The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-01
FROM roPoIoRAMpo
The Kansas Colony Beyond the Reach OF Trusts
and Combines but Out OF the World.
To the Editor of the Eagle.

/
To the Editor of the Eagle.
| 1t took US two days to load ap the
Romero Rubia with our freight, and then
we had to get another boat to take part
of our goods and about twenty of our peo-
| pie to this port; and, as Mexican officials
are never in hurry, and never do any
thing today that can be left till tomor-
row, we were compelled to lay over a
whole day in the harbor at Guaymas, wait
ing for official papers of one kind and an
other We finally got started little after
midnight, and steamed out the bay, to-
wards the lighthouse, which stands on a
headland on our right, about ten miles
out. We had very smooth sailing going
out the bay. but there being a stiff breeze
| from the northwest, we had no
sooner passed the light, and
entered the gulf proper, than
! the Romero Rubia began to get in her
work in the most majestic style. Her
course lay to the southwest to get out to
! the sea. Consequently she had to ride
over the pillows at an angle and she
! pitched up and down, and rolled over from
| side and rocked us in the cradle of the
deep" and those of our inland folks who
were on board of boat for the first time
/ in their lives, thought their time had
come, for sure, and that they would be in
! "Davy Jones locker before the light of
another day. 1t was no use telling them
/ there was no danger, to keep as quiet as
! possible and try and avoid getting sea
/ sick They would take on" and in less
| than fifteen minutes after we struck the
| heavy swell" a number of them were
leaning over the gunwale and "hollering"
something and throwing over bait to the
fishes, and before we had
been an hour tumbling, and toss
ing and rolling over the waves
They are, with few exceptions, the sick
est lot of people l ever saw. We had quite
a rough voyage but next day almost
every one felt better and were enduring
the continual rolling of the vessel with a
wonderful degree of indifference. In fact,
most of them enjoyed themselves. At
daylight of the second morning out we
were in sight of Farllon de San Ignito,
small guano island that rises 800 feet out
of the sea, and is twenty-five miles west of
harbor in Topolobampo (hidden water
bay. From this island we turn east and
inner bay, then into the straits of Joshua,
and cast anchor in front of the pier, and
we are at Topolobampo. As soon as the
steamer moves up to the pier we all march
ashore and receive hearty and hospitable
welcome from the colonists residing at the
bay.
Passing over all the details of discharg
ing cargo, handling goods, finding quar-
tiers for all, ETC., etc, the only improve
ments at the harbor yet are a few build
ings belonging to the colony, and the Gus
tom house officials. The two overland
parties and the boat parties arrived re-
spectively at La Logia and at Topolobampo
within a few days of each other. AS soon
as our arrival was heralded to La Logia
teams started in with sweet potatoes, green
corn, tomatoes, squashes, radishes, corn
meal, sugar and oranges. The latter are
large and fine and are bought from Mex
leans at from So to s. a thousand. The
teams have been engaged ever since our
arrival in transporting the people and
goods from here to the point of our future
operation on the Fuerte river, thirty-fve
miles from here They commenced throw
ing dirt on the ditch work a few
days ago and work will continue
with all dispatch possible until the exca-
walton is completed (six and half miles,
have been engaged ever since our arrival
experimenting the construction of dixie
over about half mile of salt fiat" for
the double purpose of damming back the
tidewater and as dry roadway for wag
ons. We have got it completed, and will
move away with the last of the luggage in
day or two.
had a welcome visit from my old ia
miliar friend, the EAGLE, on New Years
day We also partook of our first dish of
strawberries on the same day This years
crop is estimated at 200 bushels on the
farm, or half bushel to each colonist.
The weather, night and day, is the most
salubrious Flowers are blooming all
over and around the mountains, humming
birds flying around, and the hens walking
about with broods of chicks.
Corn and forage is abundandt, Corn is
worth 20 cents a finago GOO pounds) Fruit
is plentiful. The colony has plantation
of bananas. They say there are 1900
punches set in fruit now, and the first
fruit will be ripe in two months. l have
seen nothing of the country further than
two miles from the bay, only from the
top, and can say nothing only
that it is a grand panorama of plains
mountains and waters. but in my next
will have something of more interest from
my own observations. The waters of the
bay fairly swarm with fish. The colony
people have a net $50 feet long, and one
haul every few days supplies all the fish I
required Indians bring in turtles weigh /
ing from $50 to 200 pounds for two bits /
apiece. Yours truly, WM Ross.