Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1897-10-14
TRIP ACROSS TIE PACIFIs''.
Staunton SPECTATOR:

NV former letter closed with our ar
rival in San Francisco Tuesday night.
Aug. 3rd. As our steamer was to sail
at p. M, on Thursday and have
various things to look after, we had
little time left for more than short
visit to Suteo Heights and Golden Gate
Park. Both of these are four or five
miles distant from the eastern and bust
ness part of the city, but may be reach
ed by single Sc fare on the cable line
and dummy cars. The cable cars car
ries you through that portion of the
city, where SO many of the millionaires
have erected their stately mansions.
But as we rode along. it was not the
beauty and grandeurs of the houses or
the view that attracted our attention,
so much as the profession and luxuri-
ance of the flowers with which every
yard even OF the humblest dwelling G
were adorned. To us of the East, ac-
customed to seeing fuchias grown as
pot flowers, it was amazing to see them
here with stems several inches in di-
ameter, and trained against the side
of the house like climbing roses, per
feet mass of flowers, and to be told that
they grow and bloom thus summer and
winter. Fish geraniums were growing
in the same way. Nasturtiums of all
shades of light colors grew everywhere
as did every other variety OF flowers.
Surely San Francisco is the flower
lovers paradise The latter past of
the Dummy line is cut in the cliff over
looking San Francisco Bay (which is
crescent in shape), and the Golden
Gate. Suteo Heights was formerly
barren bluff, but has now been turned
into veritable floral park and pleas
ure ground by Mr.. Suteo, one of the
cities wealthy men, and thrown open
to the use of the public. just below
Suteo Heights is ''cliff house" from
which you can get a near view of the
sea lions which sport themselves in the
sea just below or lie lazily on the little
rocky islands putting out of the water
There are two hundred or more of
these animals which as far as I could
make out, are a kind of coarse furred
seal. They keep constant barking
which could easily be taken for that of
dogs.
The Golden Gate Park is something
of which San Francisco may we'll be
proud. In addition to the beautiful
and we'll kept grounds, it has one of
the largest conservatories filled with
every kind OF rare and beautiful tropi
cal plants and flowers that have ever
seen.
One thing that was brought most
feelingly home to me was that there is
a decided difference between the tenn
perature of the East and the Pacific
slope. While kilograms told us how
you were sweltering with the heat, l
was there longing for my overcoat
which had thoughtlessly packed in
some boxes to go Ola the Sues canal.
The Klondyke gold fever seemed to
be at it height. On all sides you could
see notices, "Klondyke Outfits Fur
nished here" and eager purchasers
gazing at the displays in the windows
or hurrying in and out the stores.
We sailed Thursday at p. m, on the
Pacific Mail Companies steamer
"China." The ''China" is the best and
newest steamer they have on the line
she is 4e2 it. long. 40 ft. wide, and 40 it.
deep, % TT. of which is under water.
Her engines are 5000 horse power, and
use 80 tons of coal per day. Her great
est speed is 18 knots (about 20 miles)
per hour, but her average rate is from
IA to 16 knots per hour and for this,
she uses about 5000 horse power, to run
at the high speed she would use from
100 to Bottoms of coal per day. A map
of the Pacific Ocean hangs on the wall
with our course marked upon it, and
each day at 10 o'clock the run for the
last "a hours is put up, and our posi-
tion in the ocean marked.
Including table boys, servants. &C..
the ship carries crew Of 100. We have
about 900 Jap and Chinese passengers
in the steerage, and 100 cabin pas
sengers. The ship has three decks.
The steerage passengers have the use
OF the lower deck, the cabin passengers
that OF the second, while to the third
or upper deck, which that is generally
called the bridge. only the officers of
ship who are on duty are allowed.
The cabins are about 6 it long by 8
#. wide with berths % inches wide
and sophia "a inches wide, which may
also be used as a berth, in each. A
camp stool, wash stand fixed to the
wall, and a step ladder to reach the
upper berth constitute the furniture.
The berth and sophia are about IA
inches from the floor, leaving room for
small trunks and baggage to be put
under them. Large trunks are put in
the hole of the ship and access is al
lowed to them from time to time. The
cabins and saloons are nicely carpeted,
and all the woodwork beautifully fin.
ished and painted. Everything about
the steamer is kept scrupulously clean,
every morning the decks are scrubbed
with sand and have the hose turned on
them, the brass work is rubbed up and
the woodwork washed off. Bath rooms
are provided, and sea bath warmed
with steam may thus be taken when
ever desired. Every ship has It's doc
tor who gives his services and medi-
cine gratis. But seasickness is a ma
lady that none of them have, as vet.
found remedy for.
Fresh water for drinking, washing
and cooking must be carried along