Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-04-18
HOME FROM A CRUISE.

Gehs 81, fhfke fOsues Back from
Months Trip to south America.
Gen. j. Parke Postles, president of
the American Leather Co., has just
Southern waters, which he took for the
benefit OF his health, and feels very
much inyigorated IN consequence
thereof he was accompanied by a
New York friend ard both had most
enjoyable time.
The first rlace visited was San Juan,
Porto Rico, where the general and his
friend were royalty entertained by
Capt. William 9. r. Colquhoun, U. s.
A., of this city,who is 10 charge of the
constructing guartermaster' depart
meLt there. 1t was intended to visit
Ponce also, but in San Juan it was
learned that there were seven cases Of
smallpox at Pence, ard, although the
patients arc isolated and there was not
much danger OF contracting the disease,
ii was deemed advisable not to go to
the city, and after two days stay at
San Juan they re embarked and soon
were ia Venezuela, South America.
They remained there several days and
had a novel and interesting experience
visiting cities and towns and ascending
the mountains. The country is SO
mountainous that it was necessary to
travel 20 miles by rail in going from
one city to another, although the actual
air line distance Is only six miles. The
railroad winds its way around noun
| tains in a most picturesque but tedious
fashion. At one point on one of the
mountains one can see from the train
| three other levels over which the track
passes. Two hours are required to
cover the 20 miles, but there is such a
| variety of scenery and the whole trip
is suoh q novelty to people of this
country that the journey is not as tire
some as might be imagined.
During the stay in South America
| Gen. Postles and his friend visited
Porto Cabello, Dutch island off the
coast Of Venezuela, and while there
called on the United States consul,
who received them most cordially. The
| island 10 10 the tropics and one would
suppose that the weather was hot and
oppressive, but they found the tenn
psrnture very leasant and were told by
the consul that during the three years
he has been. there the thermometer
went az high Us D4 degrees only once,
and that was considered by the native
inhabitants an exceptionally not day.
While IN Porto Rico Capt. Colquhoun
informed them that since he had been
there the temperature had never been
above 81, and rs there is good breeze
blowing most Of the time during the
day the weather conditions are very
pleasant Theaitemperature there and
at Porto Cabello varies very little
during the year. ,
Porto Cabello Is one of the Dutch
possessions and Dutch customs prevail
in building, living and about every
thing else. The general found the
South American cities very quaint and
far different from the cities in thu
United States. The county being
mountainous and the climate tropical
volcanic disturbances are of frequent
occurrences, and for that reason nearl!
ell of the buildings are only une stor.
In height They are built in a mos
substantial manner, however, and oni,
the most serious earthquakes make an!
impressions. the general run of earth
quskes doing but little damage in thr
cities. In sOme Of the cities it wa
noticed that most OF the streets are yer!
narrow.
There is very little evidence In Vene
zuela, according to Gen. Postles, of tn
internal differences which are said t.
threaten the government, and whil
, there he only heard of the troubl
casually. The inhabitants impressel
him as being law abiding citizens AN,
not OF the class that would engage Ii
, armed strife for the fun of it.
, The voyage itHelf was delightful as
. rule, although for two days OF the out
ward passage, from Sandy Nook Z
Hatteras, and while passing between
the same POINTS on the return roug
weather was experienced and one da
: it was so disagreeable that dec
promonading was out of the question