. They are the remains of the poor
wretches who had once been laid to rest in
the vaults above, and who, after the term for
which their friends had paid reMt had
elapsed, had been removed to this place
These catacombs are indeed horrible and
q poor place for any one inclined to nervous
troubles for If your nerves are not pretty
strong you will see this terrifying place, with
its grnring skulls and shrfveled mummtes.
f0r nj oh offo IL