The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1890-11-02
SOUTHERN SEAPORTS
How Passengers Are Landed in
Tub"
A TALE OF THE CONFESSIONAL.
The Ghosts of Abortive Enterprises are Very
Numerous "Reminiscences Of the
Late Henry Meiggs

OFF THE COAST OF PERU, July-31, $780,
Especial correspondence of THE HERALD.
Possibly the worst harbor on the whole
coast of South America is Mollendo, the
one port of Southern Peru, where wild
waves are always dashing against a rocky
promontory and an open roadstead gives
no sort of protection from wind or weather.
An old sea-captain aptly described it when
he said, 1.-The harbor of Mollendo is entered
as soon as the ship turns Cape Horn"
Islay, q few miles further down, used to be
the port, and very much better one than
this; but by some wire-pulling in the
Peruvian congress on the part of those
interested hereabouts, the railroad ter
minus was made at Mollendo pronounced
Moie-yen-do) and of course the port must
meetit.
LOSSES OF CARGO ARE NOT UNCOMMON
here and sometimes of human life. Often
vessels cannot land passengers at all, but
are compelled to carry them on TO the next
port above or below, leaving them to make
their way back to Mollendo at more con-
Venlent season. Not lnfreQuently what is
called the tub is brought into requisition,
by which to hoist people from the steam
er's deck into the small boat waiting below
when the pillows are too boisterous to risk
going down over the side by the ladder as
usual, or In which to haul them up over the
Cliff when arrived near Mollendo if the surf
Will not permit approach to the stairs that
lead to the top OF the rocky promontory.
The tub" is really barrel with a tiny
seat inside OF 1t and "a section of one side
cut out about half way down. This rude
contrlvance is suspended securely from a
Crane which hoists it high in the air, spins
1t round and round and finally dumps it
down on the spot desired or as near thereto
as it happens 10 hit. Generally two per-
sons get IN at once.
WOMAN OR CHILD OCCUPYING THE SEAT
and man standing in front with his back
to the opening, he clinging for dear life to
the ropes and she clinging to him. At first
sight it looks fearful to see people swung
out in that manner over a raging sea,
knowing that the smallest accident would
mean inevitable death, and the strongest
man trembles in his boots as his turn an
proaches. Butt is really safer and intin-
ltely TO be preferred, as have learned from
various moist experiences, to Drawing
drenchlng in the stormy surf, or the danger
OF making misstep at the slippery stairs
or ladder, Which must be seized and
mounted the very instant tue frail boat is
tossed high up on the breast OF a billow.
not to mention the peril of being dashed to
pieces against it or of being sucked under
the great steamer as she tGcS and strains
at her anchor.
There is not much TO be seen in Mollendo.
The principal objects OF interest are the
great tanks that supJy Che place with fresh
water, led from Jiie olghty-ite mile long
iron pipe that starts from the neighbor-
hood OF AreQuipa, 100 feet above sea level.
THESE TANKS ARE LARGE ENOUGH
to contain sufficient water to last for sew
eral DAYS, should any accident occur to the
aqueduct, and the latter is capable of dis
charging no less than 43u00 gallons in
every twenty four hours. There are two
hotels. between which 1t is difficult to de
eide their rival dement's, both being bad
beyond compare and ludicrously expensive.
a long line OF steamship and railway offices
extends around two sides of the dusty
plaza. in whose center is a small spot of
green and pretty fountain. There are
some pleasant-looking cottages occupied
by the employees and their families he
sides the usual quota of los pobres living in
nuts; also great number of saloons in pro
portion to the scauty population, dirt I'M
limited and heas and flies whose homes are
legion. Yet this Is the fashionable water
ing-place of Southern Peru, crowded during
certain season OF the year with the creme
&c Ia creme III search of health and pleasure.
One morning l climbed steep hill, ankle.
deep IN dust, every grain
HOLDING ITS ACTIVE FLEA,
to inspect Nollendo's big church. Another
example OF now distance lends enchant
mentto the view" The blanks that com
pose its wooden sides are not Overlapping
as clapboards are put on at the north, and
the whole is rooted with corrugated tin M
latin, no plaster, merely an empty shell. but
very extensive, painted white outside and
with Two pretentlons towers, also made of
wood, which add greatly to its imposing
appearance when viewed from afar: In
side were miles of paper roses tyyined
around the pliers, fesJooned in wreatbs
upon the walls, and and suspended from
the pare rafters, the relicts, probably. of
1esuvltles that marked the recent ssMonth
OF Mary" and among the usual gau6y
images were many mountaineering women
On their knees, each awaiting her turn at
the confessional window
Speaking of the confessional reminds mn
OF the revelation of Catholic friend in
Peru. -
i know not how the truth may be;
tell the talr as twas told TO me-
AS everybody knows,
THE ALTAR OF PENITENcE
is small wooden box placed in some dark
corner OF the church, with a chair inside
for the holy father, and curtain in front
hlolng DIM from view, while he can with
ease overlook the congregation. AT one
side of the box is little window. covered
with perforated tin or wire netting. through
which he may hear all the whispered conf
oences Oh tnose kneellng outside, and NAV
converse with the penitent if she listens at
tentively. without being overheard hv an,e
BODY else. Beneath the window is a wooden
stool about six inches high, called The
''idbhId, over which each woman throws
the bit OF carpet or square of fur. which She
always carries TO church. and in a kneelino
attitude, with her lips close to the fathers
ear on Ihe other side OF the aperture, dis
closes the lnmost secrets of her heart
doubt If so many devout females could
be found in any other country In all parts
OF South America, no matter how inclem-
ent tue weather, every one of the numerous
churches is visited by scores of women
every day in the year, who consider it their
most plessed privilege to perform
DEvoTIoNs BEFORE BREAKFAST.
At half past five O'Clock in the morning
rain or shine, the bells ring out their in
vltations to early mass, and never in vain
confessions, cas- rule, are not made until
after mass, and it often happens that the
number OF penltents anxious to gain
hearing Is so great that the Tabliiio no
comes mineature field of battle. For this
the dear creatures go prepared and accent
their wounds as part of the penance for
the Lords sake. Should the priest desire
10 favor some particular lady in the kneel.
ing crowd, because of her wealth or deli
cate health or any other reason, by beckon-
ing her to come at once to the TdbInl1 ahead
OF the others who had succeeded in forcing
their way TO the front, it would be a mis-.
taken act OF kindness on his pert. if so in |
tended; for the envious sisterhood wonId
Immediately commence warfare on the one
thus favored by sly kicks. scratches.
pinches, even hair-pulling and pricks with
nine In this holv