The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-04-22
FIRST AMERICAN SCHOOL
On Island of Porto Rico Started by
two Young Ladies' from Wheeling,
one ofWhon Describes the Trim to
Ponce and Their RcccDtion There

On Island of Porto Rico Started nv
Two Young Ladies' from Wheeling.
one ofWhom Describes the Trim 10
Ponce and Their Reception There.
Misses Hol!obaush and Mendel. of
this city, who LETT for Porto Rico in
February to take charge of the first
American school In Porto Rico, are well
pleased with their reception at Ponce,
as will be seen BY the following inter.
esting recital by Miss Holobauch of
their voyage from New York, the short
stay at SanJuan, and their arrival in
Ponce.
PONCE, Porto Rico, April As SO
much has been said in some OF our
home papers. derrogatory to our trip 10
Porto Rico. Miss AIendel and l feel like
writing you the true facts regarding Il.
II Is tTu" the circumstances governing
the beginning OF our journey were any
thing but favorable, but before We
reached our destination We realized the
truth of the old adGge, that "a bad he
ginning often makes good ending"
We left Wheeling for New York The
evening OF February 18th. but were de-
layed on account OF the heavy SHOWS
east. and didn't reach that city until
Wednesday evening At 7:39.
our vessel was scheduled to sail
Wednesday at noon. but, she too was
detained by reason Of the blizzard. The
streets ofEcw York were in dcp,orabIa
condition. and We were obliged 10 pay
seven collars to have our baggage taken
10 the pier IN time for our ship. We
met nothing but ANNOUNCEMENTS, ever
since leaving home. and several times
our companion, Miss Mlsselwitz. was
tempted TO return. but when we Went
on board our vessel, and saw what n
comfortless passenger service It had
We felt that the last straw had been
placed, and Miss MisselYitz felt that
her courage had already been strained
and this last feature caused her 70
make up her mind to return. She spent
one night on board and the next morn
Ing left for her home In SteubenvilIe.
our accommodations on board. GER
tainly were enough TO put any ones
courage 10 the critical test, but Miss
Mendei and l had determined to take
the bitter With the sweet, so we stucl;
to the ship. Several army officers with
their wives, also the wives of several
officers. already here, who were coming
TO Join their husbands, Mrs. Henry X
Carroll. wife Of our special commission
er to Porto Rico. were on board. and we
thought II they could endure the ac-
commodatiors, VIC surely could. Our
ship sailed on Friday morning. ana
about the second day out we began to
strike pleasant weather, which permit
ted US to spend all our time on deck.
y Delightful Trip.
We spent our time on deck reading.
writing or playing whist, and enjoyed
every moment Of our trip. Our captain
had predicted 4 rough voyage, but we
had nice. calm, smooth sea during the
entire voyage. and we were very CRATE
full that none Of our captains dire fore
bodinGs were realized. We had such
delightful, conEenial fellow passengers,
that 1t made OUR trip n very pleasant
one. and we didn't mind In the least
our poor and uncomfortable sleeping
quarters.
on Wsdncs1ny morning. February %.