The record-union., 1899-06-19
GLAD TO GET BACK AGAIN.
sACRAMENTAN's EXPERIENCE
IN PORTO RICO.
What Peter Magistrini Encount-
cred in His Search for Wealth
in That Region.

What Peter Magistrini Encount-
cred in His Search for Wealth
in That Region.
Ten weeks ago Peter G. Magistrini,
the well-known gunsmith and metal
worker, left Sacramento with his wife
and two children to make his home IN
Porto Rico. He had heard and read
much of the opportunities that were
opening up in that new territory of
Uncle Samuel's for those who might
take little American push, enterprise
and money with them
Peter is back in Sacramento now. His
wife and children are with him, ana
he is looking about for little cottage
to rent, that he may again settle down
and be happy.
Yes" said Peter to Record
Union" reporter yesterday Il am here
again. I'd rather live in California,
with ten years taken off the end of my
life, than to stay in any country I
have seen since left here, and don't
you forget 1 have Travelled some.''
Asked how far he had got from Sac
ramento he said:
I've been across the country to New
York, I've been to Porto Rico. to Cuba
to old Mexico, to New Mexico and back
to California, to Los Angeles and Fres-
no, and thank the Lord, I'm again in
Sacramento"
Then Pete sat down and gave brief
recital of his wanderings during the
ten weeks he had been away from this
city. From New York he struck out
for Porto Rico, with his family and a
lot Of tools used in his trade. buoyed up
by visions of the wealth to be acquired
in our new West India possessions He
had secured the agency for a leading
American bicycle company; in d few
months his wheels would be speeding all
over tn mountain trails of Porto Rico
There would be punctures and break
downs and he would have lots of work
repairing the broken wheels at fancy
prices.
Then Pete bad the agency for a popu-
lar American-made shotgun. and he
fancied he heard the shots from the fire.
arms he would sell echoing through the
woods and jungles of that island par
adise for sDortsmen (as he had been
told it was)
But that was not all. Uncle Sans
blue-coated soldiers were there, and he,
being an American citizen, would sure
ly have a monopoly of the work of re-
pairing the army muskets. And as Peter
sat out on the deck of the ocean steam
er that was breasting the waves of the
Atlantic in it's efforts to get him TO
the promised land as soon as possible,
he rubbed his hands with glee and then
~ -.
wealth and happiness that awaited him
The little black and greasy work bench
in Sacramento, at which he had labored
diligently for so many years earning
wages that enabled him to lay aside
something every month, had been left
far behind and was not to be thought
of now.
Well, in due time Peter and his wife
and babies and boxes of tools and little
roll of bank notes were landed at
Ponce, the spot where General Miles
and his army Of occupation first set
foot on Porto Rican soil. Leaving his
baggage on the steamer for the day he
went ashore, accompanied by his wife
and children, and started out to find
building in which to set himself up in
business, for he was impatient to begin
his money making.
Just two hours in the dirty town of
squatty buildings, with it's population
of ragged blacks, cured Peter and his
wife of Ponce. They wouldn't even
sleep there over night. He found three
stores in the city, whose combil,ed
stocks of goods could be replaced for
a thousand dollars There were three
measly-looking barber shops, two little
jewelry stores, and few places where
liquor was sold. The climate was in
sufferably hot, and there wasn't a
bicycle in the place, nor a shotgun, and
worst of all-nobody had money enough
to buy either.
The next day they went to San Juan,
with it's Moro Castle and imposing
water front. Things were a little more
inviting there, but not much so. Peter
called on the American commander and
asked if he could have the work of re-
pairing army muskets if he should To-
cate there. He could not The officer
told him that every musa1et had to go
back to the United States workshops for
repair.
He then called on the Alcalde (Mayor)
and asked if he would be permitted to
set up a little shop and sell firearms.
The genial, half-asleep Mayor told him
he might, but on further inquiry Peter
found his license would be nearly $40
a month, and the duty on the goods he
would have to import would, with rent.
etc, run his monthly expenses up to
some $50, with very little prospect of
selling anything, because nobody had
any money, and if they had they
wouldn't spend it for shotguns or
bicycles. as there was no chance to use
either in that country
That night Peter and his wife held
an executive meeting and concluded
that America was good enough for
Them if they could only get back
without carrying the smallpox with
them. The next day they sought out
the agent of the New York steamer.
but he told them that as everybody
else was going away the accommoda-
tions were all taken, and that the best
he could do was to secure them passage
for the next trip if they paid for it
then He could not promise them even
that if they waited another day The
next trip would be in about ten days.
Ten days in that God -forsaken coun-
try was out of the question, so Peter
tried to get passage to Florida. He
was told that children under 10 years
from Porto Rico could not be landed
NJ. - IL, L