The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1891-04-15
For the Central Presbyterian.
Letter from California.
CORONADO, March 26. 18g

heGJer from California.
CORONADO, March 26. 1891.
Mr.. Editor,-Owing to the serious
crevasse near New Orleans, men
toned in the last letter. our routc
was much changed, and made longer
by detour through Baton Rouge.
Shreveport, and Vicksburg, Miss.
(where our track for miles was un-
der water) to Houston, Texas. But
this gave us an ample opportunitS
to see the vast cotton and sugar
plantations in these several States
and the skillful methods of irrigat
ing them. The stop in Houston
was not long, for we were hurrving
TO that loveliest of island cities,
Galveston, Texas, to spend the day
and enjoy its sights. The Chamber
of Commerce most Hospitality invit-
ed the Raymond and Whitcomb
tourists to an excursion on the Gulf,
which most of them accepted. and
were fully compensated by the ex-
tensive view of the city from the
water of the bay and the harbor.
The Galvestonians were iubilant
over the recent appropriation by
Congress of S6,250,OOO for the i'm
prOvement of their harbor, and the
Secretary of War has awarded the
contract for the completion of the
work. Our day there was delight
full one, for our kind friends, Mr.. and
Mrs. R, met us at the wharf and
took Us in their carriage to visit
every point of interest in the city ::
then a glorious drive along the beach
for miles to the Beach House, and
finally to their hospitable home for
luncheon. This noble philantro-
phist has erected a large public
school building with accommodr-
tons for 1000 pupiIs) which he d.
donated to the city, also a Memoria,
church, and now contemplates buy
ing another grand building for il1e
\. NJ. c.. A.. and presenting that
also to the city How much wise.
thus to bestow ones benefactior
while living, and what q happiul
il must be to the donor thus to btu-
eft humanity!
San Antonio was reached March
21st, and the day spent in visiting
the 'Missions, - government bar
racks, etc, our tourist-conductor
taking carriages for the whole party.
Ours was occupied by the Rev. Mr.
Keith, of Middlebury, VT. and a
Mr.. Muirhead, Of London. England,
/ (who knew our Dr. Thomas Nelson
Page very welD. We drove first to the
alamo mission, where Santa Ana
cruelty slaughtered Travis, Bowie.
Davy Crockett, Evans. and their
little band of patriots, 144 men al
togther, while the besiegers num-
bered 1000 The Alamo" was built
by the Franciscan fathers in 1741.
and, like most of the missions of
those days, combined the fortress
and the church. i'm order to resist
the dreaded attacks of the Indians.
Another Mission. called "La ConceD-
cion," two miles from the city. is
now almost in ruins, but is still used
for Catholic worship as the tawdrv
finery on the Virgin, the crucifix and
the confessional all bore evidence.
Then we drove back to the CITY and
to the historical cathedral Of San
Fernando, whore Santa Ana had his
headquarters i'm 1885 delightful
side-reading now we find i'm Amelia
f. Barr's Remember the AlamoD.
and visited i'm San Antonio one or
two bazaars of curiosities, and saw
everywhere q strange commingling
of American and Mexican life and
customs
Westward of San Antonio is a
vast stretch of arid country, the cat
tie section, Though what the poor
creatures live upon seems a myste-
ry , and forloruness generally The
wild sceneries of The Rio Grande
canyon is interesting and there is
a succession of great natural cav
ens Most noted among these is
the Painted Cave. which is said to
be very wild and deep tits known
to have been the haunt of the Ca
manche Indians. and ON the wall.
are seen grOtesque paintings hence
ITS name. At Paisano was reached
the summit of The Sierra Nadro.
.l Paso, Texas was reached ON Sun
day night. being compelled to- trav-
ell bot yet I'm timo TO attend services
ai the Presbyterian church, where
we heard % good sermon by Rev. Mr.. .
Richmond. from Missouri, who had
recently accepted This most unprom-