New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-16

Chill and Puget Sound. The Cnlli coal is
quality Of bituminous. and is used by most or the
steamers selling for Sc and 81 ton The mines
are on bluffs that overhang the ocean, so that
IT is easily handled. Overhead railways have been
constructed from the tunnels TO the end OF piers
so that buckets of coal filled in the mines can be
dumped into the vessels automatically. The Eng
lish steamship company prefers to bring Its coal
from Cardiff in sailing vessels around Cape Horn.
and stores it In old hulks in Panama and Callao.
The Pacific Mail steamers. on the west coast OF
Mexico and Central America, bring their coal In
the same way from Baltimore and Newport News,
while their supply at San Francisco comes from
British Columbia.
There is. doubt. vast quantity OF coal in the
Peruvian mountains. outcroppings appear at fire.
lie a considerable distance inland across the desert
have described in previous letters and west OF the
accessible and useless without the construction Of
expensive railways.
A company was formed in the United States
about four years ago to develop large deposit Of
anthracite coal about l2O miles northeast Of this
superintendent on the Pennsylvania Railroad. Is
ton is called the Pacific Company and Mr..
Keene. who is connected with of the
pany continues to pay large TAX to the Peruvian
Government and has sent several engineers to sur
the capital for its construction. but there are no
signs Of, progress The railway by the neares ares.
the mountains at an altitude of 1900 feeT.
which VIII make construction very expensive, al
diGfcnlties The Government of Peru is Willing to
lend its credit, which is not first class, and give
nominal subsidy but the difficulty seems TO lie in
the lack Of safe and convenient port on the
ocean.
Pacasmayo has no harbor Ships have to anchor
in an % % w5h scr Seh a h9S
are unable TO land either cargo or passengers
substantial steel pier has been extended about
three-quarters Of mile into the ocean, with a line
OF railway upon it, and connects with road that
runs into the interior for twenty-five or thirty
miles Formerly the cars upon this pier We're
moved by sail power Pacasmayo has the benefit OF
what sailors call soldiers wind" which always
blows from the same direction. and generally
stiff enough TO furnish motive power to move
abandoned, and little switch engine now does the
Passengers and freight are hoisted up and down
from and to immense lighters by steam cranes Dut
it would be difficult and expensive to handle coal IN
coast is Cbimbote. hundred miles or more to the
southwark. That has land locked harbor with
sye to @ construct docks with chutes by which the
coal could be transferred directly from the cars 10
the steamer; but the distance from Chimbote 10
the mines IS nearly twice as far as from Pacas-
it is argued however that the difference in the
cost OF handling coal would more than, pay the
interest upon the money necessary to build the
longer line.
BURNED FOR WITCH
Not long ago, up in the mountains north Of
Pacasmayo near the town Of Cajamarca, the pious
people burned an old woman for a witch. They had
suffered from various plaques individually and col
lectively and in seeking for cause accused poor
old Indian bag of witchcraft. The village padre
was consulted. and by his advice she was burned
the stake, was formerly done to such per-
sons in New England. But the imitator Of the
Rev Cotton Mather, OF Salem. Mass was ar
rested convicted. stripped Of his sacerdotal robes
and sentenced for life 10 the penitentiary in Lima,
where he is employed in manufacturing har-
ness.
Witchcraft is generally believed in among the
Indians and at nearly every town along this coast
Of Peru you will find crosses erected at conspcu-
Gus places, which expected TO brighten the devil
away Just the Chinese place screens in front OF
the entrances TO their houses 10 keep out evil
spirits, but the people are ignorant Indians. Not
one out of a hundred read or write
John +. Hopkins, tr, Of West Virginia United
States consular agent at Paita, has just completed
a very unpleasant experience. About eighteen
months ago he had quarrel with an Italian living
in that place who one evening attacked him in
the public square Mr.. Hopkins defended himself
with energy and succeeded In drawing his revolver.
when his assailant ran away: Being ahame with
indignation and excitement, Mr.. Hopkins followed
and fired several times, severely wounding the
fugitive who. \ he able 10 be out.
caused the consul TO be arrested and sent to jail
on the charge OF attempted murder. IL was nearly
was found guilty and the judges sentenced him 10
prison for year, but ordered that the time he
had already served In Jail should be credited on his
sentence Therefore ne was released shortly after
the judgment was rendered
This is a bright example OF Peruvian justice and
must not be taken precedent, for foreigners
who accused OF felones and sent to jail in
most OF the South American countries find 1t diff
or procedure are slow and complicated, the prose-
cutting attorneys and judges are poorly paid and
are always reluctant TO Undertake case that in
wolves foreign interests Unfortunately the larger
number OF American citizens on this coast. from
dissoute habits and other causes. familiar with
these facts. and OF the chief duties Of diplo
mauc and consular officers is TO get their fellow
countrymen out OF tAil-(Special correspondence.
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