Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-01
Rare Chance for Bargains in Furniture

OF the train told me this and he also added
that he did not believe in lotteries.
During these two years, when representa-
t!ves OF the company were taking rides of
nine days each to the capital to overcome
the objections Of the new presidents who had
sprung into Office while these same repre-
sentatives had been making their return trip
10 the coast. others were seeking foothold
for the company in the United States The
need of this was obvious and imperative.
The necessity which had been forced upon
them OF holding the drawings out of this
country, and of giving up the old name and
trademark was serious enough, though it had
been partially overcome. 1t did not matter
Where they spun their Wheel but IL the COM
pany expected to live, there must be some
place where 1t could receive its mail and
distribute its tickets other than the hot
little Honduranian port, locked against all
comers by quarantine for six months Of the
year, and only to be reached during the other
six by mail that arrives once every eight
days.
The lottery could not entirely overcome
this difficulty, Of course, but through the
aid of the express companies Of this country
1t was able to effect a substitute and
through this cumbersome and expensive
method of transportation its managers en-
deavored to carry on the business which in
the days when the postofice helped them
had brought them in 10000 letters in twenty
four hours. They selected for their base Of
operations In the United States the port of
Tampa, in the state of Florida-that refuge
of prize fighters and home of unhappy En-
glishmen who have invested in the swamp
lands there, under the delusion that they
were buying town sites and orange planta-
tions, and which masquerades as winter
resort with thermometer that not infre-
quently falls below freezing. So Tampa be-
came their home, and though the legislature
Of that state proved incorruptible, so the
lottery people themselves tell me, there is
at least an understanding between them and
those in authority that the express company
is not to be disturbed and that no other
lottery is to have a footing in Florida for
many years to come.
IL Puerto Cortez proved interesting when
1t was only name on a theater program
you may understand to what Importance it
grew when it could not be found on the
map of any steamship company in New
York, and when no paper of that city ad-
vertised dates of sailing to that port.
finally discovered that there was a line run
ming from New York, and another from New
Orleans, the fastest steamer Of which latter
line. as learned afterward, was subsidized
by the lottery people. They use 1t every
month to take their representatives and
clerks to Puerto Cortez. when, after they
have held the monthly drawing, they steam
back again to New Orleans or Tampa, carry
ing with them the list of winning numbers
and the prizes
1t was in the boat of this latter line that
chored in the harbor Of Puerto Cortez.
The harbor is very large one and very
safe one. 1t is encircled by mountains on
the sea side and by almost impenetrable
swamps and jungles on the other. Close
around the waters Of the bay are punches
and rows OF the cocoanul palm, and a viii
lage of mud huts covered with thatch. There
Is also tin custom house, which includes
the railroad Office and a comandancia, and
this and the Jail or barracks of rotting white
washed boards and the half dozen houses of
one story belonging to consuls and shipping
agents, are the only other frame buildings
In the place, save one. That Is a large
mansion with broad verandas. painted in
colors. and set in carefully designed garden
Of rare plants and manaca palms. Two poles
are planted in the garden, one flying the
blue and white flag of Honduras, the other
with the stripes and stars Of the United
States. This Is the home of the exled lot
terry. 1t is the most pretentious building and
tho cleanest in the whole republic OF Hon
duras, from the Caribbean sea to the Pacific
slope.
Sitting on the wide porch OF the lottery
building was a dark-faced, distinguished
looking little man, creole apparently, with
white hair and white goatee. He rose and
bowed as l came up through the garden and
inquired Of him II he was the manager of
the lottery. Mr.. Barross, and II he could
give me food and shelter. The gentleman
answered that he was Mr.. Barross and that
he could and would do as l asked and ap-
pealed with hospitable warmth to a tall
handsome woman. with beautiful white hair,
to support him in his invitation. Mrs. Bar
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