Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1905-02-28

facture OF material Of war. If he could
haze held the short line from Pittsbure
to lake Erie. he would have divided the
East from the West. at least for time.
There were several othepindications OF
such an intention, as John Morgan ac-
tually crossed at that time from Ken
lucky into Ohio and there was report
that General Imboden was moving to-
wards Pittsburg from West Virginia.
AT the same time an effort was made to
effect the release of the numerous prison
ers confined on Johnson's Island in Lake
Ere. with the expectation OF arming them
and capturing Cleveland or some other
city on the late
also fell in at Ponce with the United
States Marshal. by name of Wilson from
Ohio, who was wounded during the war
at Winchester. was in hospital at Mar
tinsburg. and at one time. while conva-
lescing, was on light duty as conductor
of the military train from Winchester 10
Harpers Ferry. and was thus in Charles
Town every day. He knew many men
in West Virginia whom I also knew. |
met Judge McKenna and Marshal Will
son at the house of Assistant Postmaster
Skinner in Ponce, where | was hos
pitably entertained, after pleasant din
ner at Postmaster Miller's. At Mr.. Mil
ler's sat at the table next to the same
lady from Georgia who had had the same
seat near me on the ship from New York.
| found that Mrs. Skinner, whom / mad
previously met in the Porto Rlcan Ex-
hibit at St. Louis. was from Danville,
Va, and knew my brothers and Others in
Lynchburg. AT her house in Ponce |
also met young lady from Fairfax
county, Va, who knew many Of my ac-
quaintance there. Such meetings with
agreeable people are especially pleasant
when one is far from home. The wife
of the new Episcopal minister in San
Juan is from the neighborhood of VIM
chester.
In some respects would prefer Ponce
to San Juan as place of residence. The
site is more regular. and the dwellings in
the city more tasteful and modern and
with open yards and gardens. There is
also more variety in the drives outside
of the city. In Ponce there is quite a
handsome Casino. and more modern
theatre than in San Juan. But am told
that in Ponce and Mayaguez it is often
dry and hot. and on the whole the climate
Of San Juan is preferable. This is douot-
less due to its location on the Northern
side of the island, where the prevailing
wind from the north has more effect
The fire department of Ponce is in a very
conspicuous and rather tawdry building
on the Plaza. but the apparatus, which |
like that OF San Juan. is at
least fifty years behind the times. Charles
Town is far ahead of them, But it should
be remembered that in these old Spanish
cities almost everything is fireproof. and
there are no fires in the dwellings except
very small ones for cooking and never
continuous for weeks and months as with
us in cold weather. Hence there is little
danger from fire aud little need for ex-
pensive fire apparatus. At Ponce saw
a submerged bridge. the first in my ex-
T., tl,te co,rtr., tl,a ~.,,a~e o~a
generally small under ordinary circum-
stances. but subject at times to very rapid
and great rises. under the influence of
the torrential rains which sometimes pour
down here in the rainy season.
1t would be very expensive to build
such high and long bridges as would be
rsable in high floods. These are usually
Of very short duration, and some OF the
bridges are short and low and available
the greater part of the time. and are an
chored to the bottom so that when high
flood comes the water pours over the
bridge. Such floods soon run off, but
traffic and travel are interrupted during
the short time they last. Although it
rains more or less almost every day in
this island, thunder is very seldom heard
or lightning seen.
There is quite neat Episcopal church
in Ponce, the only one on the island. ex-
cept very handsome church at San
Juan which was opened about a year ago.
There was an English church at Ponce
before the Spanish War, but it is now a
part Of the charge Of the Board Of MIS-
Continued on fourth page.)