The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-27
ACROSS A IHE ANDES
Bishop !. W. Joyce Describes His
Trip From Santiago to
Buenos Aires.
Recklessness Of the Mountain Stage
Drivers Bishop Will Re
turn May Is.

odist church., who, with Mrs. Joyce. has
been in South America for several
months. writes from Buenos Aires. Ar
gentina, to TheJ Journ describing
his trip thru Chile and Argentine. Bishop
and Mrs. Joyce expect to reach Mime
apolis May 13 or IA. They are now in
New York, the letter having evidently
come on the same steamer with them.
The bishop writes:
I'VE are now on the east coast of
South America. We enjoyed both the
country and cities Of Chile and were sorry
when our time for leaving arrived. Our
trip across the Andes range was much
more agreeable and pleasant than we had
anticipated From Santiago, the capital
city of the republic of Chile, to Mendoza
the first of the larger cities Of the. Ar
gentine republic the distance is 500 miles
In going from one to the other we cross
the Andes mountains. We left Santiago
by train late in the afternoon, and at 10
O'Clock that night we reached Los Andes
town a little way UP the mountain
We stayed there that night, leaving next
morning early, on a narrow gauge road
for run Of eighteen miles to Saltos,
which is as far up the mountain as the
road is yet finished on the Chilean side.
Here the company furnishes coaches
for the passengers, or horses and mules
for those who prefer that sort of trans
heavy baggage is strapped to the backs
OF mules. Sixtysix people We're to be
taken across the range, and only ten of
the entire number preferred the horse
back transportation, all the rest chose
the coaches, myself and wife among the
number. The smaller coaches carry four
persons each. the larger ones six each
There are four horses to each coach,
hitched abreast. Such driving as those
Chilean fellows HO hoy
anywhere else in the world. Hootings
yelling, slashing, whipping, away they
go. A hard place in the road is reached
the horses get up a strike, balk, won't
go-men get out, drivers slash and veil.
men lift and push at the wheels Sud
denly the horses dash away on the
double quick. and we get back into the
coach at pretty much the same rate of
speed.
From Salto. on the Chilean side of the
mountain, to Los Cuevas on the Areen-
tine side. the distance is forty miles
rms Is the gap between the two points of
the ra1lroad-and which we hope will be
nlled up by the completed road, when we
come this way again a year from this
time We left salto at $3.50 in the morn
ing, and reached Juncal at 1880 where
we got breakfast After this, with fresh
horses and new driver we began the
more decided ascent Of the mountain. and
under the pressing methods Of the driv-
ers, and taking advantage of every little
DIT OF level road, we climbed toward the
summit of the great range. The road
IS IKE huge stairway. only we do not
chmb by stepping from one step to the
other-we travel the steps lengthwise, at
each end there Is curve around which
the horseS are driven-many times If
there is half chance, the driver makes
the curve on a good sweeping gallop
Every curve lifts us a little higher up
the mountain. Every little while we
chanse horses. Late in the afternoon we
reach the great summit, and find we are
at an elevation of 12.700 feet. The bag
gage train crosses at a point not far
from 1880 feet. On the summit we rest
awhile. and feast our eyes and hearts on
the indescribable beauty majesty, and
glory OF this never to be forgotten scene.
Descent Made In Quick Time. /
With the words upon our lips and the
feeling in our souls,
Great and marvellous are the works Of
the infinite and eternal God"
We begin the descent on the Argentine
side OF the great mountain. We have the
sensations of unusual exultation-the
horse and drivers seem to share the great
Joy with US, and away we go down old
Andres winding way, and in a few min
utes we have dropped 5000 feet, down the
great mountain side. On we go, until,
near 8 O'Clock in the evening, we reach
Los Cuevas the mountain town to which.
on the Argentine side the new railroad is
finished Between $3.50 In the morning
and in the evening, we have Travelled
forty miles In these mountain coaches
1--WE are glad to see the railway train.
we are soon aboard and on our way of a
few miles run to Puerto del Inca, where
we spend the night In comfortable hotel
Next Monday at seven we leave for Men
doza. Soon after leaving Inca we have the
wonderful good fortune to get a good
view Of the highest peak In the Andes
range known as the Aconcaqua. When
Humboldt visited South America he sup
posed he had settled it that Chinnborazo
was the highest point in the Andes range
but it is now known that in height
Aconcagua. surpasses Chimborazo.
we reach Mendoza at 2 o'clock in the
afternoon and friends meet us at the
depot. We remain in this city a few
days to inspect the work of the church
and to preach for the English and Span
ish congregations. This is the great gra pc
region Of all this country, and the fruit
Is almost as delicious in taste as the
grapes that grow on the slopes of vesu-
vius.-' ~
Americans Got the Job.
Some time ago, I am told, this rail-
time to time. and which is known as
the Transandean road. wanted two rather
large iron bridges. All specifications were
telegraphed to England and also to the
United States and in each case the uues-
tion was asked: How soon can you de-
liver these bridges aboard ship?' Eng
land answered, Eight months ;Sthe United
States replied, Six weeks The United
States got the job.
There are two American young women
in Mendoza who by the appointment Of
| the Argentine government have charge
of the high school and also of the normal
of that city. They have been so success
full during the six years in which they have
had charge that the present great pros
perity of the schools would indicate their
remaining In charge for years to come
One of these young women is from Con-
necticut and the other from Ohio They
are an honor to the states from which
they come, as well as the nation tllev
represent.
THE distance from Mendoza to Buenos
Aires, the capital Of the country, is 500
miles. The railway is "a good one, well
equipped, and well managed, and runs
thru as beautiful and fertile a. country
as can be found anywhere in the world.
Immense fields of wheat and other grains,
great herds of cattle, sheep and horses
are the proofs. The population of the re-
public is 5,0O0.00O The city of Buenos
Aires has over 500, 900 citizens, and is
pressing forward to the ], 1,00O 600 figure.
There are 100000 Italians in the republic,
and more than 200, 900 of these live in the
city OF Buenos Aires. This has been a