Los Avisadores

Subject: Los Avisadores Thu 14 Jun 2007, 1:59 pm

Who would have known? The most widely read, Texas-themed magazine in our state is not 'Texas Highways' or 'Texas Monthly,' but 'Texas Co-Op Power' .... a free publication which is distributed to (mostly) rural customers of electrical cooperatives. I have found that such periodicals which come 'free' with membership of one sort or another often contain surprisingly interesting and informative articles. In fact, missing AAA's bimonthly visitor to our home, 'Texas Journeys,' was enough to inspire me to pay our lapsed dues Smile

And so, 'Texas Co-Op Power' has proven itself to be no exception. Within its pages is a little column entitled, "Footnotes in Texas History" .... with the work of Clay Coppedge being featured for the month of June. Mr. Coppedge's articles my be found in several newspapers across the state, as well as on the 'Texas Escapes' website. His offerings seem to lean toward the mysterious and the enigmatic. This focus probably draws more readers to linger over the past, and yesterday, it drew me.

When I was a child, our family made a memorable trip to Guadalupe Mountains National Park -- when it was brand new -- and on down into the Big Bend, in a pop-up camper. My mom cooked on the little stove which set up on the floorboard and my sister and I shared a bunk ..... its screens open to shockingly brilliant stars. We listened to tales of Apache ghosts and lost mines, told beneath the clear, night sky by enthusiastic and devoted park rangers. Somewhere along the way, we heard of messages having been sent through strange flashes of light throughout the rugged, Chisos Mountains .... and we watched for them attentively! Thanks to Clay Coppedge and our electrical cooperative, I am reminded of those through whom these mirrored communications were transmitted: Los Avisadores.

Mr. Coppedge cites the reprint of 'Chronicles of the Big Bend,' by W. D. Smithers, as a good source on the transmissions of the Avisadores, but might there be others? Below is the link to his article in 'Texas Co-op Power.' Some scrolling must be done in order to reach it, but the effort is worthwhile as he tells the story these signalmen (-women?) quite well.

http://www.texas-ec.org/publications/documents/tcp0607.pdf

Thanks!

Holly

PS. Here also may be found a nice article on heirloom bulb conservation.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: Los Avisadores Thu 12 Jul 2007, 5:38 pm

Here is the 'mirrors' story, Mari sunny

It is fascinating, and I would love to learn more about these guys!
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Subject: Re: Los Avisadores Tue 17 Jul 2007, 8:29 am

Cool and real mysterious ! Cool

So this is sort of an early Morse code ? Where can we learn how to do the signals ? I printed this article out.
Love, Mari