Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-08-06
STEAMER "DUNSTAN.'
CEARA, BRAZIL, S. A.
June %. 1896.

FRIEND ED: | have often thought
OF writing to you during the last six
months, but somehow have never
started. One reason of not writing is
that | have not been where | could
have received letters from you and, be-
ing selfish, said to myself: "What is the
use of writing when [ cannot get an
sWers?"
Well, Ed, have been very unfortu-
nate since | wrote to you from Mel
bourne. Have been shipWrecked twice
and made very improbable year of it.
| shipped in an American bark lust
after | wrote to you. We were bound
for New Castle, n. s. W., and from
there to San Francisco via Honolulu
When we were out from New Castle
two weeks we got in gale and, the
bark being old and loaded deep with
coal, sprung aleak. We could not keep
her at1Oat SO abandoned her. We were
in an open boat eight days when we
were picked up by an English bark
bound from Valparaiso, Chill, to New
Castle. AS we were towing in, the tow
rope parted and we went ashore. The
bark was totally wrecked, but no one
was lost. Well [ was ashore few days
when | shipped in another American
bark bound for TruXillo, Peru. She
was an old rattle-trap, but after seventy
nine days passage reached port. While
there the 2nd officer had row with
some of the men and stabbed one of
them five times. They were all taken
ashore and put in Jail, but after three
days were brought aboard. The 2nd
mate got clear by paying the sailors
doctor expenses. l was paid off in
April and came TO New York via Sala-
varry and Payta, Peru, Guayaquil, Ec-
Quador, Panama and Colon Was in
Panama five days. There were four
American Man Of Warsmen. Got on
the steamer at Payta, so that l had
company all the way. We had great
time at Panama, visited all points Of in
terest. The day before the steamer
sailed from Colon we went across the
isthmus by rail. | had always wanted
to see the Panama canal. The train
runs along the canal all the way across.
There is no work being done now. All
the machinery is going to ruin. | sup
pose we passed 200 locomotives and a
great number of cars, dredges, etc.
Some of them are housed, but very few.
believe there was e26 900, 900 spent on
the canal, most of which went into
sharpers' pockets. We were two hours
on the train. On arrival at Colon we
NChb CtDOdIu TIC SlGdiuCI NuICL, DN IuG
way, was the "Alliancia," the vessel
that was chased by the Spanish man-of-
war about year ago, and after getting
our hunks, etc, had look around the
town, that is, what was the town, as it
had been nearly all burned down a few
days before. There was not much to
see, only few statues-One of Column
bus and another Of AspinWall, also De-
Lessep'S house and a few COcOanut
groves. While there one Of the sailors
and myself attended a service in an
EOp's church. There were only three
white persons beside US in the church.
the rest were all negroes. From Colon
we went directly to New York, and on
the way sighted HaYti, Cuba and San
Salvador. [ was seven days on the
steamer so you may imagine how
pleased ! was to reach New Y Ork again
While there | had news Of the deaths
Of Mr.. and Mrs. Jackson. Was only
two days ashore when l shipped in this
steamer. | have got a pretty good
thing as chief steward, have charge of
bar, etc, and get 15 per cent of sales.
We generally run between Liverpool
and Brazil, via Hamburg, Havre, Lis
bond, Para, Manons, Maranham, Ceara,
New Orleans and New York, and some
times call at Barbados. Do not know
where we 90 to from here. Will not
send this until I do. The ship is only
four months old, has electric lights,
steam heaters, etc. Have no idea how
long [ shall stay in her.
Have not heard anything about Grand
Rapids since l left except what you
wrote, August, 1895. May take flying
trip out there next summer.
Address next letter to Pensacola,
Florida. Write at once or not at all as
it will not reach me otherwise.
Yours truly,
Lutte NJ. kITBALL.