The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-02-10
IMPRESSIONS OF GUAM
uuA1,s TO De SEEN IN our NEW
PACIFIC ISLAND.

zion in the Ladrone Islands, CORE
.nondent of the New York Sun VINO
went tbitber in the q. S. s. Yosemite
writes as follows:
The first sight of Guam was rather
disappointing. There were severai
rain SQUALLS on the horizon, ana ID
reply to the questioner, the Lookout
n;cKed out the blacklist looking squall,
and said: "That's Guam, slr! AS
the souall disappeared, the island de-
veloned into bold mountainous range,
not altogether tropical in aspect. In
stead of the thick forests and heavy
Collage of the Philippine mountains
he hills in Guam are rather barren
looking. the trees are clustered
together, while the red clay soil shows
through in patches here and there.
las the ship approa ched nearer, the
owlands came into view, and the thlch
rroves of cocoanut trees, mangoes, ana
bananas proved that the reports OF the
FERTILITY of the island are not without
foundation.
The harbor OF San Luis de Apra is
~ far the best of any in the whole
Ladrone group. being sheltered IN all
weather except southwest gales. On
,ntering, the ship pressed close, to
Orote Peninsula, q high promontory
,orming the southern boundary OF the
,arbor. and then swinging to the
oorthward, she anchored under the
ee of Cabras Island, which forms the
northern shelter. Extending in cir
: ,ular direction from the end OF Cabras
island is coral reef bare at low water,
md coming within ships length o.
Orots Point, giving the har5o- tie
/ shape OF a horseshoe. Occasionally.
: Turing the wet season, swell rolls IN
: over the barrier reef, but for the
. greater part Of the year the harpor Is
+ 1uiet and smooth. One serious draw
:, hack to the harbor lies in the dlti-
/ ,ultv of landing cargo, owing to the
Z ,oral growth which extends out for
4. more than q mile from the shore. A
c. bier could readily be built, but the
Easiest and cheapest solution OF the
problem is to send out from the United
states several small wooden stern
"a Wheel steamers, drawing only few
inches of water, and thus capable OF
til passing over the inner reef at oil stages
~, If the tide.
0 -, Around the shores OF the harbor are
r" several towns, Sournay, San Luis de
st Apra and Pitt. The last named is the
BORT of entry for the island, and con
Of lists of two stone buildings and about
dozen native huts. The first sigh
. If the town was not interesting, FOL
a, he place is on low land, and just now
To- n the rainy season, is mostly under
,en water.
ass A few minutes sufficed to take IL
TX he sights, consisting of natives, water
IAN ,uffaloes and dogs, and then through
he kind offices of the principal IN
labitant. q Mr.. Wilson, the party OBJ
,er. aimed a carriage and drove up t.
'ey Agana, the capital of the Island. Tn
hat Dad is about four miles long, and ha
oeen an excellent one, but at presen
,g. t is sadly in need of repair. ltwlnd
IsA n and out among cocoanut groves
1nder overhanging cliffs, crosses sew
wo- ,ral little mountain streams, and Jus
. before reaching the city gives splen
=. lid view of Agana Bay, the Who'll
Z 1orthern half of the island, and tn
4 mighty Pacific Ocean. Before jude
ng Agana one must consider the poin
4 II view. Looking at it with the know
,dge that Spain has been here severa
centuries, one wonders that there L
I 20 little. Realizing that the larg
! majority of the natives are only semi
I civilized, the place presents yer
i ,reditable appearance. The stree
/ ire regularly laid out, and are clear
he houses are whitewashed and nef
Il N appearance, and there are no stree
7 oafers or beggars hanging aroun6
I The better class, that is the foreign
ais and half castles, live in stor
\ houses, with the inevitable red tile
4 t.oof. The natives live in frame house
\ with matched roofs.
i The point of interest in the town
4 the plaza, on which are situated I'll
\ palace, the barracks and the cath
lral. These are quite respectful
looking buildings from the outsid
out on close inspection the palace al
barracks were found to be IN filts
"a condition, vita 10 attemct 81 saci.
;ion, and with tie Git o. years. &c
q lndisturbed. Before the American
IAN occupy these buildings there W
have to be a thorough house cleanil
rom top to bottom, and plentif
distribution of disinfecting materii
The cathedral is solidly built, with
oretense at ornamentation. With
II ;wo thirgs struck the visitor
= strange, an organ, and sign reque
ug the congregation not to bring the
: logs into church.
J The town boasts OF two distillerit
where la tuba is made. This is ma
\ oy fermenting and distilling the s
If the cocoanut tree, and it is IS
!, hat it can give points to Jersey ligl
ming. The natives take to it kind
however. ALI the stone buildir
nave thick walls and heavy ironwo
:afters supporting the roof. They
Quilt in this manner to withstand
earthquake shocks, which are of +
1uent occurrence, though rarely
I we're. Typhoons occasionally visit
island, but do little harm beyo
blowing down few trees and kno
!" ng down some of the native hu