The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1878-05-18

# and you will find-if nothing lmorc--a cructN
. and some religious pictures; tie occupants may
5 be hard and dissipatcd beings, but, notwthstand
ing all their dissipation, they have not forgotten
their religion.
Is there not strange infatuaiion in this; AND
: when YOU see a man with a Knife in one hand
c ready at the first proyocaton to stab you to the
5 heart and with the other at the same time bless
r ing himself and dcyoutly praying to Jesus and
the Virgin Mary to forgive him his sins, what
t must it be? Such are the Mexieans.
The streets Of Acapulco are, for town of its
kind, the clcancst | ever saw. They are in most
cases of large, grayelly nature. They are clean
; and kept clear Of all rubbish. Ton NIGH. walk
them all day long and not GET dU, ,. dirty, The
sidewalks are rather queerly constructed, made
of brick and plastercd on top. In front Of each
door, or fronting each hut, the space is
walled up so that it is impossible to walk along
the sidewalk, and hence everybody takes the road
this is more on the private streets than on the
business places.
The houses, huts and adobes here are OF the
usual Mexican style. Poverty prevails to an
alarming extent.
The feeling towards strangers is hospitable and
1t seems to be their aim to encourage them in every
way possible. A nonresident has more rights
here than native, and his interests are safer and
better protected. They court European immi.
grafton above all, but are more favorable towards
Americans here than in any place have yet been.
They are down on the French, and would not al
low them on Mexican soil if it were possible to
prevent them.
Annexation is out Of the question with the Al
capucans-thcy never could stand it, and would
fight to the bitter end to prevent it. They like
the Americans rs they are, but think they can
govern themselves better than We could govern
them. am Of the opinion that it would be II hard
matter and that we are better Off without them.
MEXICAN HASH
1t is generally conceded that the Mexican5 are
very light eaters, and yet what they eat would
Kill the average American in short time They
deyour red and green pepper in large quantities
to such an extent that their entire system is per-
fcctly saturated with it, was induced to take
meal while in the Republic, and have ever since
felt as though wanted new coating on my in
sides ! am sure that had I died on the trip my
body would have been cmbalmed to perfection
and would stand to be taken back to the Aud
Sod if desired. 1t would be q big induccment
that would get me to try another Few Mcxi.
cans use knife and fork, and the few that do,
only ON august occasions. They think them use
less The favoritc article with them Is kind of
pancake. They steep the corn in water for sew
eral hours and then pound it into kind of Jelly, |
mix pepper with it and slap it on hot stone to
bake.
THE FORT
we found Il curiosity-very simple but of strange
construction. 1t lies on slight elevation over.
looking the bay and commanding the entrance
to the harbor. As we entered the fort an officer
met US, and after making known our wants, po-
litely showed us around. Within is large hollow
space of sufficient size 10 drill a regiment. From
this are observed nine large arches but in reality
are quarters of the officers and men, These holes |
run in some sixty feet and could easily accommo.
date $50 men each. Entering one, it was with |
no little astonish,,,a,,t 'tnt s-nr,.ad h,.--
Mexican soldiers live. There they were, half
naked this is from custom and comfort owing To
the weather. and lying on the hard floor with.
out blanket or anything else. The soldiers all
wear sandals and no sacks The guns are of the
poorest kind, reminding me of the old time guns
we used to usher in the 4th of July with, and in |
the use Of which we run ninety nine chances out |
in hundred of being blown to kingdom come |
The breast works and entertainments are moth.
ing-an army could walk right through them
One Of our modern men of-war might lay off in |
the bay and with good sized pop. gun blow it |
all to smthcreens.
In thn hay tNyn man 1ft
rora, L. s., Capt. W. S. Phillips, and the German
man -of-war, LEIPZIG, Capt. Tuschcn The Tus-
carora was bound on sounding expedition along
the coast and other private business-perhaps
watching the Costa OF Rico man-of-war Pelican.
which was bound on a destroying cruise alonc the
coast Of Guatemala. The LEIPZIG in company
with others, had been down to Nicaragua to blow
the blamed country up unless they came to time, |
which they did by the payment of $3S 900 for that
little trouble which so dissatisfied Germany |
They are both noble crafts and loo; as though |
they would make hot work if put to the test.
We had the pleasure Of spending part of the
day on board the Tuscarora and Witnessing Il
drill and form of action by the gallant marines,
who, after the motion of war was gone through |
with, sat down and did credit to splendid din
ncr that was prepared for us. The signal gun
summoned us aboard the Georgia, and all depart |
cd, taking with them fond remembrlnces of the
Tuscarora and her gcntlemanly Officers.
We were soon stcaming out of tle beautiful
bay of Acapulco, and rs we passed he Tuscaro.
ra gave three hearty cheers and a tiger, which
were returned by the officers, ana the colors
dipped.
Having no other places to stop W, stood direct
for Panama, where We arrived in six DAYS, en-
counterng nothing of importance, except the
meeting of the lrazu PclicanJ uan-ofwar Of
Costa Rico, which, it seemed, was disabled, hay
ing broken some part of her machinery, and sig
nailed for us to stop, which we did, md took her
broken machinery TO Panama JD.H.
AN INTERESTING MEDAL.
No bal nps1.i,,, ~ 10, 1 l..