The Abilene Reporter. (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, May 17, 1889 Page: 4 of 8
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The. Abilene Reporter
'PUBLISHED AT
ABILENE - - - tfEXAS.
' FRIDAY MAY i7 1889.
jOIfiV JIOENY JR. Editor.
GEO. W. ROACH Associate Editor.
Subscription Ilatei.
One year :..... .$i5
Six months ; . 75
Three month i 4
Omic in llorder lluilding on Second Street.
Entered Ht Hip AMIviip. TaxiK PuMollIre n
Seeotnl-Clii Mull Mutter.
Templu is to liave water works.
Lord Lonsdale claims to have been
within the Artie circle.
The editors appreciated the dinner
given them by our people.
A conductor bit a carpenter's car off
in a fight at Dallas a few days ago.
In the charter of the Austin North-
western railway Abilene is mentioned.
R W. Wilkins committed suicide by
shooting himself at Coisicana On May
i 2th.
Abilene is to have another district
fair in October. Stephenvillc Head-
light. The brick water tower at the Ter-
rell asylum fell a few days since no
one was hurt.
The railroad conductors held their
annual convention at Denver Colora-
do this week.
If you feel an interest in your coun-
try heli) the fair. You will find it a
good investment.
Miss Mamie Blair was killed by
lightning at Springtown in Parker coun-
ty a few days ago.
Kl Paso is a city with all the modern
conveniences pleasantlysituated and
wonderfully healthy.
A Mr. Tilley and his family near
Hiro. Texas were poisoned at the
breakfast table a few days since.
Dete ctive Gilley was shot and killed
in the court room at Kansas City Mo.
by a burglar who was being tried at
the time.
Nearly one hundred thousand miners
arc on a strike in Germany. The em-
peror is said to be in sympathy with
the strikers.
The first criminal will be put to
death in New York by electricity un-
der the new law. during the week be-
gining June 24.
Prinkee Moore of Mineral Wells
was seriously hurt by his horse falling
on him near Double Mountain post-
office a few days ago.
Postmaster-General Wannamaker
does not think the government is justi-
fied in reducing the postage to one
cent for first-class matter.
V. E. St. Clair in making a balloon
ascensional Houston on May 12 fell
from his parachute at a beight of 500
. feet and was instantly killed.
Geo. Ward in a fit of jealosy killed
his wife and committed suicide at
"Memphis Tenn. on May 13. He had
been married but a few months.
Col. J. O. Hamilton and Maj. Juan
S. Hart of the El Paso Times will ac-
cept the thanks of the editor for many
courtesies shown him while in El Paso.
President Diaz has requested the
Mexican congress to pass a law to per-
mit him to leave his country for a visit
to the spring palace at Fort Worth in
June. .
The Knights of Pythias of Fort
Worth will exemplify the amplified third
degree on each Monday and Thursday
night during the spring palace exhibi-
tion. Chief Mays of the Cherokee Nation
refused to call the legislature together
to agree on a price for their lands
which the United States proposes to
buy.
A band of outlaws attacked Major
J W. Wham paymaster United States
army with an escort of eleven soldiers
who were on their way to Fort Thomas
to pay the post. Major Wham was
injured and the robbers succeeded in
getting $29000 and escaped into the
.mountains.
THE PEES3 ASSOCIATION.
El Pnso and Our Trip to tho City
of Moxico.
The tenth annual meeting of the
TCxas Press association coilvencd at
El Paso April 29th in the district
court room of their magnificent court
house. The room which had been
beautifully decorated with bunting and
(lowers was a very attractive and
pleasant place. Promptly at t o o'clock
the convention was called to order by
President Bridges who introduced the
Hon. Judge Crosby of El Paso who
delivered an eloquent address of Wel-
come which was responded to by Col.
Wm. Ferguson of the San Antonio
Times in his own peculiar style. Other
speeches were made by Dr. Yandel
and J. S. Hart when President Bridges
announced a ten minutes recess and
four beautiful little girls filed into the
room with baskets of fresh cut flowers
and pinned a handsome bouquet on
the lapel of each editor's coat. This
little courtesy so completely floored the
members of the association that they
wore a broad gauge grin and won-
dered would the surprises El Paso had
in store for them ever cease.
The program ofamusements as pub-
lished in the Repoktkr was carried
out to the letter. The excursion to the
new town site of Llanoria over the
White Oaks railway was a pleasant
treat and was much enjoyed by the
press. The entertainment at the opera
house under .the direction of Mrs.
Harry Smythe proved a musical treat
making us feel that we were in cultured
Boston or musical Cincinnati rather
than in the metropolis of West Texas.
The drives through the ancient city
ofjaurez on Tuesday afternoon was
one of tlie principal features of the en-
tertainment. We were tendered a
grand reception in the new custom
house where a splendid lunch with
champaigne was served after which we
were driven to the extensive orchards
and vinyard of Dr. Alexander two
miles from Jaurez. Here we were very
cordially received by the doctor and
his estimable wife and shown through
the grounds wine cellcrs etc an ele-
gant lunch and wine was served and
music was furnished by a Mexican or-
chestra which added to the pleasure
of the occasion. Dr. Alexander is an
American he has five hundred acres
planted in fruit trees and grape vines.
Last seasons product of wine was 10-
000 gallons but this year it is expected
to reach 25000 gallons. Afterbidding
our genial host and hostess goodbye
we entered our carriages and were
quickly driven to our hotel in El Paso.
The program next called for a ban-
quet at 9 o'clock at the Grand Central
hotel. We'only had time to brush up
a little get into our champagne clothes
(every editor has champagne clothes
or clothes suitable to wear at a cham-
pagne supper) when the town clock
struck nine the dining room doors
swung o en and a feast fit for an edi-
tor greeted the eyes of thequill drivers.
The genial Sam Ecker proprietor of the
Grand Central and the prince of hosts
was in his happiest mood for his only
wish seemed to be that we have a roy-
al time while in his house and he had
so completely gratified this desire and
captured us by his kind and generous
attention that he had good cause to be
in the most agreeable humor. The
banquet was enjoyed by every member
present and will long be remembered
by the Texas press.
On Wednesday morning we were
given an excursion to the smelters
three miles from the city This was
one of the most interesting places visi-
ted by the press.
Upon our return to the city we held
a short session and finished the busi-
ness of the convention. Dr. Yandel
then announted that the Mexican Cen-
tral railway company was ready to is-
sue passes to those who desired to
join the excursion to the City of Mexi-
co. Sixty-five reported for the excur-
sion and were given transportation
and two Puhnan palace cars were se-
cured for the party.
At 2 o'clock enterprising El Paso
again surprised their visitors by giving
them a splendid trade display and
paradewhich was headed by the cele-
brated Fort Bliss comet band.
At 4:30 o'clock we took our places
in the cars for tlie excursion.
The country from the city of Jaurez
to Chihuahua is very sparsely settled
and but little signs of improvement are
to be seen. Chihuahua is a city of
II
about 10.000 inhabitants! The first
citv of Importance riftcr leaving Chihua
luta is Zacatcdas the most important
ruining city in .the republic. Pictur
esquely situated in the mountains with
mines everywhere about it Zacatccas
is the prettiest and busiest city on the
line of the Mexican Central railway.
In getting through these mountains the
engineering corps had no easy task
for we ride for an hour winding around
the mountain sides without getting a
mile from the city.
The next important city is Aguas
Calientas a city of 40000 inhabitants.
Aguas Calientas (hot waters) takes its
name from the hot springs near the
city. It is a clean city has luxurious
hot and cold baths good hotels and
is quite a desirable place to visit. The
chief products of the beautiful valley
surrounding the city are corn wheat
barley and wool. The fields here are
enclosed With the best rock fences we
have ever seeii while in nearly every
other portion of the republic we saw no
fences at all.
Upon oilr arrival at the City of
Mexico we were met by a committee
of citizens headed by the ninth infantry
band and escorted to the National ho-
tel for breakfast. While in the city we
visited the National palace. Chapulte-
pec the art galleries and museum the
great cathedral the village of Gaudu-
lupe the tombs of Santa Anna Jaurez
the wife and daughter of President
Diaz and of others the Laviga or
floating gardens and other places of
special interest. Chapultepec is the
summer home of President Diaz the
castle is built on the summit of the
mountain which is surrounded by a
forest park. The military school is
also on the summit of the same moun-
tain and adjoins the castle. From the
observatory of the castle is the prettiest
view it has ever been our pleasure to
see. In the distance on the west
south and east are beautiful valleys in
which are growing wheat oats and
coin and to the northwest is the City
of Mexico which looks its best from
this point and beyond it is a beautiful
lake. Mexico enjoys an equable cli-
mate with a temperature varying from
70 to 50 degrees F. but is very un-
healthy on account of bad drainage
and the careless habits of the lower
class of her people. Wo visited the
fruit market and must say that it is the
filthiest place we ever saw. At this
market all the tropical fruits a great
variety of berries cherries plums
peaches pears apricots etc. are of-
fered for sale but the general appear-
ance ' of the market and the awful
stench is enough to drive away the
patrons. We believe however that
with a proper system of drainage the
City of Mexico will become one of the
most healthy cities in America and
that with the erection of modern ho-
tels conducted by competent hotel
men it will become the objective point
ol interest to all the tourists from the
United States within five years.
Among other sights that caught the
Texas editor was the bull fight. We
turned out in a body to witness the
greatest contest of the season for Pont-
ciana Diaz Mexico's most daring and
agile fighter was to appear with
seven other experts. It was on Sun-
day afternoon May 5th the national
holiday and fully 10000 people were
seated in the amphitheatre encircling
the arena. Eager for the contest when
the judges took their places in the
stand.the spectators applauded heartily
and a band of some forty skilled
musicians responded by executing
with the utmost precision the beautiful
Mexican national air. The; judges
then sounded a trumpet and the fight-
ers entered the arena eight on foot
and two on horseback and marched
across the arena followed by a num-
ber of lackeys. The men were all gor-
geously attired in suits similar to those
worn by the great "fire eaters" pf our
American circuses and look something
like those important personages. At the
sqcond sound of the trumpet a lackey
at a gate opposite the judges stand
takes off his hat bows to the judges
and opens the gate when the wild bull
with a rosette fastened just back of
his shoulders rushes into the centre of
the ring stops looks madly about and
makes a dash at one or the other of
the fighters. It is an easy matter to
evade the bull as he makes his whole
fight on the crimson circular carried by
the fighter and if he is chasing a man
across the'arena it is easy to divert
the attention of the bull by shaking
one of these circulars at him While
EXTRAORDINARY BARGAINS
S.LAPOWSKI&BRO.'S '
1 Oase Nainsook
1 Case Victoria Lawns at - - -5 Cents.
1 Case Challies New Patterns at - 5 Cents.
50 Dozen Silk and Lisle Gloves at 25 cents a pair.
50 Dozen Silk and Lisle Mitts at 20 cents a pair.
The Entire Stock Reduced in Proportion.
Also SPECIAL Clothing Sale.
Respectfully
S. Lapowski & Bro.
STILL SELLING: Ladies' Buttoned Shoes at $1.00; Misses Slippers at 60c;
iUUUB OUUOD Ub ipi.VSVS.
there is some danger of the man being
gored the greatest danger and a posi-
tive cruelty is to the horses. They
are mounted by experts who try to
keep off the mad bull with a prod
similar to that used in Texas by cattle
shippers but in every exhibition one
or more horses are gored to death.
The horse is taken into the arena with
right eye blinded and is absolutely
helpless when attacked by the bull if
his rider fails to ward off the animal
with his prod. The killing of the horse
cruel as it is elicits great applause
from the native spectators. After
teasing the bull for several minutes the
trumpet is sounded and the horsemen
and horses if not gored to death re-
tire from the ring and the fighters ex-
hibit their agility by taking two decora-
ted spears about two feet long one in
each hand attracting the attention of
the bull and when he charges on them
they stick these small speers which
have steel points with a barb on them
into the animals shoulders one on
each side of his shoulder points and
jumps aside without getting caught.
This is a very pretty' sight and affords
a splendid opportunity to display the
agility of the man. To do this success-
fully the fighter is directly in front of
the animal' up to the very moment he
sticks in the short speers this is nec-
essary in order to get one on each
side of the shoulder points. This act
successfully accomplished never fails
to bring forth hearty applause At
the conclusion of this exhibition the
man who is to do the killing takes a
large piece of red flannel in one hand
and a sword in the other and after
teasing the bull for some time gets
directly in front of the animal and
when he makes a charge the fighter
stabs him to the heart the sword en-
tering on the.top of the neck just in
front of the shoulders. As soon as
this bull dies lackeys driving three
little mules which are gorgeously dec-
orated enter the ring and drag off the
dead animal. Then the judges blow
the trumpet and another wild bull is
turned in. On the afternoon that we
attended six bulls and one horse were
killed. If a bull is turned into the
arena that wont fight he is roped and
taken out and another turned in to
take his place. Pontciana Diaz who
is conceeded to be the slickest man
with a lanet in the world gave a
little exhibition of his skill by rop-
ing an animal that wouldn't fight.
He has greater control over the rope
after it leaves his hands than the crack
curve pitchers of our base ball teams
have over a ball He starts the loop
in an opposite direction from the ani-
mal and by some means makes it come
back over his head and catch either foot
that he wants. He doqs this with the
greatest of ease and accuracy calling
the foot that he wants every time be
fore throwing the lariet.
When the fighter has killed his bull
the native spectators go wjld with
THIS WEEK AT
Checks at
i
enthusiasm men throw hats umbrellas"
and money and the ladies throw
parasols silk shawls handkerchiefs.ctc.
into the arena. To the Americans the
bull fight is a novel sight and but for
the killing of the horses might be
pleasing.
By the people of the City of Mexico
we were treated with every courtesy
and to the press of that city we owe
our heartiest thanks for the interest
manifested in our behalf.
The following resolutions were unan-
imously adopted by the association in
the parlors of the Iturbide hotel :
CllY OK Mexico May 7 18S9.
Resolved by the Texas Press Association
that we are greatly pleased with our visit to
the City of Mexico and are deeply gratified
with the evident signs of peace progress and
prosperity amopg our people of our sister He-
public and that we will do all in our power to
assist the cullualion of amicable and lecipro-
cal relations politically and commercially be-
tween the two great republics.
KesoUed second that we tender our grate-
ful acknowledgements to Mr. J. Mastella
Clarke editor of the Two Republics Mr. Jose
Crstillo of the Juventud I.iteraria Mr. I. Kp-
stein of the Gcrmania Mr. AitUro Paz of the
l'atria to the management of the Iluibide
Motel and to the press and citizens generally
of Meij-o for their kind reception courtesies
and hospitality extended to the members of
our association as a body and individually.
Resolved third that we tender our sincere
thanks to Mr. A. C. Mich.elis general passen-
ger agent of the Mexican Central railroad for
the cum testes shown our association by hini
anil his company in tendering us an excursion
to the City of Mexico and that we take great
pleasure in testifying to the pleasant treatment
and accommodations furnished us by the em-
ployees of said road and that we cheerfully
add our testimony to the high character" of the
Mexican Central railroad its fine roadbed and
speed anil can cheerfully recoipmend it to the
traveling public as worthy of iheir patronage.
We can cer treasure in our memories a most
kindly feeling to Mr. Michlelis for the kind
and courteous attention shown our associa-
tion. Resolved fourth that we tender our thanks
to Mr.' II. J. Clarke superintendent of the
Pullman Palace car company for couitesies
extended to our association.
T. E. Horkn Chairman
R. V. Yeackk
L. D. LlLLAUI).
On Sunday the 5th of May we wit-
nessed the largest military display we
have ever seen. President Diaz re-
viewed the parade from the centre
balcony of the palace. On Tuesday
night our party took the cars again
for El Taso and home traveling again
over the Mexican Central railway
which by the way is a splendidly built
road. The road bed is solid the track
smooth and the traveler is whirled
through yalleys over mountains'
around curves without the least-jostle
.or jar. We were just as comfortable
in our berths at night as we could have
been at home. Upon our arrival at
Juarez Friday morning at 7:30 we
were met by Dr. Yandel who informed
the party that breakfast would be
served at the Grand Central hotel at 9
o'clock we were all hungry and a more
pleasing announcement could not have
been made. We needed breakfast
and we got it. A finer breakfast was
never set before a king. We had fish
and such fish my it makes me hungry
now to think of it fresh oysters fine
tenderloin steak and everything else
that you could think of. El Paso's
generous public spirited people had
resolved to treat the press gang once
more while in their city and they did
5 Cents.
so. Every member of the association
cherishes the fondest recollections of
the giant little city her good people
and her only Sam Ecker. El Paso
has a bright future before her and we
hope to see withinfive years her popu-
lation increase to 50000 and her wealth
and commerce increase 500 per cent.
The Texas & Pacific is handling
10000 steel rails for the Mexican
Central railway to be used on the ex-
tension now being built by that com-
pany in Mexico.
The civil service commission now
has its full (iiota of members. It
consists of Charles Lyman president ;
Theodore Roosevelt and Hugh S.
Thompson.
An elm tree was recently cut down
at Glasgow Scotland and bee honey
found in the interior part that judging
from the number of rings .had been
there for fifty "years.
Crop reports from Illinois are very
discouraging. Late frosts drouth and
the chinch bugs have greatly injured
the good prospects of the early season
for the farmer there. '
A cow on the farm of Mr J. H.
Carter in Toronto Canada recently
gave birth to two lambs and a calf.
All the animals were perfect and the
statement is vouched for by reliable
men.
J no. XV. Young son of Brigham
Young has bought a large tract of
land in Mexico and proposes to settle
Mormons on it. as he has despaired of
the United States admitting Utah into
the Union .
The steamship Rugia started from
New York to Hamburg on May 2d
with five hundred bales of cotton
when in mid-ocean the cotton sponta-
neously ignited and came near burn-
ing the ship.
El Paso has more good live pepple
to the square inch or her people have
more cood live snuare inches in theni.
tnan any piace we Know 01. iyou
don't believe it go and see them for
r-r T-
yourselves and stop at the Grand
Central.
Col. Sam Ecker is the most liberal
hotel man in the state. His patrons
receive every attention and his table
is loaded with all the good things the
market affords. Tf you want to feel
at home when in El Paso stop at the
Grand Central.
The Balhnger Leader thinks that
the Aransas Pass railroad will be built
by way of Ballinger and Abilene to a
connection at Childress within eigh-
teen months. The Times-Herald would
be pleased to see these three live
towns secure the young and progres-
sive Aransas Pass. The road was
originally chartered to Abilene and
will surely go there. Abilene's enter-
prise deserves it. TjmesHerald.
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Hoeny, John, Jr. The Abilene Reporter. (Abilene, Tex.), Vol. 8, No. 20, Ed. 1 Friday, May 17, 1889, newspaper, May 17, 1889; (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth330613/m1/4/?q=%22%22~1: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Abilene Public Library.