Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-01
A SOUTHERN SEAPORT.
The Harbor of Mollendo and Its Dis
advantages.
TOURING IN SOUTH AMERICA
A Aarbor That Extends to Cape Horn
Landing Passengers I'm the ssTub''-A
Tale OF the Confessional-shosts of
Former Enterprises.
From The STAR's Travelling Commissioner.

| 81 SeSone port of southern Peru where wilC
| AiET waves are always dashing against rocky
"&W promontorv and an open roadstead give
no sort OF protection from wind or weather
An old sea captain aptly described it when HI
said: The harbor OF Mollendo is entered al
soon as the ship turns Cape Horn" Islay.
few miles farther down, used to be the por
and very much better one than this, but by
some wire pulling in the Peruvian congress or
the part OF those interested hereabouts .he
railroad terminus was made at Mollendo (pro
nounced Mole-yen-do) and of course the per-
must meet it.
| Losses of cargo are not uncommon here and
sometimes OF human life. Often vessels can
not land passengers at ali, but are compelled te
carry them on 10 tho next port above or below
leaving them to make their way back to Mol
/ lendo Mt a more convenien. season. Not in
! frequently what is called the tub" is brought
INTO rcquisition by which to hoist people from
the steamers deck into the small boat waiting
| below when tho pillows are too boistercus to
| FISK going down over the side by the ladder as
| usual. or in which to haul them up over the
! chf when arrived near Mollendo if the surf
Will not permit approach to the stairs that lead
to the top of the rocky promontory.
| OVERHEARD IN THE TUB.
The "tub" Is really barrel with a tiny seat
inside of it and section of one side cut Out
about half way down. This rude continuance
is suspended securely from a crane which hoists
! 1t high in air, spins it round and round and
nnalIy dumps 1t down on the spot desired or az
near thereto as it happens to hit. Generally
two persons get In at once, woman or child
occupying the scat and man standing in from,
with ms back to the opening, he clinging for
dear life to the ropes and she clinging to him.
AT first sight 1t looks fearful to people
/ in nnf
| sea- knowing that the smallest accident would
mean inevitable death, and the stronest man
trembles IN his boots as his turn approaches.
But 1t Is really safer and infinitely 10 be pre-
ferred, as l have learned from various moist
experiences, to Drawing q drenching in the
stormy surf, or the danger of making a misstep
at the slippery stairs or ladder, which must be
seized and mounted the very instant the frail
boat is tossed high up on the breast of bilow
no. to mention the peril of being dashed to
pieces against it or of being sucked under the
great steamer as she tugs and strains at her
anchor.
IMMENSE TANKS.
There is not much to be seen in Mollendo.
The principal objects OF interest are the great
tanks that supply the place with fresh water
fed from the eighty-fve- mie-long iron pipe
that starts from the neghborhood of Arequipa
| 1000 feet above sea level. These tanks are
large enough to contain sufficient water to last
for several days should any accident occur to
the aqueduct, and the latter is capable of dis
charging no less than 100000 gallons In every
twenty-four hours. There are two hotels
their rival dement's, both being bad
beyond compare and ludicrously expensive
A long line OF steamship and railway offices ex-
tends around two sides of the dusty plaza in
whose center Is a small spot of green and a
pretty fountain. There some pleasant
DcCunlaI
and their families, besides the usual quota OF
los pobrcs living III huts; also great number
OF saloons i'll proportion to the scanty popula-
ton, dirt unlimited and feas and flies whose
names are legion. Yet this is the fashionabl
watering place of southern Peru crowded dur
ing certain season of the year with the creme
dc la creme in search of health and pleasure.
MoLLENDo's BIO CHURCH.
One morning l climbed q steep hill, ankle.
| deep in dust, every grain holding Its active
| flea, to inspect Mollendo's big church. Another
example Of how distance l0nGs enchantment
to the view" The planks that compose At,
wooden sides are not overlapping as clapboards
| are put on at the north and the whole is rooted
with corrugated tin; no LATIN, no plaster. merely
an empty shell, but very extensive; painted
white outside and with two pretentious towers
also made of wood, which add greatly to it,
! imposing appearance when viewed from afar.
| Inside were miles of paper roses twined
around the pillars, festooned in wreaths upon
! the walls and suspended from the bare rafters
the relics. probably, of festivities that mark ed
the recent Month of Mary" and among the
usual gaudy images were many manta- wearing
women on their knees, each awaiting her turn
ut the confessional window.
THE CONFESSIONAL.
| Speaking of the confessional reminds me O,
the revelation Of Catholic friend in Peru.
~ know not how the truth may be;
tel the tale as twas told to me-"
As everybody knows, the altar of penitence
is small wooden box placed in some dark cor.
ner OF the church, with a chair inside for the
holy father and curtain in front hiding him
from view, while he can with ease overlook the
congre CATION. At one side of the box is a little
window, covered with perforated tin or wire
netting, through which he may hear all the
whispered condolences OF those kneeling out.
side and may converse with the penitent. if she
listens attentively, without being overheard by
anybody else. Beneath the window is a wooden
stool about six inches high, called the .'tablilla >
over which each woman throws the bit of car
pet or square of fur which she ALWAYS carries ia
church, and in a kneellng attitude, with her
lips close to the father ear on the other side
of the aperture, discloses the Utmost secrets OF
her heart.
l doubt il 80 many devout females could be
| found In any other country In all parts OF
South America, no matter how Indictment the
weather every one OF the numerous churches
| is visited by scores of women every day in the
year, who consider it their most blessed Driyi-
lcge to perform devotions before breakfast. A,
| $3.50 o clock III the morning, ram shine, the
bells ring out their invitations to carly mass and
never in vain. Confessions as a rule are
not made until after mass and it often hap.
pens that the number of penitents anxious
| to gain hearing Is SO great that the
tablllla becomes a miniature field of battle
| For this the dear creatures go prepared and
| accept their wounds rs part of the penance
FOR the Lords sake. Should the priest desire
| to favor some particular lady in the kneelinc
| crowd. because OF her wealth or delicate health
| or any other reason. by bockoning her to come
| at once to the tablIlla ahead of others who had
succeeded IN forcing their way to the front.
| IT would be a mistaken act of kindness on his
part. IL SO intended, for the enyious sisterhood
| would Immediately commence warfare on the
| one thus favored by sly kicks scratches.
pinches, even hair-pulling and pricks with pins.
| In this holy conflict no quarter is
| given and no consideration shown for one an.
| other; and the bruises and scratches receive
| afford matter of conversation for the day in
the different circles of society, according to the
number who have taken part in the pious con-
| tention. The priest cannot be ignorant OF
| what is going on; but ii is said that the more
arduous the struggle and numerous the COM
| batants the greater is his inward satsfact ton
as evidencing the religious fervor of the beatas
and his own popularity among them.
THE RAILROAD HOUSE,
which through the courtesy Of the company
was placed at our disposal during the few day,
We were obliged to wait in Molendo for tn,
southward-going steamer, is a neat frame cot
tage, inclosing a central garden and sur