Clarksville evening chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn) 1886-1890, 1888-10-30
what Yankee saw ia nrazil- Heavinr
Anchor.


what q Yankee saw ia nrazli- Heavinx
Anchor.
Maranham, Brazil, is one Of the has
beens. All tho people are dead, but they
don't know It Grass is growing in the
streets, and the place is slowly but surely
dying. There is very little business, and
the one excitement in the month is tho
arrival Of the American mail steamship.
Almost every building Is church or
nunnerys and priests are everywhere.
We first make call on his tan colored
majesty, the president, and then start
out to explors this new and strange city.
Within two years horse car railway has
been introduced here, probably by some
enterprising Yankee. The cars are open
and similar to our summer cars in Boston,
though much smaller. They are drawn by
little bits of donkeys, whose tremendous
ears seem the biggest part of them. The
conductor stands on tile end Of the car
and blows a great brass horn on curves
and corners. While staring at these
curious street cars we are Joined by Capt,
C, who invites us to take drive in
one Of them. We step on board and the
little donkeys wag their ears as they
start off. As it is an open car we retain
our cigars and soon perceive that all eyes
are attracted by the captains uniform.
Whispers are plainly heard of Com.
mandante Americana" etc. In the mean.
time the car moves on up one street and
down another-all alike dreary.
Occasionally pair Of black eyes can
be seen peeping through the bars of o
window: we raise our hats and they are
quickly withdrawn--look again and there
they are. On the seat in front of us sits
matronly lady of perhaps AS, very
richly dressed; beside her young lady
of 90. The latter is altogether charm
ing-with rich black hair and speaking
eyes. But what is this? Quickly turning
in her seat she extends a jeweled hand
and in broken Spanish politely requests
my cigar to light her dainty cigarette.
Great Scott!" / mutter, as | hastily
pass over the required light. She hands
it back and, as gaze upon it, wonder il
| had not better keep it as a memento of
Maranham,
But here we are on the top of a very
high hill overlooking the sea. This is
the end of tho road and we have twenty
to look about in. A large, vel
low washed convent is near by and, as
| glance up at the barred windows,
think how much sorrow and heartache
might be inside of them. We walk to
the brow of the hill and cast our eyes
over the bay, dotted here and there with
coasters and fishing boats. The Advance
looms up among them like a mountain
among hills. She lies broadside to and
her spars and rigging are trimmed to
perfection. Hark! There is the horn and
we must so back to our car. 1t is now
4 O'Clock and we must return to the ship,
which sails at $50 p. m.
Tho hour comes, and we listen to the
captains orders from the bridge as he
gets tho Advance under way once more.
First the kedge is underrun, lifted and
brought on board. The ship is now rid
ing by port anchor, flood tide. The port
chain is paid out until tho sixty fathom
shackle is at the waters edge and tho
bows directly over the starboard anchor,
which is then GATED and put in place.
The port chain is then taken in to fifteen
fathoms at waters edge; she is then I'M
moored. There goes three bells. Lift
your anchor, Mr.. Ray" 'Anchor away,
sir" "Ahead half speed" Slowly she
moves; then faster and faster as she
gathers Roadway. "Anchor at the
I,awse pipes, SIR" "Ahead full specd,"
comes the last order from tho bridge. l
turn for last look at tho harbor and
city, and what do sec2 AS live, there
Oh the after deck of the Advance are tho
two ladies we met on the street car,
bound through to Rio Janeiro.-G. V. C.
IN Boston Transcript.