Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1879-01-30

about the place begun, and BY III
O'Clock the ground was covered BY a
motley crowd of Spaniards, Indians
and "Greasers, and about every third
man carried a cock under his arm.
The first purse was only twenty reals
$3.50, but ere the day closed the bet
ing bad become large, and the scene
animating with the progress of the
fighting. witnessed three cocks pass
to that bourne from whence no tray
eler returns, when the brutal scene
became sickening and Iieft in disgust.
This, however, is their usual mode Of
observing the Sabbath, and the sane
is tolerated by law, which puts the
limit Of betting at fifty pesos ($5O).
As opportunities for reaching the
States grOm Honduras are very mea-
gre and uncertain, after waiting two
weeks in San Pedro | resolved to go
down the coast and endeavor to catch
some fruiting vessel that frequents the
islands and lower coast. I took the
same little railroad down to Puerto
Caballos. This is a miserable affair,
requiring twelve hours to go thirty
seven miles. 1t is quite a frequent
thing for the engine Or cars to jump
the track, as scarcely a trip is ever
made without some accident.
The history Of this railroad exhibits
one of the most gigantic, barefaeed
swindles ever perpetrated upon a free
people. The original subscription,
$27, 900, 900, was for its construction to
Amapala, on the Pacific coast. The
larger portion Of this money was coll
lected and buried in the trousers
of the managers, who folded their
tents and silently stole away" leav-
ing a large numbero of laborers unpaid,
to whom they were in arrears for con-
aider@ble time. These poor %unfortu-
mates are now tryingto make the Hon
duras government responsible because
it has taken charge of the road, which
was abandoned by the stockholders.
Among the chief swindlers were
men of prominence in England, and it
is said that one bank in England was
made to disgorge 100000. The grand
cyclops of the whole lot was the min
lister of Honduras to the English
court.
left Puerto Caballos on the evening
of the 9th June, in a miserable little
craft, which was three days in per-
forming a journey of ifty-eight miles.
A stiff breeze bore us out of the har-
Dor and soon we were sailing in the
Caribbean sea, but in full sight of the
shore. We had a clear night, and the
moon shone with unusual brilliancy.
Indeed the pure atmosphere revealed
a starry canopy surprising anything
we had ever seen. The coast was
dreary and de%solate. Not even a light
announced a fsherman's hut-only
the well-known voice of the cayote,
the mournful wac-o-row Of the night
bird or the sOnorOus baying of frogs
came up from distant marshes. For
the second time | noticed that beauti-
full sight, the great phosphoresence of
the sea, oRly seer in these tropical
climates. Every FISH or other living
thing, as they moved through the wa
ter, difused a brilliant light, which
seemed like flames issuing from the
depth of the ocean. The furrow
plowed by our little craft left a trail
ing light of beauty behind it.
Thus we drifted along until our
second evening out from Puerto Cabal-
los, when, owing to the wind slack
ing up the captain thought it advis-
able to haul to- nautical phrase),
and we anchored in a little cove on
the coast, and all on board lay down
to sleep. | think it was a little past
midnight when | was awakened BY a
terrible tossing of the boat and cries
Of the sailors, of which we had only
two besides the captain. They had
all awaked, alas too late, to find that
our craft had dragged her anchor and
been driven to sea.
IN A GALE.
The sea looked terrible. and the
heavens overhead seemed a solid net
work Of fire, as their was no cessation
in the vivid flashes of lightning. The
matches had been closed to prevent
the water from filling the hole,
for every moment some huge wave
fell upon us with merciless
fury. Our small boat seemed but a
feather in the hands Of this angry sea.
There was more than one face pale
with fear as we looked upon the dan
ger before us. No one dare touch a
sail or the rudder, or even move from
the object to which he was holding.
for fear of being washed overheard by
the waves which were every moment
submerging us. | began to have seri.
GUS thoughts of eternity that my
time had come to " shake off this NOR
tai coil" Who weuld not? Here We
were, in a very small boat, driven be-
fore a gale in the midst Of the Garth
bean sea, without a compass or scarce
~ any of the necessaries for a vessel
The fiery heavens made It daylight
in the midst Of PlutOnian darkness,
and gave us a distinct view of each
other as each sat holding. for dear life
to some mast or rigging Of the sailboat
If ever the palor of death had settled
upon mortal faces, it was to be found
here. Even the captain, an old sea.
man, whose swarthy, Spanish complex.
ion had changed to an ashen hue, sal
gazing at the elements with the resig.
nation Of a martyr and despair wa
distinctly visible in his countenance
sat next him holding TO a halyard
but fear had made US all mutes. SO W,
silently awaited the result.
At last thdwind began to calm. bu.
the writhing sea showed no symptom.
OF abatement until an hour later. A
joyous cry now escaped the other enc
Of the boat, and all looking in the di
rection Of a pointing finger saw tht
gray streaks Of morning on the eastern