Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1911-08-23

We came in sight Of land day
before yesterday about four in the
afternoon, but it was difficult to
realize that it was land that appeared
in the distance. Ones usual concep-
tion of the first appearance of land is
a long line on the horizon. That
doesn t describe what we saw. It's
first appearance was that of tremen-
dously large black cloud obscuring
the entire eastern sky. Doubtless
the cloudy sky against which it ap.
peared had something to DO with the
effect. but never before saw land
appear like that. 1t was precisely as
one Of my fellow travellers expressed
himself: Well, if that's a noun
tain it's laundering big one. I" It
was; as we drew nearer. the horizon,
or what appeared to BIZ, come to meet
as and before dark we could see land
within two miles of us. Noun tains
indeed Their tops were covered by
the low hanging clouds, increasing
the mystery Of the whole, and when
we finally dropped anchor it was in
sheltered bay where we were
surrounded on three sides by the
lights of Funchal, the largest town
on the islands Immediately after
the anchor was out the captain issued
a proclamation that all who desired
might go ashore and remain until
twelve O'Clock Although I had pro
cured tickets 10 take my party ashore
the following day I thought it ad
vantageous to get a notion Of the
place before landing them, so l went
on the first tender and returned on the
last one. About all I accomplished
was to get the lay of the land II
waudred through the crooked streets.
hardly twenty feet wide and winding
in and out among each other. The
place was dark except for a street
lamp here and there Needless to say
| took none Of my party along ON that
excursion.
Yesterday morning came the land
ing proper 1 only had six, one young
woman having met a man whose
company she seems rather fond of.
We went ahore in gasoline tenders
and at once uGon landing, and as a
matter of fact throughout the entire
stay ashore were beset and importuned
by the most complete bunch of beggars
you ever saw. All sizes. shapes, ages
and Of both sexes Similar only in |
the amount cf dirt they carried on
their persons-each having the |
maximum quantity that will adhere
to human skin and clothing. The
general conveyance in Fuuchal is the |
OK sledge. Simply stone boat On
runners with cushioned seat under a
canvass or leather hood. all drawn by
a pair of oxen. Well didn't patro
nize this type, but many of the
passengers did. | took my people IN !
an automobile to the railway station.
Here we secured tickets for the
'funiculaire'' or inclined railway
For more than two miles on a grade,
which should conservatively estimate
at forty five degrees we rode, the train
consisting of the engine and a single
car Almost at the top of the noun
tains we reached the terminal station
All the way we were surround
ID by vineyards heavy with fruit
TOpical flowers in great profusiOn
urrounded rs on evey hand, so that
he air was fairly heavy with their
)arfume. Roses Of immense size,
white, red and pink, heliotrope and
uschias growing ten or fifteen feet
Ugh Climbing through the brambles
nd over the rocky slopes were chill
rem of every age, tossing great
1uquets in at the windows and ex-
-, ,.ok,,r,, !