The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-12-04

protect American interests against Eng
lish and CHILEAN animosity. A pretty
diplomat, indeed, he would have been
who had espoused the cause of re-
bellion, which nobody thought would
win, against the regular government with
which he had been sent to deal. When
the rebellion became itself the recog-
nlzed government of Chile, whether
right or wrong, the business of foreign
diplomats was then with the new regime,
but not before. The demand for Mr.. Egan's
recall is but another expression of the
Junta arrogance. To accede to it would
be an undignified breakdown on the part
of the United States and would have no
effect toward sweetening existing bitter
ness. 1t looks more probable just now
that events may arise in the near future
which will compel Uncle Samuel to
teach this bantum power sulutary les
son.
To return to our journey. Like the
notorious Captain Kidd, we sailed and
we sailed, always due southwark. A
day and night of it brought us to Tai
cahuano, the port of Conception, which
my readers and have visited thoroughly
before and may now pass without no.
tice. Fom Tacahuano to Coronel, the
next port of importance is journey of
only few hours, but is generally very
sea-sick one, for hereabouts we are en-
tering the region of turbulent waters
which render the name Pacific mis-
homer. Coronel occupies the northeast
corner of Arauco bay, from whence is
shipped nearly all the coal that is used in
Chile, besides vast quantities of copper.
There are two long piers at Coronel,
with tramways and wagons. The ada
cent mines belong to what is known as
the Puchoco company, and if need be
five hundred tons of coal can be furnished
along side any ship in the bay within the
space of twelve hours. The Pacific
Steam Navigation Co., (English) take all
their coal from Coronel, and it is also
frequented by H. NJ. ships for the same
purpose, so that it is not an uncommon
sight to see eighty or ninety golfers an
chored at once off Puchoco, besides
steam vessels taking on coal. The price
of coal at the mine averages So per ton,
but sells in Valparaiso at $1,000 and
$4,000 the ton. Coronel is rare town
for Spanish-America, being built en-
tirely of wood, from the timber which
grows abundantly hereabouts. 1t stands
about mile east of the Pachoco
wharves, and contains 10000 inhabitants.
Though such desolate, lonesome look
ing little place, it is by no means isolated
from the world, being regular port of
entry for four lines of steamships, hav-
ing telegraphic and cable communica-
ton with Europe and all parts of Chile,
a railway to Conception and so on north
ward. and another to Lota.
AS the ''Osiris" was compelled to coal
here, we disembarked at Coronel and
went by rail to Lota, another famous
place for coal and copper, only about
four miles distant but fronting little
bay of its own. High bluffs surround
its roadstead, except in one level corner
where the town has been set, containing
enormous smelling works, a bottle fac
tory, tile works, coal offices and work
mems houses. The most interesting
thing about the place is that the mines
and smelters, the manufactures, the
pier, the shipping, every house in the
village and all the land in sight is the
sole property of woman-the cele-
brated widow, Sonora IsadOra Cousino,
pronounced Cow-seen-yo) who is about
the wealthiest individual in the world.
She can afford to be eccentric, and there
being no end to her money and no limit
to her extravaganza, the people delight
to call her the Countess of Monte
CristO." Basides very extensive and
valuable mines of silver, copper, and
coal she possesses millions of money,
millions of acres of land, flocks and
herds that are numbered by millions,
whole blocks of real estate in Santiago,
Valparaiso and other cities, whose
rentals amount to several hundred
thousand dollars per annum; she is the
principal stakeholder in the largest
bank of Chile, she owns railroad,
fleet of iron steamships and other odds
and ends in the way of productive
which bring in, all told, pit
lance of many millions year. From
her coal mines alone she realizes not less
than $4,000 month. Her steamships
eight in number, each of 5000 tons ca
built in England and are
used to carry the coal northward to
Chile as far as Panama, and southwark
through the Strait of Magellan to Buenos
Ayres and Montevideo. As return
cargo, those coasting vessels bring down
ore from upper Chile, Peru and Ecuador,
for smelling in her silver and copper
works at Lota; while those that 90
around to the eastern side, come back
with beef, -four, coffee and merchandise
for the consumption of her people.
LOta contains 1900 inhabitants, and
among them she distributes in wages
over 100000 per month. Though it is
only mining village, as smoky and
dirty as any in the coal regions of
Pennsylvania, the Sonora prefers living
here to any place this side of Paris. She
has magnificent palace in the most
quarter of Santiago,-in the