West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-06-23
A SOJOURH N
Spanish america.
BY JAxES ]. PETERSON, OF TIE
CHARLESTON NAIL TRIBUNE,
LATE UNITED STATES CONSUL AT
TEGUCIGALPA. IN THE RE.
PUBLIC OF HONDURAS

sion Of the State Editorial Asso.
citation at Morgantown.l
To the average citizen OF the
United States, the geography. his
tory and polit;cil status OF Central
and South America are much less
familiar than that OF any part of
the world. The various republics
of that part Of the western cont.
DeDt are regarded us small spots
on the map, and their importance
as component parts OF the great
sisicrbood of governments is as
much minimized 40 are their sizes
and distances, both in relation to
enc another and to this great re-
pubic of ours.
These facts were brought close to
me some years ago, when chance
(and the grace Of being q good Re-
publlcsn) gave me the opportunity
OF visiting Central America and of
learning byfexperlence and observa-
ton the peculiarites of a peculiar
and To me almost unknown people.
1t was on he both day Of August,
1890. late in the evening, that |
met Prof. Tom Hodges on the
streets OF Huntington, and was
requested by him "to wait mo
ment until he could go to the post
Office. and he (Hodges) would
honor me (the writeD with his dig
nitied presence while eur ways lay
together" | waited for him, and
while he was examining some let
tiers, causuully glanced over q
copy of the Wheeling Sunday
Register, aud to my surprise /
found a news item to the effect
that James j. Peterson, of West
Virgins. had been appointed by
the Presldent, United States Consul
At Tegucigalpa," and that was all
the information impaired.
read the item and laid it be.
fore Hodges, at the same time say.
ing TO him "Tom, where is that
place r' After studying the
photography of the word for few
seconds, he an3wered "Indeed,
10 not Know it must be in Mexico,
judging from the name"
This illustrates the first para
graph of this paper. There we
were-l thinking myself fairly
smart" and knowing Hodges to
be Every smart !" and neither of
US knowing the name or location
of one OF the capitals of the western
continent, never having even heard
OF the place TO our knowledge. We
were compelled to secure q register
OF the Department Of State before
We could determine the locality Of
the scene of my future diplomatic
career"
Then arose the question as TO
whether or not ] should risk nv
life In that unknown country.
Visions OF enormous snakes, taran
tnlas, savage wild beasts, and more
savage natives. fostering fevers and
iorrld suns, haunted me day and
night. ! searched encyclopedias
aud ransacked libraries for infor-
nation as to climate, social and
political conditions, etc., but was
doomed to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
only meager data and that more
Than twenty years old. | asked the
chief OF the Consular Bureau what
ronte should take to arrive at that
capital, and he told me to take the
"Morgan Line of Steamers from
Now Orleans" and had / taken
his advice / would have landed at
Vera Cruz, or some other Mexican
port.
Finally / found out where ] was
going and what route to take. /
bad The choice between JOURNEYS.
which, like Hobson's were, neither
very inviting. could 90 from
Ne" Orleans across the gulf to
Pul rto Cortez (the famous Omos
Of fernando Cortez, the Spanish
coaquistador) and a mule ride over
two hundred miles or ! could 90
from New York to the Isthmus of
Panama, thence to AmApala bV
Pacific steamer, and complete the
journey by a mule ride Of ninety
miles into the interior.
I cL5se the former, and by the
nlidjis Of NoYem Der, 1890, | found
myself aboard the good steamer
"Breskwatsr," on the "bounding
billows Of the Gulf Of Mexico. the
frat time in my life on salt water.
DO not remember much aoout
the voyage. was not in physical
condition 10 appreciate the beauties
OF tue swelling sea" or await with
impotence the call OF the steward
30 the captains cabin where SUNNI.
tlus AID tempting spreads were
pl ICED upon hospital tables.
For The frat Two DAYS was
afraid | would die for the next
Two days | was afraid I would NOT
die. bore the torture to the beat
Of my ability, however, and
"nolens, yolens," yielded up every.
thing about me which was loose.
On The 18th day we sighted
Puerto COrttz, straggiing village
on the maigin Of pretty BAY, and
I'D f.~..~.,ff 10 LII AZ