The daily morning journal and courier., 1903-06-11
A SOUTH AMERICAN PORT.
THE ONLY PORT OF
 SOUTHERN PERU.
Landing Passengers in the FED The
 Railroad House-The Meigs Broth-

Special Correspondence of the Journal and Courier.)
 Mollendo, Peru, Mall, 1903. The worst harbor on the whole coast of South America is Mollendo, the one port of southern Peru, where wild
 waves are always dashing against a rocky promontory and an open road stead gives no sort of protection from
 wind and wave. An old sea-captain aptly describes it when he says, 'The
 harbor of Mollendo is entered as soon as the ship turns Cape Horn" Islay, few miles farther down, used to be the port and very much better one than Mollendo; but by some wire-pulling in the Peruvian congress on the part of those commercially interested here abouts, the railroad terminus was made at this port. (pronounced Mole-yen-yo. Losses of cargo are not uncommon here and sometimes fhuman life. Off, ten vessels cannot land passengers at all, but are compelled to carry them on to the next port, above or below, leaV- ing them to make their way back to Mollendo at a more convenient season. Not infrequently what is called the tub is brought into requisition, by which to hoist people from the steam CTS deck into the small boat waiting below when the pillows are too bolster ous to risk going down over the side by the ladder, as is usual, or in which to haul them up over the, cliff when ar ,,;x, La r1sf xx1ilI not permit approach to the stairs that lead to the top of the rocky promonto- ry.
 The tub" is really barrel with g. tiny seat inside of it and section of one side cut out about half way down. This rude contrivance is suspended se- curely from a crane, which hoists it high in the tir, spins it round and round, and finally dumps it down on the spot desired, or as near thereto as it happens to hit. Generally two per- sons get in at once, woman or child occupying the seoa and a man standing in pront, with his back to the opening, he clinging for dear life to the ropes and she singing to him. At first sight it looks fearful to see people swung out in that manner over a raging sea, knowing that the smallest accident would mean inevitable death. and the strongest man trembles ill his boots as his turn approaches. But it Is really safer and infinitely to be preferred. as I have learned from various forse ex- periences, to braving drenching In the stormy surf, or the danger of making a mis-step at the slippery stairs or lad der, which must be seized and mounted the very instant the frail boat is tossed high up on the breast of the pillow; not to mention the peril of being dashed to pieces against it, or of being sucked under the great steamer as she tugs and strains at her anchor.
 There Is not much to be seen in Mol lendo. The principal objects of interest arethe great tanks that supply the vil- lage with fresh water, red from the eighly-flve-miIe-long iron pipe that starts from the neighborhood of Are dufpa, seven thousand feet above sea- level.
 These tanks are large enough to con- tain sufficient water to last for several days, should any accident occur to the acqueduct; and the latter Is capable of discharging no less than four hundred and thirty thousand gallons in every twenty-four hours. There are two ho- tels at the port. between which it is difficult to decide their rival demerits. both being bad beyond compare and
 lduicrously expensive. A long line of steamship and railway offices extend
 around two sides of the dusty plaza, in whose center is small patch of green and a pretty fountain. There are some pleasant-looking cottages. occupied by the employees and their families, be- sides the usual quota of los pobres liv- l ing in huts; also a great number of sa- | (Continued on Seventh Page.)