Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-28
AROUND CAPE HORN.
The Sailor Senator, Mr.. Perkins, Tells
Of Its Difficulties.
The Prospects Of the Passage Of the Nicaragua
Canal Bill.


There is no more interesting question be-
fore congress this winter than the Mica
ragua canal bill, and it appears to be the
one measure of Importance that has
chance OF passage through both houses.
Many senator's have made speeches on this
a bill, but only two have managed to throw
much light upon thesubject. These are
Senators Morgan OF Alabama and Perkins
of California The latter somewhat sur
priscd his colleagues with his practical
knowledge and sound sense. He had the
advantage Of having been a sailor insbis
youth--a sailor before the mast. He has
voyagcd to all parts Of the world, and, it
appears, has kept his eyes and ears open
all the time. The fine intelligence and
keen perceptions which enabled him to
rise from that humble position to wealth
and honors also prepared him for telling
the senate something which it did not
know about canal building and commerce.
Before the Mast.
Senator Morgan asked him the other
day II the passage round Cape Horn was
really as difficult and dangerous as it has
been represented, ana Mr.. Perkins said in
reply: Il have mado the voyage around
Cape Horn as n sailor before the mast.
When we were boys, we were inclined TO
think that small hilla We're mountains. As
we grow older we think, the mountains
have fallen away. After we reach the
Rocky mountains and Sierra Nevadas of
the west the White mountains of New
Hampshire seem very small, but let me as
sure you that when / was boy Of 16 the
waves off Cape Horn seemed mountain
HIGH and they have not decreased in size
from that day to this 1t is most dan
gerous and difficult passage. When the
prevailing winds from the southwest and
northwest meet vessel on her passage
from the Atlantic to the Pacific, 1t means
three weeks, perhaps six weeks or two
months, before she is able to round the
cape and point her Prov successfully to
the northward." "
After Mr.. Perkins had made this state
Inent on tho floor of the senate he was met
in the cloakroom by Senator PETER, who
wanted to know If the Californian had not
drawn the long bow little in his figures
about the possibility of delay at the Horn.
Mr.. Perkins smiled good naturedly at this
inquiry and replied: senator, / Will give
you u case in point. When was 16 years
old, shipped on the sailing vessel Golden
Gate from New York for San Francisco.
We had good passage down the Atlantic
and reached the cape rather ahead of our
expectations. There the weather appeared |
fair, and we had nearly rounded into the
Pacific and had just begun to congratulate |
ourselves OH a lucky trip when north
west gale came up very suddenly, as gales |
do come up in those waters, and almost be- |
fore we knew what had happened we had |
been beaten back into the Atlantic. For
III days we cruised about in the waters
OF the south Atlantic, vainly endeavoring |
to round the Horn. Again and again we
came near getting around, only to be beat
en- back once more by adverse winds. We
ran short of food and water and began to
think that we should be compelled to put I
in at some Atlantic port and confess our
voyage failure. But at length we got |
around tho dreaded Horn, though we had
to stop at Santiago for stores and water
on our way up to Frisco. This is an ex
treme case, l admit but it is precisely
what occurred to tho good ship Golden
Cato while was n sailor before her mast. "
An Important Matter.
Mr.. Perkins pointed out to tho senate Z
fact which surprised most Of his colleagues
on the floor, and which no doubt will sur
prise your readers. 1t is that the distance
from New York 20 the Pacific ocean by the
Nicaragua canal will be shorter by some
hundreds of miles than the distance from
New York to the Pacific ocean via rail
The distance by tho Southern Pacific rail
road is 3, 100 miles, by the Canadian Pa
cific railroad 3,6l9 miles, by the Central
Pacific railroad 3, $40 miles, by the North
crn Pacific railroad 8, 23T miles and by the
Nicaragua canal, an all water route, only
2.5l9 miles, or 80 miles shorter than by
the shortest rail route.
Postmaster General Bissell is very much
in earnest in his desire to reform that part
of the posta. service which admits Of im-
position upon the government in the mat
ter of second class postage. He is not only
drawing the law tightly against the adver-
tising publications and the sending of
books and novels and all sorts of odd
schemes through the mails at the pound
rate, but is preparing to shut down on
many of tho supplements which newspa-
pers have been sending out. a
Disrespect 4, a Speaker. ats
During the debate on the currency bill
in the house there was little incident
which escaped most observing eyes. Mr.
Springer, who is II ow closing up his career
of 20 years in the house, where he has been
a prominent mcnsoe and at one time am
bilious for the highest honor within the
gift of that body, WAS making his last inn
portant speech on tho floor 1t was sort
of farewell The topic was great one
Mr.. Springer's appearance had been well
advertised He was chairman of the com
mittco which had reported the administra-
tion bill and was to open the debate Ii
was expected there would be big crowd
and keen interest As a matter of fact
there was neither. On the contrary, dur
ing the delivery of Mr. Springor's speech
the house was in confusion Very lew
paid attention to the distinguished speak
er. Everywhere on the floor there was a
buzz of conversation. Two or three times
friends of Mr. Springer appealed for order.
but the chairman had no sooner checked
the noise ana elatter than it broke out
again as loud as before. Mr.. Springer as
a veteran of the house is accustomed to
this, but not SO with Mrs. Springer, who
sat in the gallery watching Mr. Springer
with fond eye Between her and her
husband there exists most tender attach
ment She has been ambitious for him be-
4