Omaha daily bee., 1914-12-20
GRAVES THE CHIEF
MEX ATTRACTION
Edward Block, Formerly of Omaha,
Writes Of the Sights in
Mexico.
ALL INDUSTRY IS sTAGNANT
Matamorns, once a city of sixty
Five Thousand, Igss DwindIcd
Down 20 Population Of
Fifteen Thousand.


Graveyards arc the chief attraction for
tourists in many n city OF old. war-ridder
Mexico. says Edward Black former
Omaha newspaper man. writing from
Matamoras. Mexico. 20 a. NJ. Enstcrline
Of The Bee. No matter which faction Is
in control OF q city. says Mr.. Black. in
dustry Is stagnant. FOR war Is no less
hellish IN Europe than in Mexico De
scriptive excerpts from Mr.. Blacks letter
are quoted;
"As you probably know. this north part
OF Mexico Is in control OF the constitu-
tionalists-M atamoras being in the state
OF Tamaulipas. One may walk across
from Brownsville. Tex. or ride In
hack via the international bridge. but
the usual way Is TO take the ferry. which
consists Of two powerful Mexioans and
two rowboats. On tho other shore Is the
terminus OF street car iine-dingy and
dinky cars, drawn by mules.
In Matamoras we engaged a hack
a four-wheeled vehicle drawn by two
sympathetic looking equlnes. The man
agreed to take us to the cemetery, mar.
ket house and other social centers' for
$50 Mexican. or 20 cents. United States
money, or really 10 cents each. He took
us out--and also brought us back--ln tho
fullness of time.
AT the cemetery we aroused the GUS
todian from his lethargy and told him
we would like to give his norIbund
precincts the once over There are some
magnificent monuments In this burial
ground. We saw some neglected brick
vaults. and in one OF them we looked
Through the crumbling side and saw below
q coffin partially opened.
In corner Of this cemetery ia n brick
enclosure, into which ls thrown the bones
of persons whose cemetery fees have
lapsed.
We gave our guide three 5-centavo
pieces and he was pleased.
we called on General r. F. Nafarrate
at the military headquarters to get passes
back. having been advised by Mr.. john
son. the American consul. TO sec him, In
view OF the strict regulations recently es-
tablished along the borier.
soldiers Ferocious Looking.
AT military headquarters' we saw
Hire Of ferocious looking soldiers with
real guns and about 600 rounds OF am
munition about their waists In a half
way we saw twelve or more machine
guns. crowd was waiting to see the
general The three OF our purity put our
Spanish together In one Sentence and
made Il known that we would like TO have
fhe ear Of the general. After waiting a
while We. decided TO go hack without the
generals pass. trusting TO- the note We
had from Consul johnson and some Fa--
tina coupons we happened TO have.
The strict regulations apply chiefly tot
Mexicans. as the investing force at Mata-
moras expects attack from the opposing
forces. particularly about Reynosa, about |
sixty miles west OF here.
Although Matamoras il Just across
the way from Brownsville, II is fairly
representative OF Mexican city or
rather city that was. The town once
had popuiationsof 5000. a fine band OF
thirty-five pieces. puil fights and other
social activities. but since the battle here
about a year and half ago the popuia.
tion has dwindled TO is.ooo. II looks today
a poverty stricken and desolate place.
Life is at low ebb in its-n narrow streets
and antiorated shops''