The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-18

was afterward estimated to be WORTH
s26o,0oo There were also necklaos3
, OF rubies and pearls and many golded
nhields. inlaid and decorated
One can easily imagine what efrsof
this. would have on the Spaniarda
Cortez replied that he had come s.o0d
miles over the oceans to see Monte.
snma. and he could not 70 bacl. ia
his King without having personally
met him. The King again sent back a
out. but. notwithstanding all this
Cortez started and. with his little band
made his way over the mountains and
conquered the nation of millions Tho
story has been told In tho wonderfuI
works of Prescott and others. and ~,
times have been pictured IN the novels
OF Rider Raggard ana our own Can
eral Lew Wallace. I shall not attemn,
any description. but will only taxa
you to some points over tho route ana
show you how they look in this yoa,
OF our Lord. 1913.
On the Way Over the Mountains.
where Corts landed there hays
sprung up the great wharyes OF Vera
Cruz. at which a dozen or more or tho
best known lines OF steamers call every
inohth. mere are railroads running
run mere 10 the capital. the Isth-
mus OF Tehuantepec and to other part.
on Inc republic. and about the harbor
is city OF 10000 or more. which has
streets paved with asphalt and new
buildings beside those or the style ~
Old Spain. The country abou, Ia taken
up win fruit gardens and tropical
plantations. and passing over tho road
which Cortez took on his way 10 ,ha
capital. you go through banana fields
and great coffee estates. cli,nbinp
higher and higher in plain sight OF the
snow-clad peak OF Orizaba. until at
last you traverse the pass. and coma
down into tho famed valley of Mexico,
where. amid the lakes. is situated tho
capital of the Mexican republic. and
Just where about 400 years ago was
the capital or the Montezumas
The w!stance from the coast 10
about 30 miles and Cortez drafted
loo Indian porters to transport hls
baggage. The most OF his way was
through the wilderness, and 1t waa
al the town OF Tlaxcala, near Puebia.
thae he fought with the Indians OF
that name and made them his allies.
TlaNcala is now a shabby village. whose
chief interest is In it's collection OF
Cor;ez relics
/; was at this point that some OF
the Spaniards turned aside to ascend
popocatapetl for sulphur TO be used in
making gunpowder. and they entered
the Mexican valley by way % Anne
cameca. which is still small town on
the slope OF that mountain. 1t is
where one leaves the railroad and
starts up the volcano on foot
In Mexico City.
AS Tar as the Mexican capital is
( concerned. II is fun OF the remains OF
cortez and Montezuma The Aztec city
was like Venice. in that II WAS built
upon islands with numerous bridges.
since then the land has been drained
and the spaces between the Islands
so filled that the city is now solid land
Nevertheless. the old places OF note
can he picked out.
The cathedral stands where the great
Teocali or mound upon which the sacri-
noes took place once was. The Hospitnl
OF Jesus ~ where Montezuma welcomed
the Spnniards. and at Chapultepec
which Is now beautiful park where
the President has his summer home
was the summer residence OF the EN-
peror Montezuma, where he had his
iavofite wives. his fish ponds ayiary
ana hunting lodge You can ride ou,
70 II now on the street car The Span
iards made their way there in boats
and on foot, Further out Of the CITY
YOU may trace the causeway by which
Cortcz entered the capital and find tha
place where the famous gardens in
which Montezuina and Circumference en-.
teriained the Spaniards.
The Tomb OF Cortez
There is one spot, however. which you
VIII fall 10 find. and that is where Cor
tez lies buried. Where that is no ono
knows He died In Spain. in little
village near Seville. and his body rest
ed there In obscurlty for lftecn years.
when his son. Don Martin. had IL ex-
humed and brought TO Mexico II was
first kept here In the Monastery OF San
Francisco. In Texcoco and was then
brought TO the Church OF San Francis
CO. in the Mexican capital. 1t lay in
that church for more than 1h0 war,
when 1t was again brought forth In a
great procession and carried to the
hospital OF Jesus OF Nazareth. There
II lay for thirty years, and then, for
fear or mob which proposed TO de-
stroy II. the friends of the family en-
tered the tomb by night and secretly
removed the remains. Some believe
that they were again buried In Mexico.
and others will tell you that they rest
In the tombs OF the SicilIan branch Of
the family near Palermo. But as to
the exact truth. I am unable to say
Copyright, 1913. by Frank G. Car