The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1897-02-25

OF mile into the sea. A tramway runs
from the town, connecting it's monster
warehouses with the seward end of this
pier, and cars laden with coffee, sugar
and other products of the country are
showed out by poems, or drawn by
mules. The freight is piled upon the
pier until the steamers arrive. when
it is carried out to them by the
lighters, rowed by naked boatmen. The
cargo is hoisted or lowered by means of a
huge iron crane and derrick, operated by
small steam engine. Bags and boxes
are thown into nets OF strong cordage,
holding two Or three tons, which are
jerked up into the air by the derrick,
swung around to be cleared of the pier,
and then dropped into the lighter. When
passengers arrive by the steamer thew
come with the freight to the pier on the
lighter, which rises and sinks with the
heavy swells in manner warranted to
''knock the bottom OUT of anybody's
stomach. One may have come all the
way from Europe to La Libertad around
the dreaded Horn without qualm of sea-
sickness, but is certain to succumb to it
here by the rocking of the lighter, as it
rubs and pounds against the iron tres
ties, while he is waiting his turn to
land. The officers of the vessels. accus-
toned to the motion, spring from the
OF wv a Ia of bp IN tba Jc ,f
ladder that hangs down the side of the
mole, and climb thence as the boatmen
do; but land-lubber ladies aud gentlemen,
unframed to Chamber like monkeys about
the rigging of snip, are treated to a Sc
ries of alarming sensations.
Finally, after everything else is disposed
of, it is the passengers turn for consdera-
ton. An iron cage, capable of holding
six persons, is lowered to the lighter and
you are invited to step in. By that time
you are more dead than alive with NAL de
naeT and quite willing to be dumped into
the sea and done with it. Probably you
are utterly unable to stand upon your feet
for the rolling and lurching of the lighter,
to say nothing of the violence with which
you are ''casting- up accounts and some
compassionate boatman picks you up like
bundle of goods, dumps you in the cage
and shuts the door, which locks on the
outside. When, at a signal to the engi-
neer above, there is sudden, startling
jerk; you shut your eyes, cling to the bars
of the cage and think s'van world :Lieu'7
as you are hoisted high up in the frail con
Germ over the sea that dashes below with
noise like thunder, swung round and
round for minute or two-then dropped
with thump on the pier The door is
opened, somebody pulls you out, trem-
bling like a frightened mouse escaped
from trap, and register an unuttered
VOW that whatever happens you will never
again land at La Libertad. But this feel
ing leaves you presently, when you are
safe on solid ground and have been assur-
ed, as people always are here that thous-
ADDS have landed and embarked in the
same manner and nobody has ever had a
broken bone or received a bruiae and per-
maps, as misery loves company, you enjoy
hearty laugh at the fellow passengers
who have to come up in the same manner,
as sick and scared as you were. Really,
though this cage and derrick transit is so
unpleasant, it is safer than the usual
method elsewhere on these shores of rid
ing the slrf IN a canoe, or even than our
way of scrambling up a crowded sangway
from the dock to the deck of vessel.
Live cattle aIe hoisted and lowered by the
horns, lasso being thrown, one end of
which is attached to the derrick, and the
animal finds himself suddenly ,ierked into
the air and hangs kicking and struggling
until his feet touch the bottom of the
lighter, when he shakes himself to see if
he is still alive. 1t is a wicked way to
treat a beast, but under the circumstances
there seems to be no other method. Some
times, when the rope is carelessly adjust
ed and the animal is young and heavy. his
horns are torn out by the roots and he
falls 60 or 70 feet into the lighter, break.
ing his back or his legs. Then one of the
boatmen, drawing knife from his belt,
sewers the jugular vein and hangs the poor
creatures head over the side of the boat
to let it's life blood run into the sea- And
then the crew has fresh meat for dinner
for several days to come. Horses are lift
ed and lowered with greater care, by
means of a strong harness made of wide
leathern bands, with an iron ring in the
saddle to which rope end is hooked
For those that like that sort of amuse-
ment it is funny enough to see horse
spread out his legs like spider when
spinning in mid air, and his dazed
look of blank amazement when drop
ped on his feet, which plainly says,
''where am l at?' The government
charges each passenger % cts, for land
ing at this pier, including the ascent in
the cage, and packages of ordinary size
are charged so cents apiece. This tax
from the three ports of the country nets
abOut $40 000 a month With If tho ROW