The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1892-02-14
ABOUT MONTEVIDEO
Queer Scenes in the Capital of
Uruguay.
METHOD OF LANDING PASSENGERS

METHOD OF LANDING PASSENGERS
Least Known South American
Republics.
MoNTEvIDEo, URUGUAY, Feb l, 1892
Especial correspondence of THE SUNDAY |
HERALD. After our manifold and varied |
experiences in South American ports, we
hattered ourselves that nothing more re-
NAMED 10 &c learned in the line Of disagree
able methods of transit from ship to shore.
Those southern ports where vessels come
up to civilized pier and discharge their
passengers over q gang-plank are as rare
as angels visits. AS rule, anchor is cast
three or four miles from land; the ladder
like stairs are let down outside from the
upper deck, and shore-going people descend
so row boats that come dancing over the
pillows for that purpose Even that ex-
perlence is bad enough in the usual rough
seas, for one must spring off the stairs at
the precise il slant when the tiny beat is
tossed near. On the crest of wave; and
having successfully performed that feat, be
rowed through the surf, often wet to the
skin, or occasionally swamped, to be tished
out again-''a dem'd damp moist, unpleas-
ant body.n
AT ucatan we were carried to land on
the backs of men; at Guatemala Oh mules;
at Costa Rlca in wagons; at Mollendo,
Peru,
IN A BARREL;
and hundred times on rocky coasts
where the pillows are too boisterous
Tor ether means, we have been holsted up
and swung out by cranes, like cattle, seated
on platform or in rough box or tub
spun round and round in mid air as the
clumsy apparatus slowly performed its
Work-and finally dumped, with dull thud,
upon some waiting scow or raft or tender
we looked for no such trouble at Monte
Video, the rich and splendid capital of
prosperous Uruguay, which has SO often
peen described as the finest city in South
America. Judge, then of the utter demon
Aviation OF unprepared feminine nerves
when we found here the very worst method
OF Landing we had yet encounter ed, com
! Campeche and the barrel of Molendo are
blessings. Every body made an unusually
careful toilette On the morning that we
| were due In Montevideo, expecting to skip
dry snod, over gane-planK into the city,
and emerged smiling from mis- staieroom in
answer to the welcome summon Gan
ashoreW But to our establishment there
was neither dock nor pier in sight: the
succeed palaces Of the capital cleaned dim
IN the distance, and even the stair-iike lad
der renamed in statu quo, dashed up under
the life boats. What did it means
"ARE YOU READY, LADIES'"
said the ever-galant captain; and there
upon we were escorted 10 the enG of the
ship that looms up high above the water
whether IL be fore" or "aftr l am not
sailor enough to tell you. Away down be-
low screaming, tossing, rocking little tug
| advanced and receded, the plaything of the
| pillows; and straight down the steamers
side dangled ladder OF tarred ropes-made
fast ct the top, but swinging loose and end
ing of at nowhere far above the water
upon which we had often watched the
sailors ascending and descending like Carl
cature OF Jacobs angels, and marveled at
! their temerity. For moment nobody per-
ceived the connection between the steamer
the ladder and the tug-and then it daWned
upon us like o blow on the head We were
actually expected to Chamber over the deck
railing, climb hand under hand down those
swsying ropes to their stopping place, and
cling there above the briny deep till that
bobbng tug bobbed near enoueh-then
drop. and trust to Providence Though it
seemed that to walk pirates plank could
not be more narrowing, there was no help
for-nolhing to be done but mount the dech
rail and get outside on those horrible ropes.
with as little display CT hosiery as circum
in n hreo do,
say vain world, adieu," shut your ewes,
and cling for dear life while the ship
! luIches up and down as usual-till some
body shouts ''Drop!" Then you let 90. ex-
pecting 10 fail into fathoms of water. or
into the interior of shark, as Jonah was
gobbled-and presently
FIND YOURSELF AN UNIDENTIFIED HEAP
on the slippery deck of the little tug. Then
gather up your maDgled remains aud has
ten to hide your blushes-and probably
your tears, II not more strong-minded than
the average Woman-in the tiny box OF a
cabin, striving to repair damages and re-
gain something like composure, while your
comrades IN distress are undergoing the
same orr eHl. Of course, aged peorIe
children and lnvallds cannot be trusted 10
make his Al Serat descent for themselves,
and all such passengers are Just picked M
ana dropped overheard into soinebod Wis
outs:retcAed arms below. To be sure
There's many q slip tWiyt the Gun and
lip" and 1t sometimes bappens-when q
mlscalculatlon Is made or the tug hobs
away 100 soou-ihat an unfortunate WOW.
aRer gets duckiDg; but there are alWavs
plenty sailors at hand to hsh him out. and
we were cbeerfully assured that few have
beer drowned Sharksl We'll. yes il was
reluctantly admitted that there are sharks
IN these waters, and they have been known
! a~I,,C l.,
fore, one cannot be too careful about keen
ing out OF their way. When all the mas
sengers have been thus transferred. tho
luggage Is pitched in after them: Their
away YOU steam, packed like sardlnes ir
the sweitering, sea sicky, rocking little
tug, TIL 1t suddenly bumps up against the
iimpeUe'raole crush of small crafts OF every
escrlptlon-scows, RATS, bsrges, tenders
produce boats, pleasure yachts. tishine
yawIs-in solid phaanx quarter of miIe
deep, that continually line Montevideo'.
water front. There is
no GETTING THROUGH THE CRUSH.
nor around it, nor under it; so, perforce
you must go over it, on your own two legs
and trust your luggage to the waiting
swarm OF yelling, lighting cargadores
Picking your way from boat to boat with
nervous remembrance of sharks beneath
you may be compelled 10 make some alarm
ing leaps over watery chasms, or occasion-
, ally to walk oyer an imTrovised bridge o.
; oars laid across. Ard when at last Won,
trembling feet are safe on terra firna Vor
: are so utterly "unstrung" as TO be glad O.
the enforced delay in the custom house
where you must await the convenience q
petty officials to be searched as possihl,
smuggler, and are aeady to vow that yor
will end your days in Montevideo if get
ting out ls as difficult a matter as gettius