Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-06-19
TWO IRON YAWLS
Manufactured in This City for Use on the
NIardalina River, south america.

MaCdalina River, south
At a manufacturing concern on the
wharf. this city, there is an eighteen 1901
yawl fabricated almost entirely OF iron'
there being just the merest skeleton COM
posed of wood. This boat, with cuph-
cate. is destined for use on the Magdalena
river. in the United States of Columbia
South America. The climate is so de-
structive to our wood that it is necessary
TO cover what little is used with angles
and bars.
The Magdalena rises in the Andes and
debouches into the Caribbean sea, whilst
on the thither side tributaries of the All
AEON find their channel to the Atlantic.
The Orinoco also drains this region
through the territory of Uncle Sans pro-
tege in the late controversy Uenezuola0
The two yawls mentioned are designed for
the Helmer Enrique, now approaching
completion at Pittsburg. This steamer
will be taken in sections TO Columbia via
New York Steamboating in the country
whittier the Enrique is bound is attended
with experiences novel in the extreme
Here is realized what would elsewhere
seem a fancifu dream of a poetic imagin-
alton. for for great lengths of time in the
lagoons that abound the boat will force
its way through what to the eye seems a
garden of beautiful flowers. and such 1t is,
an Aquatic garden. the water being hid
den by countless multitudes of lines. So
spontaneously exuberated is the vegeta-
ton, so dense the growth the progress Of
the boat is impeded both by the flow of
flowers and their becoming entwined in
the wheel, so that it is necessary to cut
loose from the incumbrance, and for this
a long knife, the machete (noted in Cuban
warfare). is used. the men working on
flowery beds (but not Of easel, they being
capable of sustaining the weight At high
water these break their moorings and be-
come huge floating floral islands.
This is quite interesting from a senti-
mental point OF view but In practical life
helps to carry out the fiat declared against
Adam and Adams race: Thou shalt earn
thy bread" ct cetera.
On the sea coast is the city of Carta-
gena an ancient Spanish stronghold
walled round about with compact mason
ry seventy feet in breadth at the base and
quite forty feet in height. being of suf-
Built in primitive American times as a
defense against the predaceous sea rovers,
the upper portion is constructed of cut
stone with a rounded cope. every precau-
ton being taken to Illustrate attempts at
scaling. Originally there were two en-
frances from the sea, but the larger for
strategic reasons was rendered impossible
by sunken hulks ladened with stone. The
smaller is narrow and fourteen miles be-
low the city.
The people are divided socially irto
casts. four in number. first the pure ur-
amalsamated whites. then an inferior class
that tolerate some degree Of off color. as
there misccGenotion Is more the rule, and
finally the n't-care-a-continenta for
anything at the foot OF the scale OF re-
spectab;lity.
Every Saturday Is carnival time and
there is dance at night the heat being
too intense during the day The dispenser
OF the most liberal cup that cheers secures
The crowd AID neither Bacchus nor Terp-
sichore lack devotees. \ peculiar custom
of the girls is to secure probably half
dozen lighted candles aud wrapping them
together at the bottom hold them in their
c,ards with the melted grease running
down to their elbows When nearly ex-
hausted they and their escorts refresh
themselves with rum and other native
drinks of like gentle character. Here also
will be seen children of both sexes ar
rayed in the simplicity of nature alone
The country is rich in minerals. soil and
possibilities for the enterpris:ng.