The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-08-03
TO SOUTH AMERICA.
SIGHTS AND SCENES ON THE
TRIP FROM NEW YORK.

Fare in.the City of Panama Out Upon
the Pacific-Home at Last.
We have been in Guayaquil ten days,
and tomorrow ia mail goes out which l'E
will get this letter on, | had an oppor-
tunity to send letter day or so after
getting here. but there were so many new |
things to attend to that l did not have
time to collect my thoughts,
Our trip from New York to Colon was
an interesting one. Going out of New
York harDOr, we saw the statue of Liber-
ty on Bedford island, the fort, and other
places of note. Then from the first day
until about the fourth, we saw no land.
During those days, the party had spells
of seasickness, except my boy who was
very well during the entire trip. While
the sea was somewhat rough it was less
so than expected, and enjoyed 1t very
much. As we went south, itgrew warm /
er, and was quite hot when we reached
Panama. About the end Of the fourth
day we saw Cuba, and we also saw the
little island of San Salvador, where Col
umbus first landed. Then we passed
Bird Rock, Fortune, and Hayti islands.
The mountains of Hayti were in sight for
a long time. The Caribbean sea was rough
until we entered the sharbOr Of Colon.
This is little French settlement, and as
we came up to the wharf early in the
morning, the view was beautiful. There
were the red tile roofs and long varandas
and the tall palm and banana trees we
have read so much about. AS we drew
near the wharf, we saw crowd of people
of a good many types. There were the
natives of different shades of brown and
different degrees of intelligence, and
some relocated soldiers of the Columbian
government. American citizens and
Englishmen in white duck suits, white
shoes and caps.
The Panama railway runs right Ip to
the wharf, and we got right into the train
for the 47-mile ride across the isthmus.
The ride is an extremely novel one, as
you see a great deal Of trOpicalyegetation
and the wrecks Of millions Of dollars
worth Of rdsted machinery that De Les
seps used and had brought from France
for the canal. | can give you no idea of
the amount Of this machinery strewn
all along the way, nor of the number of
good houses now vacant, with the CORFU
gated iron roofs, all the material of which
was brought from France. These were
built for the wOrkmen, many of whom
died before they bad received their first
months wages. We arrived in the city
of Panama, place of perhaps 10000,
about noon. While it is very old
Spanish settlement, and the buildings
very old aid picturesque-lOOking, yet
there are some effects of American ways,
and you can buy most anything in the
line of dry goods cheaper there than in
the States.
We had two and half days to wait,
and stopped at the American Exchange
Hotel, the only one in the town where
they speak English. They served very
nice meals but not in way to which we
are accustomed. At about Z in the morn
ing, we have cafe, which consists of
cup Of fine coffee and some rolls. Then
breakfast at about IL, at which we have
several courses of meat and vegetables
Dinner is served at six. We have fOunt
it wise to adopt their customs, only w
make the midday meal the heaviest ant
take less at night. The coffee, strong
and in its pure state, is unlike that>t'
which we are accustomed. Two tea
spOOnfulls Of very strong coffee is put IL
a small cup which is filled up with no
milk and sugar added.
Tue trip from Panama down to EQua
dor was much pleasanter than the other
the weather.kept getting cooler all tn
way and we were none Of us sick. Quit
common sights were the schools Of pOr
pOises and flying fish. We passed a goo
many small islands going out OfIPanams
The boat was an English one, the Arigui
pa, and the officers were all very kind I
us. They had five engineers, the CHIEF
J a Mr.. Campbell, friend Of my:husband
took pains tOmake US have a pleasan
trip. He took pictures Of the childre
of our party, gave them Gillian raislnf
oranges, olives, and other sweets. Tn
river on which Guayaquil is situated
about 60 miles long, and as we entere
the river and saw the tropical trees an
little farm places on either shore, we b.
J. gan to realize that we were getting nea
our destination. We had to anchor out |
. the river near Guayaquil while the sma
# boats brought out the custom house of
cials and the captain Of the port. The
came out with the EcquadOrian colo
/ flying and dressed in uniform, and pas
= engers are not allowed to get off the boz
- until this visit is made.~
While we were waiting we could di
tinguish three figures on the wharf whit
we recognized as Will, Mr.. s. al
!" Mr.. C and as soon as the Office
went back, they got two small boats al
rou,od ont oPtar no and our haOOa0a. III