Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-08
THE PORT OF LA GUAYRA.

What Dispatch Correspondent Saw When
He Visited the Seat of War-Worthless
Forts Deemed Impregnable - People
Rely on the United States for Protection.
THE DISPATCH received yesterday the
following telegram from a special CORE
spondent in Venezuela, descriptive of the
country, inhabitants and customs, which is
of interest at the present time:
On approaching La Guayra, the port OF
Caracas from the north, at distance of 90
miles or more, one sees q dark outline
above the horizon which gives the impress
sion of land, but should one suggest this
idea he or she would promptly be contra
dicted by at least one-half of those present
Nevertheless all doubt is soon removed, for
within an hour or so you are near enough
to see high mountains in front and on both
bows
AT the foot of these mountains La Guayra
lies in port At the foot is a small beach
upon which the principal part of the town
is built From the sea La Guayra has the
appearance Of an amphItheater, with the
bright spots made up OF different coIored
houses, surmounted by flags of various na-
tions. Some of these designate Consulates;
others are over private houses whose owners
still claim citizenship in the mother coun-
try. All have the same meaning, however,
and woe to the revolutionist who dares to
maltreat ore of the occupants, for in the
harbor we see numerous men-of-war, whose
forces have combined for mutual protection,
and at q signal from any Consulate are pre-
pared to send armed boats crews to right
the wrong.
What One Finds on Leaving Ship.
On landing we met the usual crowd of
wharfmen, most of them iabbering like SO
MANY parrots in the Spanish tongue as
spoken in South American countries But
q few steps and we cross q railroad, this,
with telephones, forming the connection
link with the capital The railroad, by the
way, is % miles in length, following an old
wagon road, winding in and around the
mountains to Caracas, 3, 500 feet above the
sea- 1t is said that there is not a straight
rail in its entire length, and one readily be-
lieves that when he knows the distance is
eight miles over the mountains There is
fair wagon road direct, and the drive NAV
be made in three hours, while considerable
freight is packed over on burros still,
though the two hours by rail is quicker and
Eurer.
Now we enter the train proper, passing a
plaza in which is crowd of soldiers-the
Indians of the country being in the ranks,
and a sorry looking lot they are. Brown,
dirty, wearing a uniform that was once
white, but now having color harmonizing
more nearly with their compilations. The
streets are narrow and crooked, as in all
Spanish towns, with one or two notable ex-
ceptions, the stores are dark and dirty, with |
an ndescribable odor from a combination of
garlic, with some one or more of a hundred |
smiling things But when you visit the |
clubs you find it cool and pleasant, with the |
daily papers and numerous illustrated ones |
OF other countries.
Very Considerate Boulder.
Suddenly you come upon a large rock,
weighing hundred of tons, surmounted by a |
green cross, and are told that in the near
past it came crashing down the mountain
side to stop at this point for no apparent
reason. A grateful public erected the cross
as an expression of thanks for not taking
the rest of the town in its path. OF course.
you wish to visit the bull ring and ascend
the hill to your right, enter rickety, open
building OF circular form.
The only place one NAV not visit is the |
fort on the top of the hill and commanding |
the harbor. Entrance to this is impossible, |
and one can only form an opinion of its use
fulness from outside appearances; and as
you see broken walls, with an old-iashioned
cannon protruding here and there, this de-
clslon must be lar from complimentary to
the Government Strange to saw, the ma
tives think this fort cannot be destroyed.
They also think that in case it were bonn
barded by any European power, the United
States would interfere. At the same time
their opinion of Americans at present is
sway below par.
Arms Carried by the Native Troops
The soldiers carry rifles of all descrip-
tions, from the old-tashioned musket to the
modern Lee magazine rife, but none are
without the "machela," long knife simi-
lar to one the butchers use, with which most
of the fighting is done.
Passing through the side streets you see
children up to the age of 10 clothed only in
q tnin covering of air, while those having
passed that age wear only what is indis-
pensable.
The harbor is protected by breakwater
OF about one-fourth of q mile in length. to
which steamers may moor Before the rev.
olution the port was verv busy-likewise |
the railroad-and as freight is charged for
ut the rate of 81 per ton to Caracas, one is
prepared to hear that dividend of per
cent per month is paid.