The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-04-29
WuEELISG 70 MEXICO.
Capt. iotin MeLarh's Experiences ana
ObscryntiOusI In the Sister Republic.

Cupt. JOIN MClsu'c, VI W." N.Y. 'N>>'''
returned from Il trip 10 Texas and Mexico.
A Chicago excursion party leaves that city
every win,eroi ate years. under charge OF
Can't. Wilmington trip to the sister repib'
lie. Round trip tickets are sold mt $3.50.
This includes simply railroad and steamer
fare. The route is via New Orleans, Nor.
gan City, steamer to Vera Cruz, and rail to
tho City Of Mexico. The Captain joined
tho party ut New Orleans. At Morgan
City, on the Gulf eighty miles from New
Orleans, they took steamer for Vera Cruz,
distant about eight hundred miles. The
Gull passage occupies about three days and
is not the plcasantest part Of the trip, owing
to tho fact Tint the steamer IL small and
rolls good deal in rough weather. The
Gulf Of Mexico is u very rough scaat times.
Seasickncss Is therefore very common.
Mos. OF The ladies' arc unable to come to
tho table. The party reached Vera Cruz
on tho Goth Of january nj . 4. NJ. The
steamer anchored off about q third OF a
mile from Vera Cruz, under the walls OF 4
historic fort TINT serves as Il penitcntary,
where prisoners arc, many OF them, con-
fined in dark dungeons Tor lie. The water
IL TOO slloal for the steamer to 30 close up
to the city. Passengers are conveyed to
shore in small boats-a passage that is
sometimes dangerous in rough weather. In
very bad weather they arc forced to remain
for day or two OH board before landing.
Tho Captain and party went through the
tort, being permitted to do so by the inilu-
cnce OF the American Consul. 1t is Il hor-
rible place. The prisoners lie Oh boards,
which, with Il pillow, constitute their
couchcs. Only II ray OF light pcne'rates
their cells through an iron grating. Here
they have been confined for years, their
food being brought to them in buckets by
m,n with lanterns in their hands. The
pace is Twin. tomb, US dcsolatc and
hopeless MS the grave.
Vera Cruz is city OF 5000 inhabitants,
aad is the chief Sen port OF tue republic.
Tae only railroad OF any length in the
country runs from there to tho City Of
Mexico-oG0 miles long. 1t was built
by IN English company, is well built and
well equipped alter the English style, but
has never paid dividend The train
leaves Vera Cruz ut II Mt night, and con-
sis,s OF first, second and third class cars,
the first class iAre bcin: SIG, or about six
cents per mile. The third class cars are but
little better than freight cars, the second
class hardly equal to our inferior smoking
ears, and the first class are compartment
ears after the English style. There was but
ono American car Oh the train,and this was
occupied by the cxcursionists, lG in num-
Der, who had it all to themselves. There
were four Chicago Catholic priests in the
par,y-cduca.ed and travelled men, who,
tho Captain says, were the most interesting
passengers in the party. The time. made
on the rsad is slow, owing to the frequent
and long stops ut the stations. No body is
in hurry in Mexico. The train therefore
did not reach Orizaba, a distance Of 50
miles from Vera Cruz, until the next morn
ing, d.
The country rises from the Gull to the
City OF Mexico. 1t is mp hill MI the way.
Orixaba is about 1900 ect above Vera
Cruz, aud is near the Orizaba Mountains.
Here the cxcursiouists stopped for q day Or
two to visit the national exposition then
in progress. Orizaba is i city Of $4,000 in.
habitants. Sunday was 4 great day ut the
exposition. Gambling was in full blast,
Gambling prevails everywhere in Mexico,
especially on Sundays 'Sweat Cloths"
arc opened out OIL tho streets, and every
body who feels disposed, and they arc a
multitude, takes hand.
Near Orizaba is the famous mountain
peak OF that name. 1t is 1850 feet high,
and can be seen MI over the republic O,
Mexico-a country thir.y-two times aslargc
rs tho State of West Virginia. From its
peak NIL the ice used in Mexico is OBJ
taiued-brought down the mountain trails
on the backs OF donkeys. Everything is
carried on the backs OF people or donkeys
in Mexico. In thu city OF Mexico You will
not SEQ u dray or y cart, but you will see
men carrying Ill sorts OF household goods,
oven pianos, on their backs, ind you will
SEQ donkeys carrying stone for buildin.
purposes. This kind OF labor is cheap.
Common laborers get twenty-five cents II
day, and skilled mechanics seyen,y.!iye.
4 laborer does about as much worl; rs a
small boy would do in this country.
Tho cxcursionisis stopped off several
times between Vera Cruz and tho City Of
Mexico. Had they gone straight through
they would have reached there at : the
next evening after leaving Vera Cruz, or in
about twenty hours, travcllin. ut the rate
Of thirteen miles IN hour. They kept
their car NIL the way, and when they de-
sired to move on u few miles it was hitched
to freight or passenger train rs the ease
might w, ullSt HhulSu " VIC ucAt stUpplnn
place. Beyond the city Of 0rizaba there is
rise OF $500 feet in twenty miles (calcu.
lated in Il straight line) but tho train makes
several times this distance in winding NJ
the mountains. The City Of Mexico is
G,000 feet above sea level. Much good
country was passed through on the road,
bu. agriculture is carried on in very in.
dolent and shit,less way. The people, the
laboring masses, arc poor and rather
traius being largely u mixed race OF
Indians and Spaniards. They are rather q
rough and hard looking set, hut inotiensivc
and quiet. The Captain says no did not see
drunken man in Mexico. The universal
drink is pnlqne--a drink TINT is extracted
from plant TINT is extensively cultivated.
II is cxhiiiratius but not intoxicating, cx.
cept when drank in large quantities. lie
saw no whisky while in the country. Al.
4 rs,,l, y T..