The record-union., 1898-09-18
| -FOUR WEEKS JOuRNEYING.
TRIP FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO
SAN JOSE DE COSTA RIGA.
Word From a Sacramentan Who
Has Just Made the Journey
by Land and Sea.


by Land and Sea.
| Especial Correspondence Record-Union.)
SAN JOSE DE COSTA RIGA &C. Al,
| Sept. 2-Promptly at y o'clock noon,
June Goth, we left the harbor Of San
| Francisco for Central America on the
| Pacific Mail Steamship Company s
| steamer San Juan and after a cut off
| from the world for a period of seven
| days we arrived at Acapulco, Mexico,
! our first port. AS the steamer was to
remain for the day in order to take
| coal, we took boat and went ashore.
| The harbor is we'll sheltered, and ships
can anchor close in shore. 1t is pic
| turesquely situated, nesting at the
foot of a range of hills. To one from
| the north the scene is enchanting, the
shore lined with cocoanut palms, tow
ering over the quaint-loOking thatched
huts of the natives, and with a sandy
beach extending part way around the
| bay.
! The first object Of interest on enter
| ing the bay is an old fort, or castle,
| built by the Spaniards more than loo
| years ago. 1t is mounted by single
| gun Ol FTtHcH MAKE VI loo, NAiANAA
| overlooks the entrance of the harbor.
The fort is now used as garrison ana
prison. which is filled with prisoners,
and in filthy condition. We visited
| the place. and the "Commandante"
gave us the freedom of the fort. we
| also called at the American Consulate,
| and We're entertained by the Consul
wife, Mrs. Dickinson, Mr.. Dickinson
| being in San Francisco at the time.
| The principal places of interest are the
Plaza and the Cathedral. After
short stroll through the town we re-
| turned to the ship.
The following day after leaving
Acapulco, we experienced our first hot
day, in fact the hottest during our voy-
age. During the night in crossing the
| Gulf of Tehauntepec we encountered
severe storm, lasting about thirty
hours The storm had a depressing
! Cor uprising) effect, particular among
the ladies, only one liable seaman" be-
| ing left, as the Captain expressed 1t.
| Our next stopping place, Champerlco,
| Mexico, in common, with most OF those
| in Central America, is an open road
| stead, with a long pier running out from
| the shore, where we were held three
| days After a few hours steamlng
along the Guatemalan coast we reacheo
| the port Of San Jose de Guatemala.
| This is the port for the capital, Guate-
| mala City, eighty miles inland. Here
| we were held four days. Here, on the
| 4th of July we received our first war
news since leaving San Francisco, and
as it was all favorable to America, 1t
aroused great enthusiasm among the
Americans on board the steamer. The
Captain had his boat dressed with the
national colors in honor of the day; the
blowing of the whistle was the only
noise with which we could celebrate.
Acajutla, the first port of call in the
Republic of San Salvador and our next
point for stopping, is situated on a
bluff, from which an iron peer juts out.
This is the port of entry for the capital
of the Republic, San Salvador. Lighters
come alongside the ship at this port,
and passengers are lowered into them
in a chair Here we remained one day.
La Libertad, in the same Republic, is
our next port to top. 1t is situated on
level ground and has long iron pier
projecting into the sea. Behind the
red roofs of the houses shine the YER
dure-clad hills, and here we see plenty
Of tropical vegetation, bananas, cocoa
nut palms, and bread fruit. Here
lighters come out to land passengers,
baggage and freight. One day was
spent at this port.
Punta Arenas is situated on a narrow
point Of land overlooking the gulf of
Nicoya. Through it pass the greater
portion of all the imports and exports
of the country, and it is connected with
the capital by rail and cart roads. The
beaches slopes gently, and is covered
with dark sand, on which cOcoanut
palms flourish. The streets in the
town are laid out on the checker
board pattern, and shaded with lime,
orange and magnolia trees. The gar
dens on the streets abound in bananas,
almond trees, cocoanut, palms and
other tropical shrubbery.
AT ) o'clock in the afternoon we took
the train for Esparto fifteen miles in
land which is the end of the road.
The train consisted of engine, one pas
Senger coach and one fiat car, the lat
ter being used for freight, baggage and
second-class passengers. The scenery
along the line is beautiful beyond de-
ScriptiOn, the route being through
dense tropical forests, banana and
coffee plantations, crossing streams and
climbing mountain sides. About 4 half
hours ride from Punta Arenas we no.
ticed several fine-looking and we'll
dressed men step off the train, and
on inquiry found them to be 1Ger-
chants from Punta Arenas, who had
their homes here at this station, away
from the coast. The train is a go-as-
YOU please affair." StOpDing anywhere
or for anything. During our trip L
package of freight rolled off the car,
causing stop. On the return trip
the train leaves Esparto at 8 o'clock
in the morning, but should the con-
ductor oversleep he merely sets his
watch back. The people here have
reputation of being very honest which
fact was illustrated AS there are no
tickets sold at the different stations
along the line. the ticket agent goes
with the train to attend this duty. He
carries with him his cash box and tick
cts and as occasion reulliraS sells tiCk-