| Show A VOICE FROM MEXICO famor editor dewrel deseret the enclosed obituary notice from the mexican financier ancier of the lost brings the sad news dews to our colonies ot 01 the demise of general minister of colon colonization izat ioD a 9 patriot a great man and a true friend of our people in the fall of 1884 and spring of 1885 when the edmunds raid was first felt in arizona and new coa number of families moved south hoping to find a place of refuge in chihuahua they camped near the casis casas grandes grandea river living in tents and wagons they appeared like a military militar encampment on the plain the attention of the state officials was attra attracted eted to them about the ath of april adril an order was issued by the actie acting lr governor addressed to the jefe of the canton requiring that the people immediately leave the state demanding also to know the rea non eon for their presence on the frontier this word was carried by W W roundy boundy to A F macdonald Mac dooald at cor rall calltop top twenty five miles below casas cagas grandes alter after conferring with the jefe at the latter place he decided we must leave the state in fifteen dalp as his orders would not admit of extending the time but thought it would be best for us to go to chihuahua city and see the acting governor general deuro we decided to do so on returning to corralitos Corra litos too apostle george teasdale bad just arrived there he in company with brother mac donald went to chihuahua city and assist us ue by him we were introduced to the governor after we made our statement he seemed determined that we leave the state but finally agreed to entertain a written statement or petition setting forth the reasons for our coming into the country this was made in the interval young and moses thatcher visited the capital and were well received in january 1886 in company with brother heleman pratt we call d to see minster Mi uster pacheco at bis big mai sion land and were received by him with much kindness and familiarity he being all lone alone and free from business cares at theotime the time he was inclined to have us tarry and chat with him on our views and methods in company with elder H eyring while we were at the capital on busin tse december 1887 he be was then confined to his bed chamber receiving many callers and dispatching business we were duly received and add our request answered I 1 well remember his bis remark on our first visit in which his bis said 1 I have your document sent from Chichu Chi chuhua hus it Js is an excellent state paper and as long as you abide by the principles and sentiments there in we shall staid by you A second order soon caad came from the governor to the effect that we must leave the state as soon goo as our crops were gathered on receiving this we tent it to apostle E snow then at the capital it was shown to minister pacheco Pac beco who felt grieved and requested the brethren who represented it to address him di on the matter and enclose a copy of mhd order and he would see to it the result was that the acting governor was removed and another appointed in his stead ste adas as general pacheco was the elect thus in his hie action he proved his good will to us in our exiled condition on the of last january in company with mr L F maillefert mexican consul at deming N M having bust nees with the general at the capital he be set act a day to meet us as he had business to arrange on his estate in the state of vera cruz As he did not return we telegraphed to him and he suggested that we meet him there on the of january we took train at am and reached cordoba in the evening and met the general at the railroad rail nta stati tion ot he was waiting for his bis family and a large company of friet friends ids who were coming by special train and soon after arrived he conversed with us at the railroad down to his big ranch constructed under his big p patronage EL trO Dage cars were in readiness and he be invited us to go with him editor E E shepherd from tronto toronto canada and lady also a mr lynch I 1 from iowa went with the party we were carried down the white river in the night and could not see the scenery reaching estate about 9 p in we were entertained at a hotel building which bad been recently erected the entire materials having been brought from the united stated the general had bad also an electric light plant sugar manufactory also machinery for preparing the ramie silk plaat on the a mr H finch a German pak ing good english from cordoba being in the party escorted us ofer over a part of the plantation aud and forest where roads had been made we saw the nur nurseries serie a for the ramie plant the day a party of men were sent out to cut the tropical undergrowth under growth in the forest the members of the family and party goluk goin by tr train ain to the nearest point the general invited consul maillefert and myself to go with him on horseback to see his sugar plantation horses were provided but the general rode a mule I 1 was surprised to see am the vim and energy with which he led the way and kept shead ahead in traveling his right log leg was in a stirrup and the stump of the left leg strapped toabe to the saddle he guided the rein of his animal with the left hand the right arm being gon above the elbow we rode a few miles to the point in he forest where he wished his friends and family to see a very large t tree ree all of which views were taken on the way he explained the superior kind of sugar cane he had planted bringing it on to his plantation with pack mules be fore there was a road it appeared there must have been between two and three hundred men employed d on the various and all was ac on the evening of the re he A arranged for his bid guests guesta that were to y return to cordoba and the capital 1 that they take beds in the pullman OIL car r on the side track instead of at the hotel as the train would leave about a m and they need not be dis dia the same kind and thoughtful c consideration elde ration seemed ever present W with OM him in his attentiveness to the welfare of those around him in the expression press iOD of his eye and qu quick ck comprehension of every detail or surround lna 1 1 condition he be reminded me of president e u ll 11 brigham young on the of 3 the of january we viewed the grand scenery up the white seeing nelda fields ot of bananas and pine apples etc till we reached cordoba thence by the mexican railroad to the beautifully located city of orizaba in view of the volcanic mountain of that name past the magnificent marble 1 quarries and factories on the route two to the pretty indian town of mastrata Matt rata sj f where oranges and other fruits are offered for sale aale from the valley we began to rise following the curves and passing through several tunnels and cuts cute to a height of several thousand feet at cordoba we were requested to ride with the general tin in 1 bis bia car as u up to this time not a word had been ha said ls about the business for which we bad come after we had passed through the mountains toward the capital capita he be called mr M and myself and on th the lm t way all the points necessary to be un derewood dere der tood stood and the terms for contract of colonization were talked over and noted down by his secretary they were afterwards completed at the cal capital pital his great liberality kind ness and unpretentious manner won v the good feelings of all we felt the acquaintance then formed the pleasant conditions under which we traveled and friendship ex tended to a worker and representative of the mormon 1 1 people in mexico from ahat that true friend of his count country I 1 was an 4 mample example which might PS be intolerant profitably imitated by purse proud bifid intolerant christian professors in other at lands I 1 and that we should never ft frh get it but cherish his memory and y noble example r I 1 trust he may have worthy sors sore that the president of abi this 1 public and his advisers may condace to prosper and our col colonies prove A f blessing in this land we hav had pleasant rains and the effects of the past dry summer bummer will paw pal away yours respectfully A F MACDONALD COLONIA chihuahua mexico september 30 1881 1891 |
