The daily sentinel., 1908-03-13

week, the officers and sailors will
find awaiting them a city that has
almost literally sprung up in night.
By declaration of the Mexican gov
ernment, Magdalena Bay is now a
port of entry and Senior n. Rafael
Castro Montana has been made cap
tain of the port and administrator of
| the customs house.
Until recently only a few scattered
novels comprised the town of Mag
dalena Bay. With the news that ] S.
600 men of the American fleet would
make a stay of three weeks there,
the Mexican commercial houses
scented an opportunity for trade
and barter that would likely be i'm
mensely profitable. Temporary
structures went up by the scores and
few permanent buildings have been
erected. Statesmen and stocks of
goods of all kinds have been sent
to the new city and all is now in
readiness to supply Jack with any
thing he may desire, and, incident
ally, to separate him from his coin.
In the wake of legitimate business
enterprises. many of the outcasts.
gamblers and dive-keepers of this
and other Mexican cities have flocked
to Magdalena City, and the men and
women who prey upon humanity for
subsistence will be there in large
numbers to greet the sailors.
In the character of the buildings
and business enterprises, Magdalena
City now bears close resemblance
to Coney island, remodeled along
Spanish-American lines. Tamale
stands, dance halls. chile con carne
"parlors" and saloons Jack will find
in abundance, as well as the inevi-
table arena for bullfights. The new
municipality lies in valley of the
Coast Range of Baja California.
where the mountains come down to
the sea. The bay is large enough
to anchor whole navy, being in
reality an inland sea formed by Mag
dalena. Santa Margaritia, Creciente
and other islands.
The American navy department
has made arrangements to ship large
food supplies to the fleet at Mag
dalena Bay. AS Magdalena City is
now a port of entry. it will not be
necessary for vessels to clear for En-
senada and have their cargoes then
sent to Magdalena Bay. The con-
tracts include 100000 pounds of
flour, 100000 pounds of fresh beef
! $1,000 pounds of frankfurters and
5000 pounds of condensed milk.
In addition to these hundreds of
enthusiastic MeXicans who will well
come Jack upon his arrival at Mag
dalena Bay, the sharks and snakes
Astounding in that vicinity will also
/ be on lookout for the gallant sailor
men, and if he should attempt any
sea bathing he is likely to be sent
home in pieces. The bay Is full of
sharks and the beach produces an
equally abundant crop of rattle
snakes of the most virulent and vic
ious variety. The native Indians of
the district call the reptiles Eel Mu-
erto Blanco," or THE White Death, -
since they have no antidote for the
poison except moscal, the native
whiskey Mexican physicians, how
ever, declare that permanganate of
potassium, if injected in time, will
save the victims of the snakes.
Little less numerous than the
sharks and the snakes are the tur-
ties, which grow to enormous size in
the bay and which have wide repu-
tation among epicures. They are
usually captured by rushing them on
the beach and turning them over on
their backs.
Old soldiers declare that it is at
times impossible to take souldings in
the bay, because the sharks are Sc
thick that there isn't room to heave
the lead through them.
The morning plunge oversize regu-
larly enjoyed by the officers and men
in many of the tropical ports is quite
out of the question in the bay. There
is, to be sure, no record of any one
in the navy having been attacked by
shark in these waters, fact not
so remarkable when it is also learn
ed that there is no record of any one
having exposed himself.
The sharks of the bay take almost
any kind of bait, and it Is rarely
that warship is at anchor without
from one to a half dozen lines dang
ling over its stern. Watching a shark
line is tedious business, but it is
strictly necessary in order for the
fisherman to know when the monster
is hooked, as his frantic rushes, II
allowed to so unchecked, are pretty
sure to cause some part of the line
leader. or even some of his own
anatomy to give away and result in
his escape. The old scheme of tying
the line around the big toe and goine
to sleep would probably work all
right as far as rousing the fisherman
is concerned, but the sequel might
not leave him in condition to give
the shark the immediate attention
necessary To this end the officers
and sailors have hit on an ingenious
plan. Instead of taking in their lines
when the dinner gong sounds, OIL
when for any other reason they are
on duty elsewhere, they run stout
piece of marlin twine from the shark
line up to the steam whistle, leaving
it for the man eater himself to an
nounce the event of his being hooked
, by sounding toot.
The Indians of this district are oi
a physique considerably superior tc
lthnsa of the mainland of Mexico ant