Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-02-28
Letter From Porte Rico.
Casa Blanca, San Juan, Porto Rico.

Casa Blanca, San Juan, Porto Rico.
February I3. 1908,
Dear Spirit In my last letter men
toned a trip out of San Juan which ex
tended as far as Ponce on the opposit,
side of the island referred also to MI
experiences in Adjuntas where spent Z
night in Hotel kept by Roman Cath
Ole priest, who was just as polite ant
hospitable as he knew how to be. Blu
still would rather have been at either o.
the hotels which are now to be found ii
Charles Town. The old Carter House
was landmark which has disappeared
in the progress of events. remember il
we'll for nearly seventy years. and ever
then it seemed old. But everything is
comparative This house in which am
now living was built 400 years ago and
is therefore considerably older than the
Carter House, but when / call to mind
some buildings have seen in Rome and
even in England which are more than
two thousand years old. the Casa Blanca
here and the Carter House in Charles
Town seem like infants By the way
onder if there is anybody who now re-
members tavern called "Gorreli's Tav-
ern" which once stood on or near the site
OF the present store of Burns & Shugert.
Possibly my spry young friend. John
Hooff. may, but | doubt whether any
body else in Charles Town does. Aud
| wonder if there is anybody else besides
him who remembers an old so-called
witch named Polly Sullivan often seen
in Charles own some sixty-fve years
ago. She lived over the river where
there may be some of her descendants to
this day. She was quite character and
there were many amusing stories about
her which were probably true.
But to return to Porto Rico and the
present time. Mr.. Proctor and left
Adjuntas in the early morning of Jan
uary 18th in a coach driven by a rich
proprietor. The air was cold and the
horses SO gay and spirited 1t looked at one
time as if the passengers would not be
able to take their seats in the coach.
They reared and plunged and snorted and
in very excited way. But
by judicious mixture of patience and
a big whip by the driver. and the display
of considerable amount of agility on
the part OF the passengers. we were f.
nally seated and the coach under way at
full speed. But we struck long steep
bill just outside of the town. and half
mile climb up that hill at full speed had
a very calming effect on the horses.
was reminded Of an experience years ago
when was making tour OF the Yellow
stone Park in a two seated buck board,
behind two fine gray horses that were SO
excited every morning before starting
that it was necessary for their driver, who
was also their owner, and the three pas
;engers. of whom was one. to take seats
n the vehicle before the horses were
litched up. Each of these fiery animals
was led from the stable prancing and
in charge of two men at their
heads.
Other men were in readiness to hitch
Up in a moment. AS soon as their heads
we're free off the team went like the wind.
It was the rule to send out man ahead
On horseback every morning to have the
road cleared to make way tor our fiery
team. And they had such a reputation
that we always found the road unobstruct-
ed for miles and no accident happened,
but the owner always carried revolver,
as he did not know when it might be
necessary to shoot from hrs seat one of
the horses that he said was sometimes a
very devil, and can well believe he was.
Adjustas IS about twenty kilometers
from Ponce in a straight line. but by the
road. which is very winding. owing to
the broken character of the country. the
distance is increased to more than thirty
kilometers. Distances are measured
here in kilometers. one of these
units being about six tenths of mile, so
that thirty kilometers are about IS miles.
We would have gone this distance in less
than two hours. but Mr. Proctor made
numerous stops for his duty of inspec-
ton. ! did not regret these delays as it
enabled me to enjoybetter the magnificent
scenery and to have much talk with the
proprietor driver. who told me many in
terestrng things about his early life in
Corsica aud his latter experiences in
Porto Rico. Beng an Italian. Corsican.
Frenchman, he had no special love for
the Spaniards and much prefers Ameri-
can rule in Porto Rico.
Notwithstanding stops on the way we
were in Ponce BY noon. and at once had
breakfast at the hotel Melia on the Plaza.
This Hotel IS vastly ailead of that of the
priest at Adjuutas. One very great com
wi fsrk> q ittSt7% E1t1iElfN4H DdNu
&c. equal to any in the United States for
cleanuess. Most of the hotels in Porto
Rico are greatly behind the times in That
respect. and the first request | now make
in entering one is, let me see your bath
room. etc.
At this hotel found Perry Lippitt and
his brother.in-iaw. Mr.. Heriot, both or
business and apparently very busy men
There were good many visitors IL
Ponce the day spent there, as taeU nited
States Court was in session. The Judge
is named McKenna. from Pittsburg.
had never met him before. but found VIZ
had many mutual acquaintance. | ones
spent month in his city just before ths
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