Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-01
SOUTH AMERICAN SEA PORTS.
LANDING PASSENGERS IN THE "TUBn
AMID RAGING BELLOWS.
A Tale of the Observation-Disclosures of
Abortive Enterprises-The Late
Henry Meiggs

Especial Correspondence of the REcoRD-UNIoN.
OFF COAST OF PERU, July, 1890.
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. "The harbor of Mollendo is en-
tered as soon as the ship turns Cape Horn. u
Islay, few miles farther 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 termi-
nus was made at Mollendo pronounced
Mole-yen-do) and of course the port must
meet it.
Losses of cargo are not uncommon here
and sometimes of human life. Often yes
sells 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-
venient season. Not infreqmently what is
called the stub" is brought into requlsi-
ton, by which to hoist people from the
steamers deck into the small boat waiting
below, when the pillows are too boisterous
to risk going down over the side by the lad
der 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 it and a section of one side
cut out about half way down. This rude
continuance is suspended securely from a
crane which hoists it high in air, spins it
round and round and finally dumps it
down on the spot desired or as near thereto
as it happens 70 hit. Generally two per-
sons get in at once, woman or child oc-
eupying 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 lnevlta-
BILE death, and the strongest man trembles
in his boots as his turn approaches. But it
is really safer and infinitely to be pre-
ferred, as | have learned from various
moist experiences, to Drawing drenching
in the stormy surf, or the danger of max
ing mis-step at the slippery stairs or lad
der, which must be seized and mounted
the very instant the 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 tugs and strains at
her anchor.
There is not much to be seen in Mol
lendo The principal objects of interest
are the great tanks that supply the place
with fresh water, fed from the eighty-fve-
mile-long iron pipe that starts from the
neighborhood of Arequipa, 1000 feet
above sea-leyel. 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 discharging no less than 430, 1000 gallons
in every twenty-four hours. There are
two hotels, between which it is difficult to
decide their rival dement's, both being bad
beyond compare and ludicrously expensive.
A long line of steamship and railway Of
fees extends around two sides of the dusty
plaza, in whose center is small spot oil
green and pretty fountain. There are
some pleasant-looking cottages, occupied
by the employees and their families, besides
the usual quota of los pobres living in huts
also great number of saloons in proper
ton to the scanty population, dirt unlim
tied and heas and flies whose names ara
legion. Yet this is the fashionable water
ing-place of Southern Peru, crowded dur
ing certain season of the year with the
creme de Ia creme in search of health anC
pleasure.
One morning 1 climbed steep hill
ankle-deep in dust, every grain holdIn;
its active flea, to inspect Mollendo's bll
church Another example of how dds
lance lends enchantment to the view.
The planks that compose its woodel
sides are not overlapping, as clap
boards are put on at the North, and tn
whole is rooted with corrugated tin; n,
lath, no plaster, merely an empty shell
but very extensive, painted white out
side and with two pretentious tower:
also made of wood, which add greatly +
its imposing appearance when We've
from afar. Inside were miles of pape
roses twined around the pillars, festoone
in wreaths upon the walls, and su:
pended from the bare rafters, the relict:
probably, of festivities that marked tn
recent "Month of Mary" and among tn
usual gaudy images were many mant;
wearing women on their knees, eac
awaiting her turn at the confessions
window
Speaking of the confessional remint
me of the revelation of a Catholic frien
in Peru.
81 know not how the truth may be;
tel! the tale as twas told to me-"
As everybody knows, the altar of pen
tence is a small wooden box placed
some dark corner of the church, with
chair inside for the holy Father, and
curtain in front hiding him from vie
while he can with ease overlook the CO.
gregation At one side of the box is
little window, covered with perforatC
tin or wire netting, through which
may hear all the whispered confdenc
of those kneeling outside, and may co
verse with the penitent if she listens a
tentiyely, without being overheard
anybody else. Beneath the window is
wooden stool about six inches hig
called the "TdbtWa," over which eaC
woman throws the bit of carpet or squa
of fur, which she always carries to churc
and in q kneeling attitude, with Ii
close to the Fathers ear on the 9th
side of the aperture, discloses the inmc
secrets of her heart.
doubt if so many deyout females cou
be found ir any other country. In all pan
of South America, no matter how incle.
ent the weather, every one Of the numero
churches is visited by scores of wom
every day in the year, who consider it the
most blessed privilege to perform devotio
before breakfast. At half past oclo
in the morning, rain or shine, the be
ring out their invitations to early mass al
never in vain. Confessions, as rule, a
not made until after mass, and it often ha
pens that the number of penitents anxio