Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-05-20


birgaihed with one of them to take us
ashore. for the mild sum of three dollars,
aud after pitching, (for that is the only
expression 10 use in regard TO the manner
in which they put into their little boat
our four trunks, three leather bags, bun.
die OF shawlS, package Of umbrellas, para.
sols aud canes. and basket of tIava ma
oranges) our traps over the side, we fol-
lowed down the shaky ladder aud started
for shore. The waves were high, and
bark pitched about so much, aud the
rays of the hot sun poured upon our de.
voted heads so 6erccly that Mrs. c.
absolutely succumbcd TO the elements, aud
was so nearly sea.sick that we laid her
out tull.length on top Of the baggage,
while Mr.. b -, the Colonel and [,
tried to laugh, but think looked un.
commonly sober! However, We reached
land all safe and sound, and grew uui,e
animated as the turkey y-buzzards welcomed
and superiutended our Decentralization, as
sisted by another school of
MEXICAN LAND SHARKS,
wfo each appropriated a bag or trunk,
aud proceeded to form procession to,
ward the Douana.
How VIC ever found all our traps at
the Custom House never can tell, for
the crowd and hubbub was great
AT last they were examined, and chalk
ed all right BY the officers, aud then conl-
menced another battle (icrcer than ever
fernando Cortcz had with Aztecs y the
iaud pirates all wanted to carry our effects
to our hotel. Another piece of 6naucier.
ing resulted IN a bargain, with nobody
knew whom, to take the entire contract
for two dollars and as every individual
soul Of them ella mel the bargain, they
all accompanied US round the narrow cor
ner and up by the handsome little Plaza,
to the Hotel Diligencias. There being
NO CARRIAGES
Of any sort IN Vera Cruz, we marched IN
"a body to the hotel, accompanying our
baggage, aud surrounded by nearly all
the Idlc scalawag population ofthe City
of the True Gross" No end Of scaly
looking dogs, ami hungry looking turkey
buzzards, wandered aud sailed about our
procession, which finally reached the Dii.
lgcnciaS, where we were to pitch oul ell.
campmepi for the night. A slight skir.
mish with the pirates, who each carried
up the huge staircase Of the
STRANGE OLD HOTEL
portion OF our baggage, aud who each
demanded two dollars Tor his share Of the
quarler-ol-an. .hours's labor. aud we were
LETT in peaceful possession Of our goods
aud our rooms, for they followed us quite
into the private departments, and drove
US nearly wild with their ragged appear.
auces and uproarious demands.
Vera Cruz is pretty little city, aud
if it was not for its usually unl eaIhy eli.
mate, would be longer visited by travellers
than II is. The streets are wide aud clean,
although there are bit few OF Them, and
the houses aud inhabitants are picturesque
aud interesting. Our hotel was situated
On beautiful little plaza or square III the
heart of the city, filled with rich green
trees and shrubs, full of flowers, aud
birds enough to literally ill the air with
tueir sweet songs. The night was bright
moonlight, and alter our excellent Span.
ish dinner We gentlemen lighted our Ha.
vaua cigars, aud leaned over the grea,
bacouy of our apartment, looking oui
upon the loviesl scene Imaginable. The
other three sides Of the little square were
formed by the most picturesque old Span.
ish churches aud buildings IN Mexico
Our rooms op d OUT Of court which
was used partly as dining.saloon. partly
bilIiard-saloou, and partly general loung.
lug place for all the noisy idlers IN the
city, so that our slumbers were slightly
disturbed but we got along reasonably
well Ihrouh the night (Mr. b B--and the
Colonel from their beds watching poisy
game Of ten-pin billiards until they fell as
leep, and Mrs. c. and | lighting mo.
squtoes until we fell asleeep.) The bells
Of the very many churches rang fol
some sort Of pray gers most all night, and
When they we're not ringing for devotions
they were promiscausly striking the hours
aud tie quarters. and the halves, and the
three.quarters, and altogether, We had d
very merry time of it till morning, wher
the buzzards, and the song birds, and the
dogs, and the donkeys commenced then
T concert.
1t was SO scorching hot in Vera Cru,
tina, we determined 10 leave iumediately
for tho interior SO after breakfast til,
next day, we formed into line of battI,
, again, and again escorted by all tac 'anc