Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-06-16
VACATION TRIP
Taken by n. p. Lewis in Porto Rico.
Curious Scenes on the Island.

$1,000 - = AAAAAH AANlAA 4 g - 1AA
his station at Patillas and, with q friend
from a nearby town, took a trip through
the island, which he thus entertainingly
describes
"we started out Wednesday morning,
March 30, in threatening weather, and be-
fore we had reached the top OF the noun
tain between Mannabo and Yabucoa il be-
gan TO rain. We took shelter in several
huts along the way, at last coming to the
valley Of Yabucoa. Here it was pleasant,
but the roads were terrible. We had TO
cross many streams which had risen so
that they came up TO the saddles, and We
were forced to lift our feet 10 the horses
heads to keep them dry. There were long
stretches Of level road with streams
alongside, through which we splashed, at
times sinking dow into very deep mud
holes.
somewhat tired and hungry we arrived
in Annacoa, hoping to find the shore right
near, but, instead. learned that the sea
was 81 miles farther distant. We turned
our heads that way more willingly than
the horses, which had already come some
p miles since morning. On we went, but
now on a good road, and at last we found
the elusive beach. Here we were glad to
learn that we would have to go four miles
more to get boats.
"As we had been without anything to
eat since morning, and breakfast at 8 had
consisted of two cups of coffee and bread,
we bought a piece Of bread and a can of
salmon, and, riding along the beach until
we came to a %cocoanut grove, dismounted
and ate in contentment, while our horses
browsed on the short seagrass.
"Mounting again we crossed the dry
mouths OF several rivers and at last came
to a very deep one. Here was a ferry-a
fiat boat drawn by a rope from one shore
TO the other. Our horses were ~unsaddled
and little boys mounted to swim them
across where the waves, meeting the cur
rent OF the river, washed over their backs.
They cannot have much trade there, but IL
they charge everybody 80 cents for three
minutes work, as they did as, they do not
need to have much.
"We got across and went through a CO.
coanut grove, over sandy roads, and so
forth. When we came to a %cocoanut tree
that had been blown down, we stopped
and with a stiletto managed to open a CO.
coanut, which tasted very good, as they
are always cool, even when in carts on the
Clio wing streets.
"From the top of a hill we saw below us
a very pretty fishing village, named Ma
guabo, but too small to have an English
teacher. We saw the little fishing boats
and at last found the owner Of the largest.
II is really surprising how foolish the fish
ermen are about prices. They own that
they cannot earn fishing more than 90
cents a day, and this sum is dependent up
on the weather, the market and other
things, but hen you want them to work
for three days sailing, OF rather n in
port, they ask as high as 20. There is no
question OF risk to man or boat and why
they ask so much ] do not know. One
boat they only claimed to be worth 10.
At last we found a man who owned an IS
foot craft and he agreed TO take us over TO
Vieques for s.. We started almost imme-
diately and at five o'clock were getting out
OF the harbor.
1.-THE sun set behind the mountains OF
Porto Rico, and above In the soft evening
light were piled white billowy clouds.
As / turned from this scene 10 the east !
saw the full moon rising from the sea. i
was in the prov and could see the fishes
as they swan away into the deep blue
waters or jumped into the air above the
white crested waves. Once i saw a large
chocolate colored fish as it slowly crossed
our PROV. II was, | should judge, July
six feet long and over a foot deep-the
largest fish / have ever seen, ! believe,
since ! used to catch suckers In the branch
at Three Corners
"About / O'Clock we arrived at a fishing
village called Mosquito, which word
in English seems TO have come from the
Spanish. We slept in the boat all night
with sails over us, and at 8 IN the morn
ing started out for the prineipal-because
only-village on the island. We had to
20, now along the sea shore, now through
shady lanes. On each side OF the road
are a few houses and a little titled land
which appears rich from the way the
grass grows. In the pastures, which
reach to the top Of the narrow ridge of
hills that runs through the island
l~eugthwise, there are many cattle which
are exported.
cat the end Of about 10 long miles we
came into Vieques in a pouring rain.
That afternoon we got some pictures OF
the lighthouse and the bay, n went up
TO the old Spanish fort that, from a little
hill, used TO command the town and bay.
II is now useless, except that it furnishes
rooms for the superintendent OF the
United States magnetic station and lends
an air of pieturesqueness to the scene.
We met the superintendent, a young
fellow from Kansas, and he explained to
us how they record the variations in the
magnetic needle, and the vibrations in
the earth, such as earthquakes. de told
us he had noted the trembling, which
was felt in Randolph lately and which
the papers mentioned. There are hve OF
these stations under the United states
Coast and Geodetic survey-Alaska, where
be was stationed a year, Honolulu, Bald
win, Kansas, one in Maryland and in
Nieques.
''From vieques to Fijardo, P. r., there
is a ~heliograph system in charge OF an
Englishman. The heliograph is very sim
pie, consisting of n or two interactlng
mirrors, as the sun happens to be. The
reflection is cast in the yes Of the operator
across the water about 20 miles. Between
the Mirror and the other station are two
little tin doors that can be rapidly opened
and closed, shutting off or permitting the
reflection to go across. These doors act
like the ticker of a telegraph instrument,
the operator receiving with his eye in
stead OF his ear. At night a bright
acetylene gas lamp Is used to give light,
"Here we heard that the custom house
officer suspected US Of being German spies
for we had unwittingly asked him a
number Of questions about the island and
had taken pictures about the town. lie
knew also that we had not entered the
regular port but did not know from