Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1911-09-28

for the third time the prelate tolu MIN tnaS
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 his zarape with the How
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 Wiz
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 a
prominent part Of the ediice, where 1t may
be seen to this day, enclosed by a beautnui
frame, said - be solid gold; and 1t Is known
throughout Mexico as Our Lady OF Guao@
lupe." ,-
On December 10 the festival of "our Lady
os Guadalupe" occurs, and thousands make
the long pilgrimage to her shrine. This mas
taken place since 1852, in which year the Viz
DIN of Guadalupe was officially recognized.
On the hill of Tepeyacac is a little chapel
which marks the spot where Juan Diego cut
the roses that he took to the blsnop' just
hack of 1t Is the Guadalupe cemetery, III
which some Of Mexicos most famous men,
among them are Santa Ana, Viceroy Bacareh
and Colonel Obergon, are buried.
This edi6ce is reached by two series OF
long winding s%tairways, which go up the
steep hill from opposite sides. About nan
way up one Of these flights are the mast anu
sails of a ship, made of stone and plastereu
with cement. How long they have been tnere
no man can say. There is a legend concern
ing their origin which Is as follows: Many.
many long years ago, centuries, perhaps, q
shin was In a great storm on the Gulf OF MEX
jco The vessel was In danger of sinking, ana
so the sailors prayed to the Virgin, and prom
isad her that If she would save them they
r,or,ld take the mast Of their ship to ner
shrine at Guadalupe, and there set 1t up SO
that IL would remain forever as a monument
to her power. The vessel was saved, anu
true to their vow, the sailors removed inc
heavy mast and carried 1t upon their shour
ders over the long, weary miles from vera
Cruz to the City of Mexico, and thence W
Guadalupe, where they erected 1t, the saiiS
set. 1t was covered with stone and cement IN
order that 1t might be preserved for tne pehe-
al Of future generations; and there 1t re-
mains to this day, high up on the NH "hefe
all may see.
On the SPOT where the Virgin is supposed to
have stood when she appeared to Juan Diego
n spring, the waters Of which are supposed to
cure any i'll, gushes forth. Over this fountai1
a little chanel. one of the most beautiful ina
have ever seen, stands. Over the altar Is
~nainting Of Our Lady Of Guadalupe ant
every day many go to her shrine 10 worship
One Of the most pathetic scenes that can D
imagined takes place In front of the catheoral
Among the passengers OF every street ca
that arrives are the lame, the halt and IN
blind. Some have to be carried, others ar
led, while many who are frlenoiess' hopor
and drag themselves to this sacred spring U
a IT, -aa~fn -vYnfnTG
No description of this interesting lam
would be complete without some mention o
the picturesque city of Guanajuato. This Ia
NOUS old place was founded by the Spaniard
in 1884. and the attraction which brough
them there was the rich vein OF silver know
as Veta Madre (mother vein), which has bee
worked steadily for over three and a ma
centuries. The great Valenciana mine, IL
Gated near the city, has produced about $eOU
600, 900. Mining Is carried on In the sam
primitive manner as in the days of the earl
Spaniards.
The cemetery and the catacombs are, pro
ably, of more interest to the stranger tina
any other point In the city. Armed with
, permit which the hotel proprietor gave n
climbed the steep hillside streets to the eli
> of the dead, situated upon the summit of OF
of the mountains.
lib lIC AZ fN-O KS
y dered that there were SO few graves in it, b
the mystery was soon explained to me.
a the walls that enclosed the place are tho
/, sands Of vaults, just large enough for a coin
"a These may be rented for stated periods, 0
/ when this time has expired, If the relatives
a the deceased do not renew the lease, the
"a mains are taken out and thrown on the DO
. pile beneath. The crypt is then ready
N occupation again. The ground where t
graves are located is sold outright.
However, the greatest surprise Of all "
70 before me. My guide opened a small dc
II built in some masonry on top OF the groul
and a flight Of narrow, winding stairs v
exposed. These we descended, and tn
"a brought us into a long, underground passa
where is one of the most remarkable q
"a gruesome sights in all Mexico. About half
a this chamber is occupied by a number
" corpses. In that dry climate, flesh will
il. decay when protected from the weather. 9
he these bodies were so withered and dried
% that they cooked like leather. The expr
Il. sions on the faces we're horrible in the
81, IRENE.
ay The other end Of this chamber is piled
a.. Of bones. They are the remains Of the p
he wretches who had once been laid to rest
on the vaults above, and who, after the term
lat which their FRIENDS had palu Tent
az ELAPSED, had been removed to this place.
he These catacombs are indeed horrible,
ell a poo. place for ily one inclined to merry
at troubleA, for II your nerves are not PR
strong you will see this terrifying place, Y
the its grinning skulls and shrlyeled mumm
i'm for many a night afterwards.