Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-07
DOWN IN=H0NDURAS
MAI. REEVES TELLS OF HIS OBJ.
sERvAT1oNs THERE. !.
A Delightful Countrgd Where the Lifts
and Property of haAmericans Are i.
Almost SacHa3BRegaFdsd.

Major James H. Reeves. chief of the
division of postage GAafpps and postmas-
ters'; accounts of thetRbst Office Depart
ment, has recently returned from bust
ness trip to Honduras Central America,
and is enthusiastic over the prospects for
success in all lines. of business, if properly
pushed by enterprising Americans.
at has always seemed to me that when
reached New OrleafsJ or any other point
in the United States along our southern
border, was really in the land of fruit,
flowers and good old summer time said
Major Reeves this morning In speaking Of
his experiences MY view point changed
materially soon after: the passenger steam
err Breakwater left New Orleans and
pushed out into the gulf The breezes blew
softly passengers rapidly discarded heavy
clothing, and before we reached Belize
British Honduras, we were accustomed to
the view of shores decorated with the
witchery of -feathery palms on the one side
and the shifting colors on the water side
caused by coral lodges Of various shades
and at many depths. Only coral reefs can
furnish water with this riot of opalesque
colOring.
Belize is thoroughly British town
clean. orderly, and in every way eminently
respectable. Oranges, lemons. lines, cocoa
nuts and bread fruit ripening in the sun
tell YOU. as do the many brown faces and
stately palms, that you are in the land of
perpetual summer. There is little of inter-
est in British Honduras outside of Belize
and once outside the harbor you look for
ward cheerfully to your landing at Puerto
Cortez, in Honduras the republic-the Hon
duras- of SPAIN You pass many beautiful
islands. miles of shorea line shaded by
cocoanut trees, into the magnificent harbor
on to Puerto Cortez. Flying fishes we saw
frequently, and great schools of pornois.
We're daily on view. These huge fishes fol-
lowed S;~.s us Tor miles. frequently jumping
high out of the WATER and racing back
ward and forward across our bow.
The First Sea Bathing. 3
''The old town of Puerto Cortez is on the
south shore of a deep=water harbor formed
by an elbow of the Caribbean sea. The
town is two miles long and but eighty feet
wide, and is the coast terminal of the only
railroad in Honduras Here is a splendid
beach and the finest sea bathing in the
world Orange and lemon trees hang out
golden fruit signals, thousands of brilliant
ly plumaged parrots and other birds are in
evidence and tropical foliage Is everywhere.
II IS now no! FOR the San Pedro Sula val,
ley, the richest and In every way most de-
sirable agricultural spot in Honduras. A
rather Old-fashioned railroad train takes
you south thirty seven miles to San Pedro.
one OF the largest towns in the country.
1t has population of more than G. 900. in
GLIDING about 100 Americans This 100
ieavens the whole lump. They are every
where in evidence, and are very much alive.
Il forgot to mention that revolution is
supposed to be In progress down there, and
that towns have been taken. We had war
fleet on the Pacific side. and another has
been ordered to the Caribbean sea coast. It
was reported that the revolutionists had
captured Ceiba, but strange to say, moth
ing Is said about shots being fired, men
Killed or prisoners, taken. That is where
the joke comes in. fFriends of Bonilla were
in the majority in the town. A suuaT of
Bonilla men drifted in and declared the
town taken and SO It was
No American need fear for his life. lib
erty or property. No native could be in
duced at the point of a bayonet to inter-
Iere with one rof Uncle Sans children,
1t was hard to believe / was in a country
said to be in the throes'eof a civil war It
Is OF no importance Ito an American
whether hostilities, are, active or settled,
side wins. h.lst' e'''' - =