River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1911-09-28

he must bring some sign. When he repeated
this to the Virgin she told him to 60 to the
top of the hill. which was always barren, ana
that he would find the ground covered with
roses. He was to fill his zarape with the flow
ers and hasten to the bishop with them. Juan
did he hidden. and when he spread
out the roses before the bishop there, on the
inside of his coarse zarape was painted
beautiful picture, another miracle. of the Vir-
gin Mary. This 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 o
prominent part of the edifce, where it may
be seen to this day, enclosed by a beautiful
frame said to be solid gold; and II is known
throughout Mexico as Our Lady OF 0uadar
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 Viz
gin of Guadalupe 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
back of It Is the Guadalupe cemetery, IN
which some of Mexico's most famous men,
among them are Santa Ana, Viceroy BacareH
and Colonel Obergon, buried.
This edifice is reached by two SEXES OF
long, winding stairways, which go up the
way up one of these flights are the mast and
sails of a slip, made of stone and plastered
with cement. How long they have been there
no man can say. There is legend concern
ing their origin which is as follows: Many
many long years ago. centuries, perhaps,
ship was in a great storm on the Gulf OF Mex
ico The vessel was in danger of sinking, ana
so the sailors prayed to the Virgin, and prom
ised her that If she would save them they
would take the mast of their ship to her
shrine at Guadalupe and there set 1t up SO
that 1t would remain forever as monument
to her power The vessel was saved, and
true to their vow, the sailors removed the
heavy mast and carried it upon their Shout
ders over the long, weary miles from Vera
Cruz to the City of Mexico, and thence TO
Guadalupe, where they erected it, the sails
set 1t was covered with stone and cement In
order that it might be preserved for the bene'
fit 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 when she appeared to Juan Diego
spring the waters of which are supposed to
cure any i'll, gushes forth. Over this fountain
a little chapel one of the most beautiful that
/ have ever seen stands. Over the altar Is
painting Of Our Lady of Guadalupe and
every day many go to her shrine to worship
One Of che most pathetic scenes that can be
imagine1 takes place In front of the cathedral.
Among the passengers of every street car
that strives are the lame, the halt and the
blind. Some have to be carried, others are
led v?aile many who are 1riendless, hobble
and drag themselves to this sacred spring u
obtain drink of its magic waters
No description of this interesting lanS
would be- complete without some mention "a
the picturesque city of Guanajuato This IA
nous old place was founded by the Spaniards
in 1854, 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, 10
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
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 me- 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 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 long, underground passage,
where is one Of the most remarkable and
gruesome sights in OIL Mexico. About half OF
this chamber is occupied by a number OF
corpses. In that dry climate. flesh will not
decay when protected from the weather, and
these bodies were withered and dried up
that they looked like leather The express
osons on the faces were horrible in the ex-
trepe.
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 rent had
elapsed, had been rem owed to -nse place.
These "atacombs are indeed horrible, and
a poor place for any one inclined to nervous
troubles, for If your nerves not pretty
strong you Will see this terrifying place. with
its grinning skulls and shriveled mummies,
for many night afterwards.