Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-21
THROUGH lA0NDURAS
TT5-
Experiences ct a Post Office
Man.
Tso
TRIP ON .MULEBACK
BEAUTIFUL SCENERY AND MANY
i6Io
WILD BEASTS.
Swimming the Animal Across River
Return Journey at Night
Under Martial Law.
RIP ON .MULEBACK


tended trip through Honduras, Central
America, during the course of which he had
many experiences that were entirely new to
him. The customs of the natives surprised
him and the manner in which they treated
American and were treated by the Ameri-
can residents was startling. The railroads,
he said, were controlled by fruit company
and also the hotel keepers of the towns
through which they pass. The freight
trains are run whenever there is need for
them. but the passenger trains are not
allowed to depart from town until the
proprietor of the principal hotel is sure he
has secured all the money his guests have
about them. The guests are then allowed
10 depart FOR the next town. where they
repeat the experiment, The feature of the
trip which made the grea test impression
on the post Office official was a ride he
took through the interior on muleback.
A Ride on Muleback.
1T was one of the experiences of my
life, he says when speaking of it the other
day. I rode twenty-five miles, the natives
called it. but I'll bet it was a hundred
The road led through country with tigers
not twenty feet away watching us from
their hiding places in the jungles Deer
likewise and balloons, that let themselves
be heard and seen. There were birds of
the most rare and brilliant plumage and
butterflies in variety and beauty of colors
that outshone even the birds. While riding
through this country. with the exception of
about twenty minutes when the sun was
In meridian, we never saw Old Sol. Great
saba trees. about the base of which twenty
hve men could join hands in a circle with
out tapping over an inch, lowered away 1t
seemed almost to the sky and with regal
palms 200 or 800 feet high formed canopies
and arches over the road. When the trail
was straight for a short distance yistas of
green In all its shades were opened before
us that were beyond description When we
reached this particular part of the ride all
OF IL going through San Juan valley l be-
came very tired and somewhat sore, but
forgot 1t all In the grandeur and loneliness
OF the scenery. After passing through an
almost endless arbor of sabas and palms
we nnally reached the Chemelican river
and wound along it's bank, sometimes with
IN stones throw ofnit and then, owing
TO It's sinuousness and the efforts of the
iran TO Keep straight, we would lose sight
and sound of it altogether. What with
twist and turn we finally left the giant
palms and their thousands of neighbors and
turned straight toward the river On the
opposite oank doomed pIseveral shacks on
apout HVe acres OF leased ground and back
or them was spread out to our gaze on all
sides the most fertile banana plantation
IN central America, the San Juan, owned by
Detroit corpora ton, the manager OF
which, Mr.. GOodfellow-who doesn't belle
his name-was with u.s. There were four in
the party one of whom was German
ooiNS' leu " d udGlV0 woman who
with ner little boy, we met later at the
camp across the river.
Crossing q River. =.
1.-The crossing Off the Chemelican. or
rather the getting to, IL ia yorder to,eross.
was job. The banks were actually
sleeper than roof, L was told to lust
brace myself and follow my leader. and
braced and followed, expecting to lead the
way for my mule with several lofty somer-
sauits, but l gathered up my nerve and
got there like native. Then came the
gro eIossing. doodfeilow took canoe and
the German guide, Oscar, advised me to do
the same. asked him If he intended to
take canoe. and on his giving an answer
In the negative told him I was out for
experience t 1sad and information for keeps and
cailed back to me to pull my feet out of
the stirrups. which 1 did, but the next min
ute my saddle was afioat. mules not being
puilt TO carry heavy weights of my caliber.
stuck my feet back in the stirrups again,
as could not see the use of holding them
up, they were wet through anyway. and
IN minute or two my first experience of
NE on an ocean wave on the, hurricane
deck OF a mule was but thing of mem
ory The troubles were not all over with
the swimming of the river, however There
came perpendicular climb of fifty feet I'D
Inc Inc river oank. this time with my feet held
high and my hands tightly clasping the
pommel OF my saddle. On the top Of the
empankment, grinning at us, were a lot
or greasers clapping their hands and bid
dlng us good day in Spanish Oscars wife
ana baby were there to meet us and well
come us TO camp. Dinner was served
shortly after our arrived, under wide
spreading monaco palm, with the cool river
OF fresh roasted pig deer stew-the deer
was killed that neutrality-suspicious., beans
snced tomatoes and tortillas, the faverite
dish OF the Central Americans Coffee and
H.
cry bit of the food served us were products
OF the country. and were all either raised
or Killed on this or adjoining plantations
with the meal also they served jelly that
this was feast.
Return in the Night.
The ride back was not quite so COM
portable and pleasant. I was so stiff and
sore from the ride on that mule that I
failed to notice the loneliness of the seen
cry at first. But when the stars came out
and the new moon rose just above the
mountain tops. and Jupiter just above her
there was spread before us a picture that
made deep impression on the whole
party. regarded 1t as very pleasant ex-
perlence all the way through, and one that
l would not have missed for anything. To
travel over a trail in the middle Of the
winter, with broling sun in the heavens
YET no sun In sight. to pass through jun
beasts, Is something to remember. I trav-
eled as the natives travel. clothed as the
natives are clothed. My costume consisted
OF a straw hat that cost me OK cents. a
shirt that cost me 65 cents and pair of
blue overalls that cost, about the same
The children we PASSED along the route
We're comfortably clothed in a pleasant
smile, and seemed warm enough at that
While 1 was there, Sam Pedro. one Of the
interior towns, was under martial law, and
the gringoes chat is what they call ali for
eigners) have citizeiiY alliance for mu-
tual protection, mainly Of property. They
are afraid Of looterss only. The foreign
population. which numbered about sixty.
could take the town 10 about ten minutes.
though there are at least 1900 natives iv-
Ing there. The towainwas barricaded and
picketed. and every aapproach to the city
was well guarded Observation-Disclosures were
on the mountain sides that surrounded the
town, only waiting fa chance to attack the
barricades. The governor had sold all his
belongings, and was-ready to fee toward
Puerto Cortez, the coast town and principal
sea port, the moment the attacking force
passed barricade. But we were safe
whether in or out of the city Neither the
revolutionists nor the government desired
to pick quarrel with any of Ills, and we
travel ,boro vxyod fyodt