Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-02-15
At Lisbon Notes From my Diary Con
timed


q S. SHIP ATLANTA, LISBON, Dec 2S,
1SS9.-We are at auchor in the Tagus river.
1 did NO. 90 ashore with ny msssmates last
Sunday, but they say the city seemed to De
as mnch alive as on any rday, the stores
being open, theatres going, etc.
On Christmas day many of the ships in the
harbor we're decorated and thers was good
deal of ringing of bells and chimes waited to
us from ashore. We had good dinner
early, then went ashore for about two hours.
On landing the first thing that struck me as
peculiar was the very crowded appearance
of the town. Houses are jammed against aGd
eee mingly pile upon each other, the house
beyond rising above the one just in front OF
YOU. This is caused by the city being built
on SIDES of hi!is. There is sea wall extend
ing along the water front for some distance.
and the wharves and landings are miserable
There are great number of small, lsteen.
rugged sail boats around the docks painted
iu the most fantastic fashion, the favori!e
color being pale green with some bright blue
around the bows, with touches OF bright yell
low. Nearly opposite the landing Is broad
stairway of stone and marble. having wings
leading from opposite ends of the street.
These turn and cross each othsr once or
twice, finally uniting at the top and forming
merely the entrance to small, narrow
street.
Lisbon seems to be made of hills. at
many places you come across these broad
flights Of stone steps, merely leading from
one street into another above; in other
places there are steep graded roads, looking
rather dangerous for carriages, bat saw
several 90 down them at rapid gait. The
i;tnr inf rad in
every imaginable uniform and condition.
many wearing blue and white, the national
coioTs.
The payemeus here are made of small
pieces of stone from an inch and a.haif to
Two inches square, very irregular, and
maued down smooth with clay. L. makes
firm and good side wslk when carefully
doue. These s one square called Rolling
motion Square" By Americans where the
figures are regular curves ike waves, and
looking at il, the gfouud has very Ta7y,
unsettled appearance.
The houses ere bulls of considerable
height, and very much alike. On one eide
the street will be uubroken for many blocks
while on the other side little cross streets
cut in frequently. The fronts of the houses
COX very fat, but many are gayly orna.
menied, some covered with tiles, others
painted. The roofs are mostly made OF clay
pipe in half cylinder, laid fret curved side
up, then down and overlapping.
We turned into the avenue where every
one goes to walk, ride, or drive. This is q
very broad street with three road ways with
parks lsid cut between them. The streets
were crowded with people, il being holi-
day. We saw wRny stylish turnouts on the
| road With footmsn, etc. in livery.
The eastern part of the town is the Oldest
and was not destroyed as was the western
part hv the great earthquake of November
1s;, 1855 ia which about 60,00O people were
killed Up the avenue TO the left is high
hIl. and IN one Of the crosa streets going
| over this bill is a track on which there are
two coaches connected by a cable; one coach
being filed with water, in going down hauls
the other up, then vice versa. AT one point
| on the avenue was small pavilion where
the King is said to show himself to the
| people on the day of the coronation-Satur-
day ia the day set for tbis-King Ladovi.
Gus l. having died short time ago. We
returned 10 good time at the landing rather
tired. but thinking there was after all agood
deal to see in Lisbon.
H., me- smate, and myself went ashore at
2 o. N. next day to 60 horseback riding
| We went to the Hotel Cantral to find some
one vino could speak Eaglish. The clerk
gave us directions to find the stables, but
the stableman could not speak English or
French however We managed to make him
understand what we wanted. We he'd to
pay 5000 reis for the two horses,
rather thin looking ones, but max
| Ing respt c.able appearance. We rode
up the street in the direction of the
| Palace of Necessidades and walked our
horses slowly down street which seemed
impracticable for carriage driving. but yet
Carriage was going down full tilt the driver
lashipg his horses to keep them going
After wandering along these streets for
some time we met the Admiral and some
other officers returning In carriages from an
| official call on the King. We found 1t too
late to go on, so turned back until we
reached Black Horse Square, in which ls an
equestrian statue. A street opens into this
square through magnificent arch. sculp-
tured ell over In white marble. This square
is where some Duke with 40 men attacked
9 large body of insurgents aud routed them
completely. We rode On up town passing
through a street SO narrow one man on
horseback can scarcely pass between the
cars and curb; and the pavements are not
more than three feet vide. After riding up
and down the street several times, we found
the stable and disnounted. we hurried to
the boat and went back to the ship.
| Atlp. NJ. yesterday Ensign a came
around with the steam launch and picked
us up from the different ships. to play foot
ball game which had been arranged with
some Englishmen who live at Carcarveiles.
near the mouth of the river. When we
landed at the dock. we were met By some
Englishmen with open carriages, which We
| entered and were driven to railway sta
! tiop. The train soon came in drawn by a
small engine. and with ugly box-like cars
about one third the length OF the ones in
Americs. At last We started, but the train
stopped every four minutes. and after about
/ 25 minutes ride we arrived at Carcsrvelles.
We were a rather tough looking set, some
of us In navy uniform trousers, flannel