The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-23
INFERIOR SERVICE.
MIR. Laflin Contrasts That on the
Atlantic and the Pacific.

80 A-e>'iii' Will 0SlS li1ctL Oil tilO
Atlantic and the Pacific.
Early in the spring H. FL. Latin of st.
Louis, who is at the head of the branch in
that city of the Latin & Rand Powder
Company of New York, contracted with
the Pacific Mail Company for sea trip
from New York to San Francisco by way
OF the isthmus. He had made the same
trip twenty-four years ago, when he was
In the heyday of youth, and enjoyed it,
SO ne anticipated pleasant voyage for his
wife and family of seven at cost of 1910
net
The moon of February had not waned
before Mr.. Latin wrote for his ticket, which
he received in the latter part of March
This gave him a chance to secure good
rooms, which he did, selecting four of them
on the main deck of the City of Sydney.
1t was all planned nicely that he should
go to Colon from New York on the steamer
Newport, and from Panama to San Fran
cisco on the Sydney, and the plans did not
mlscarry, yet Mr.. Latin discovered much
reason for complaint He told story very
similar to that of Mr.. Eugelhardt concern
ing the poor fare and general bad treat
ment or the passengers. Said he:
1t was all right on the Newport-could not
have been tner-but on the Sydney il was
before
The steamer was actually filthy The towels
were not changed more than once in four days
some OF the passengers say theirs was not
changed at all-and there were not enough
bedclothes. And such bedclothes! What there
were of them were not fit to be slept in by per
sons accustomed to anything like decency and
cleanliness.
Now, thought when put 1910 into this trip
would surely receive first-class treatment,
ana expected at least to get something good TO
eat, II cost me $25 more for tips on the trip
up from Panama and yet we did not get any
thing like proper treatment. If we had not
tipped porters, walters and about everybody
VINO was supposed TO do anything in the way
OF attendance do not know how miseraby we
might have Jared
Why, there was an English artist aboard,
named Cheshire, who was dying of consump-
ton, yet there was nothing done for him until
the passengers finally insisted upon it, l paid
for four bottles of boiled milk for him. One
bottle he received, the second was spoiled by
never appeared
We could not get drop of ice water for the
ladies on the entire trip, though the heat was
excessive. Ii there was any ice aboard | do
not know what they did with ii.
You would suppose the cabins would be
carpeted, but all there was to some cabins was
miserable little strip.
The purSer and some of the other officers
seemed to have particular penchant for try
Ing to hirt with the ladies' One fellow Icaught
ter. l would have liked an opportunity to put
bullet into him.
Evidently the champagne on board was for
the especial benefit OF this officer, who tried
his best to have my daughter drink with him.
Now, If there is any champagne to be bought
for my family, am abundantly able to do that
myself can buy all they want of it.
If there had been more Americans or English
speaking passengers the steamer we would
have formulated vigorous complaint and
signed 1t, but as it was the Central American
natives were in the majority and what could
we do?
heard that the steamer was purposely de-
layed. She left Panama on time and was sup
posed to be due at this City several days ago
yet we were kept twenty-four days on the trip
She stopped two days at Libertad, two days at
Acalutla, three days at San Jose and two days
at Champerico. These delays were Just killing
poor Cheshire. The fact of the matter is that
the company was trying to get all the passen-
gers and freight il could and did not care VINO
suffered Twenty-four days from Panama to
San Francisco is q shame.
Mr.. Latin is enjoying vacation for a
year or two and proposes to spend consid-
cradle of it in Southern California. He
will look around San Diego for good
ranch TO purchase. His paternal grand
father commenced the powder firm now
known as the Latin & Rand Company in
New York in 1905. Mr.. Latin succeeded
his father in the management of the ST.
Louis house few years ago.