The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1897-01-21
FROM CENTRAL AMERICA,
Interesting Letter From MIR. David
CASTILLO Loughlin-Scenes and Incl.
dents of His Travels in that Part of
the Globe

dents of His Travels in that Part of
the Globe.
SAN JOSE, COSTA Rico {. A,
January 9th, 1897.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF:-Thinking
possibly that letter from a Hender-
son man travelling in this part of the
world would be of interest to your read
ers, prompts me to write this. NV
wife and /, along with my groom John
Hargan) sailed from New York City
Nov. Goth, on the steamship Silria,
which also contained the complete
Donovan's American Circus, bound
for Port Limon, Costa Rico. Central
America.
After a pleasant voyage of seven
days we reached Kingston, Jamaica,
British West Indies. Before arriving
at Kingston we were in sight of the
Island of Cuba about nine hours. All
that We could see was mountainous
and one small town at the foot hills.
We passed Spanish man-of-war cruis-
ing near the coast Of Cuba. We eX-
changed signals and were not molestcd
or stopped. After that we sighted the
Fortune Islands, then Hayti. On the
morning Of the seventh day we came
into the harbor of Kingston. We an
chored for an hour at Port Royal to
take on a pilot and pass quarantine in
spection. The doctor, who was an old
fellow, came out in his boat manned
by six blacks, and boarded our ship,
his crew remaining in his boat to take
him ashore again. The examination
was queer feature. The captain and
crew, forming into line, marched past
the old doctor who nodded his head to
each man as they passed him. Then
the passengers all had to do the same
thing, ladies, children and all. 1t was
fun for us and we had good laugh
over it. The old doctor babe us good
bye and we steamed on into Kingston
harbor, up to the dock. 1t was
beautiful sight, the day like June
day at home; the scenery something
grand, the cocoanut and banana trees
lining the shore and grand mountains
back of them-it was beautiful.
Then when we got to the dock you
should have seen the hustle and confu-
sion, the hotel runners all anxious to
secure patrons for their respective
houses, and the queer dialect they
speak-they call it English, but at first
one cannot understand what they say,
yet after hearing it while you drift
into what they mean. Then the steve
dores and longshoremen, all blacks,
came to unload the cargo. Having
large cargo Of corn and provisions to
be unloaded there it took them all day
Sunday, the ulost of Sunday night and
all day Monday. So we did not leave
Kingston until a. m. Tuesday.
The weather became very warm
there aud all of us had to change to
summer clothes of the lightest kind.
What a difference from New York! as
it was cold and rainy when we left, and
then to strike August weather SO sud-
denly. We reached Port Limon, Cos
ii Rico, Central America, about 2 Z.
NJ. on the 10th, and anchored off the
town waiting for a pilot, the quaran-
tine surgeon and room to pass into the
one dock, as it only has room for two
ships and there were two there taking
on a cargo ofbananas for the United
States.
The passengers after passing The
quarantine and Custom House inspec-
ton. went ashore in row boats and
sought the hotel. 1t is called the
Grand Hotel, but it is anything but
grand. The service is bad, in fact,
vile, and the feature is in their charges,
that is truly grand-S3. 90 per day-and
mosquitoes are SO bad that there was no
sleep for any of US the first two or
three nights. Then, only after briblng
tue servant, we kindly got the loan of
a netting, full of holes, but which we
very industriously proceeded to repair
so that after it was up we managed to
sleep some.
The ship came into the dock on Fri
day morning and unloaoded the show
property. The horses had to be un-
loaded in sings hoisted up then swung
over to the dock and lowered. 1t was
a ticklish process, but much the safest
way to land stock where they have NO
run or gangway for that purpose. They
were all safely landed. We had six
head to unload, three Of them belong
ing to myself and wife and three to
Bob Stickney and wife. The horses
were as glad to get on shore as we
were and they showed it when they
were being led away. The show was
erected and the first performance given
Dec. 18th, also showed again at night
to big business. The entire outfit
being perfectly new, put up in Llmon
for the first time, must say it is the
| finest outfit | have ever seen.
After staying at Port Limon unit
the oath we came on up to San Jose.
We were held in Limon longer thar
we should have been on account Of
wash-outs and land-slides on the rail
road Zero carrilD. This is beautiful
city, delightful climate and very hos
pitable people. The population is
about $4,000. They have uniformed
police, electric lights, letter boxes aud
four or five daily and weekly papers
two or three banks, two different tele
graph companies, and telephone service
iii OtCI GOWu Iuu W oCSCldt llCai-b "
towns. The streets are clean and WEI!
kept, clear water running through the
cutters all the time, with plenty o
drinking fountains for man and beas
all over the city and good water too
it being cool and clear as crystal.
The show has eight arc lights in ad
dition to the regular circus lights an
has a telephone at the front door s.
that the people can engage their re
served seats in advance.
In leaving Port Limon the rallroa
runs through banana plantations 70
about 50 miles; then it starts up tn
mountain. 1t is the finest scenery
have ever seen. so Wild and yet :
tropical, ab6undiDy in beautiful river
and streams and waterfalls. In pass
ing through some woods | saw nun
bers of wild monkeys, but not as man
as have seen in some parts OF Guate
mala along the railroad. They ar
! ~