New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-01-18
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
THE PERRY LAND GRANT.
CORRECTING SOME NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. DUE TO |
TIMID TRAVELLERS

IN c r. 10 y G ri q u
sir: The Tribune OF January 10 printed q dispatch
which stated that party OF colonistS who went from
New lIampshire about two months ago to settle on the
Perry Land Grant in the Republic OF Honduras had
returned to their homes, and telling sad tales of
deception hardships, sickness and death The dis
match says they unable to land as the coast
Of the Perry Grant exceedingly rough, and there
was always tremendous surf. The party finally
effected landing mt II place called Burchards Con-
cession, il further asserted that they found the
climate boiling hot. There nothing like fruit
vegetables growing there The land which could he
so easily cleared almost impenetrabc jungle.
The fish sharks and alliga;ors, and the game
was q razor-back wild hog which was sen only oc
caSOnaly. To add to the rest, malarial fever struck
several OF the party, and one died. The party was
provided with plenty of provisions. which had been
brought along, and there danger of starving"
The dispatch adds that &" Efforts made TO find
Perry. the prime mover of the colony. His New
orleans Office closed and it was said lie was IN
Europe"
II may be as well to frankly admit at the outset
that there be no doubt that part of the above
statements are true but, usual in such cases some
errors have crcpt into the accounts. The first ~
these is that the party could not land at tn entrance
NJ the Flo Patuca on the Perry Grant. The steamer
s. Oeri, carrying them. anchored November % oil
the village of Patuca and lay there wentysX hours
During that time our boats made several trips DC
tween ship and shore without difficulty, TO encourage
made without discomfort or danger. AT that tlmc
a steamer lay there loading mahogany. Her officers
declared that thy very much pleased by inc
case and safety with which they had taken the ioss
aboard. \ letter written there by young man 10
his mother. the day after the Manchester party ~
FMS d 10 land SAYS: This morning Albert went
aboard tho English steamer loading mahogany rs IN
ytcd last night TO do and had very pleasant ana
social time lie was not in The least seaslck anu
eniovcd breakfast aboard. lie tells me tat inc chlei
subject of discussion during tn meal was inc io'9
NJ the party which came here ana EuIcd 10 I'''"
As look ont of my door down the river ana ont 10
90, can lust barely discern the bar, upon VINO"
tbero arc no breal1rs and the ga beyond looks as
smooth as the river ITSELF lie adds OF the oriceTS
Of the steamer: They do net understand WHY '"S
bar or place should be In Ill reput, anu
again. OF the weather he wrote: Inc hs'
two or three days have been simply perfect h,uc
warm outside but exactly right In the house; MOI
aron Of rain clear sky with few white. hcccy clouds
floating about a gentle breeze blowing ana everything
simply comfortable ard delShtini' 30 much iof uie
weather Mt Patsca at the very time the coohSN Ne'c
,bo md for the assertion that they could not land
The statement that the coast OF the Perry GRANT Is
rough and that there is always tremendous SUR .e.o
NOV no called an error There is on the whole OF inc
o2 miles OF sea coast belonging TO the Perry Grant ot
one fixed rock. nor boulder larger th'h i''"
head a Carib girl Of ten years VIII oeach heT sHeii
~ canoe at any spot on that sandy beach three DAYS
# n
are on that bit of coast four rivers having entrances
from six 10 eight feet depth. Every ono OF these
rivers has long been used rs hnrocr' III I"'' '''
are the best harbors the north coast OF iionui''
executing Omoa and Puerto CoFtes. WITHIN '.''F
minutes after leaving the ship the party c0uid nave
been landed on a sandy prairie miles IN extent "rH'
onen and sunny In half an hour more they coud nave
stunned from the boats managed by Indians Skilled III
handling such craft on the bank of the fa'uci "nerc
they would have been lodged in new clean ho"S' III
which are sleeping accommodations ior lorN Peopo'
and welcomed ny men and women who have lvea there
r rronths-sornc % them for years There they
vould have had at their command other houses winch
are at least dry, connections and fairly cohou'pe'
In two days moro they could have pitched their camp
on high dry, rolling prair1es among scattered Ions
ead pines within few rods OF groves "hefe oranges,
lemons lines and manages grow ara cocoanu's anu
other fruits are These praires are swept every DAY
nv the sea breezes and Of necessity free from us
ease.
Instead of doing this the party allowed themselves
N be led to the alleged grant OF United states Nos"
prrcbard seventy Eve miles from Patuca. There they
vent ashore at the little Calib settlement OF irona'
n souats on a fiat and steaming beach among the
forest trees in the edge of the dense jungle &C
s,ribed by the dispatch. 1t is shut In between tne
near mountains and the sea They drank the s''sni"'
waters from Sangrelays Creek, sluggish stream nav
,re some three feet OF water at It's mouth INC
,cbborne mountains often are hidden by rain clods
ond to-rens pour down ON I1oDa at times when not
drop falls on the plains Of the Percy Grant, Sky mics
away Little wonder that the party sickehed III u"
cleaning exhaations Of that place. one OF thelr mum
Ter lovable little girl died after the prayers OIL HeT
thor and another Christian Scientist had failed to
,,a her Her death is tie saddest Of the experiences
of the party.
II &c not quito clear TO me that am responsible for
,he fact that pretty little Nora died nor FOR inc ac ~
her mother and her mothers friend refused peremptrN
10 permit the giving Of remedies to the sick child 10y
either OF the competent and reputable physicians VINO
wer, there Nor can see how can be justly hed
responsible for the refusal of the men Of that party 70
Weld to the tears and entreates Oh the "onloh anu
land at Patuca.
II is but fair TO those men, however TO say that 'cy
were for weeks under the influence Of an agent VI
Consul Burclard an agent who was at the same uHe
drawing pay from and pretending to serve me 1hey
were unacquainted with the country they were so''o
TO- and were led by offers Of land and liberal promises
Of what would be done for them BY Consul Burch'lu
company to refuse TO 90 ashore on land theE n'"i
travelled 1000 miles expressly TO ser. III s'e'"s
scarcely credible that men Of ordinary discretion cOu
be 50 easily deceived IL Is remarkable tt 'hcS
could have been induced to go away without spehoH"s
at least half hour in g!ancing at the place. hut
they msed and are therefore responsive ioi
the suffering endured By the women, and Tor inc
The animus OF ali the bitter attacks made the
Perry Grant which have lately appeared in the ne"
papers is known u few Ii comes from the TACT tiat
English Italian, French and other European merchants
have for generations enjoyed all tn revenues from inc
apartment Of Mosqula IN which the Ferry Grant les
They have also monopoly 81 the rich rui; trade Of the
whole north coast OF Honduras. and made and are
making enormous gains from that business. II i n0t
unnatural that they should object u the coming OF
Americans TO wIeS from them large n part Of the
best and rt productive lands OF the republic j.
II surprising that they should fear the incoming OF
American >kn. Intelligence and energy for they know
well that that will De soon followed by lOOsening Of
their hold The country they have long held pos
session Of; but II does seem strange that Intelligent
Americans shOuld have been easily led iulO
operating with those who are moved by such motives
T.. W. FERRY.
Hotel Normandlc, New York, Jan. II, ST..