Evening star., 1899-03-22
Interesting StDrysof Pleasure Ships
Visit to the Island.
HONoRS TO EX-SENATOR SHERMAN
Passengers 'bAmuse Themselves
sot 1T
Visiting the, Points of Interest.
GUESTS OF GEN. HENRY

Corresponds ice of the Associated Press.
ON BOARD THE STEAMER PARIS
San Juan de Porto Rico, March 1.-THE
arrival of the American Line steamer Paris
with a large party of American tourists
before the city of San Juan on Wednesday,
March g. revived some of the sensations
OF war times to the inhabitants. All San
Juan knows the ''Yalee," as the Paris was
pronounced by them during the blockade.
Ii they do not know the name they have a
most vivid recollection of 1.-The ship with
the three chfmneys"-for it was her great
size and unusual number Of tunnels that
impressed the blockaded city. The great
speed also with which she maneuvered
about these waters, surrounded her with
a sort of superstitious awe. One day she
would be heard of several hundred miles
away, the following morning she would be
hoVering about the horizon, shadowy and
lndistinct, but always present to their
fears By many she was known as the
ghost ship" because of fancied resem-
blance to the New York, whose movements
she was said to follow shadow.
Crowds Visit the Steamer.
Crowds Of the natives visited the Paris
after the arrival of the steamer on We'd
nesday evening to take a good look at the
~N-~f SNAHS~ AAo~A hSpl luSaA LII SuCu uitdu "A
little barefoot Porto Rican exclaimed:
"Caramba, what rogue of a ship! 1t
was you who kept me the streets for
two months and prevented us from sleep
your ~
1t was almost sundown when the anchor
OF the Paris dropped into the open sea
more than half mile off Morros fortress
The signal flags announcing her name had
scarcely been run up before answering sig
nals were waved from the ramparts.
People on the ship could see summer
garbed army" girls waving greetings to
and stripes offered them an American well
come to this tropical island, far from home
1t has been said by many of the passen-
gers that the view of San Juan from the
sea, under the sunset glow, was more beau
tiful than anything of the kind they had
ever seen before. Not even the romantic
Riviera could present SO beautiful a picture
The massive walls and barracks that sur
round the sea front were spotless white in
the evening sun. "A magnificent surf rolled
over hidden reefs along the city's shore,
nlnging showers of spray high upon the
rocks and walls. z
Disappointment came to many of the pas
sengers who were. eager to go ashore at
once. Several small beats, with lateen sails
suggestive of familiar Mediterranean scenes,
came out from'the harbor, but no health
officer appeared: III
When the lights began to twinkle along
the shore the anxious 1excursionists ceased
to entertain hopes of Seeing the city that
night and settled themselves down to a
jolly time aboard ship and preparations for
the morning At O'Clock Thursday morn
ing the first ones to visit the ship after the
health officer were Mats. Fishback and Lit
tie and the representatives of the Asse-
clated Press. te
Visit From Gen. Grant.
Soon after cathei,Se Brig. Gen. Fred D.
Grant, with two aids
By the time a,thastB breakfast had been
dispatched the ship s. boats were launched
ard lashed to the steam launch.
More than half of the passengers pre-
pared to go ashore. The sea was rough
al considerable difficulty was experienced
in entering the boats. Gen Grant took
with him in the quartermaster's launch
ex,Secretary John. Sherman, ldr. and Mrs.
Stokes, Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Stewart
Smith, Mr.. and Mrs. E. N. Taller and Mr.
and Mrs. David NJ. Morrison.
Before reaching the harbor line parted
little uneasiness upon the part of the timid
ones, but this was quickly and easily re-
pared by the ships crew, and all were
soon landed safe on shore.
Gen. Grant escorted his party at once to
his residence, where Mrs. Grant and sew
cral ladies had prepared a beautiful break
fast, la Porto Rico. After breakfast the
party danced for an hour and were then
escorted through MORO and San Cristobal
At the latter fortress the guns roarei a
salute to the venerable statesman from
Ohio.
Through all the streets and in all the
shops the ships party filtered finding Gu
rious sights and Porto Rican souvenirs
Tourists Get Many Trophies.
The peaceful invasion of the capital was
rewarded by many trophies. The kodak
ers' of the Paris were lively as the Gatling
gunners had been on the Yale. Naked
babies, Spanish balconies, pretty senoritas
and nondescript peddlers were all shot by
the photographers.
General Henry's headquarters. the Palace
of Santa Catalina, was the rendezvous for
most of the party. The general was found
in the midst of work, but no courtly Span
ish governor general ever showed visitors
through the palace with more grace
Using the pretty speech of the Porto
Rican host he said: at is your house" and
all who came departed with pleasant memo
ries of General Henry and the Farteleza.
Colonel Butler of Buffalo found time to
turn a few burrows for his pet enterprise
the Pan-American exposition, which will
undoubtedly have a fine exhibit from Porto
Rico.
The Colonial Club cafe was a popuIar
place at noontime, where as many of the
party as could be accommodated came for
a Spanish "almuerZo.
Santurce, the most beautiful suburb of the
West Indies, was visited in the afternoon.
and such was the admiration for the pretty
Villas Win blooming gardens and breezy
balconies that real estate has gone up ma
terially since then. Several of the party
declared they would spend next winter
here.
The ''condado," or country, beautiful
palm-covered beach, the sea-front of San
turce, was popular place.
Swim in the Surf.
Here is the finest beach in the world, and
many of the gentiemehf were soon enjoying
an ocean swim II thu most delightful of
the day in San Span. bfhere were regrets
only on account of the short visit there.
Upon returning1tto the ship that night
Senator Shermanrfell partly in the water.
and another man fell into the sea. but were
rescued, and they received quite a wetting
The people of SAP Juan retain very plsas
ant memories of the good ship Paris, its
courteous crew, and tile good Americans
aboard of it. They hope to be rewarded
with more of suchivisits.