The daily sentinel., 1912-09-28
THE UNIVERSAL
POstOttlce. Doctor E. F. Eldndge

tie water, we enter the shallow har-
Dor, going ashore and spending very
pleasantly few days in that wonder
full city. Its broad plaza is traversed
by gracefully curved walks, shaded
by royal palms, among the branches
of which flit the most gaudy birds,
while chattering monkeys are per-
forming stunts that would make glad
the heart of the snFlll boy, while
their grimaees are something unex-
plainable.
We are entertained by the Rev. w.
II. Winslow, the intimate friends OF
Dom Pedro. the emperor of the coun-
try, at his imperial palace; and to
say that We were royalty entertained
Is putting 1t very mild. indeed, as
Hospitality in Latin America Is
spelled with capital letters only.
Bidding adieu to our courteous
friends, We put 10 sea again with no
stop in view except at the universal
postoffice. situated on a black and
barren rock off the extreme end of
South America, consisting of very
large and strong oaken cask, an
chored to the rock by great eye-bolts
wedged into II, being entered through
a heavy door, situated where the
bung ought to be, and balanced by
heavy weights so as to open easily.
This strange structure is in charge
of no one in particular. but is looked
after by all nations, as 1t is of great
Importance to shipping, nearly all
boats passing this point, especially in.
mild weather, depositing mail for
other ships to take up and receiving
Gll mail directed to ports where they
viii stop, and woe unto him who
should abuse this privilege.
Late in the afternoon of n gray,
cold day we arrive in the vicinity of
"the postoffice" 10 meet very nasty
weather, as the wind, surcharged
with rain and slect, seems to come
from at least two points of the COM
pass, nearly aft, down the Atlantic
coast, while tempest is sweeping in
from the Pacific, producing enormous,
waves from both ways, which rush
together, growing and tearing each
other, producing a chop sea which
cannot be described and which is very
difficult to navigate as well as hard
TO endure.
Learning from the captain that he
will endeayor to change the mail, re-
gardless OF the weather, find shell
tered position behind the forecastle
and gaze out into-chaos; for that Is
the only word which conveys prop
er description OF the outlook, not be-
lieving that 1t is possible for any
navigator to find so small an object
in this world of racing and seething
water or to transfer the mail If We
did find 1t.
Three bells have struck; aud. by
the aid of the faint light from the
binacle lamp. | can dimly make out
the hands of my watch pointing to
l0:45, when the main boom is freed.
the yard arms settle down, and she
comes aroundh hard aport; the davits
rattle and the captains gig drops
over the side, and, bobbing like a
cork, is pulled away into the dark
ness; but, by her stern lights, | am
able to follow her course as she pulls
to leeward of a black rock, which
appears as If only its middle existed,
as that is the only part lighted, both
eXtremities fading away in total
blackness.
As the gig reaches the proper po-
sition hand is stretched over head,
and is Immediately followed by its
owner, who rapidly ascends an iron
ladder, releases u lever and a great
door opens, into which he disappears,
soon to return dragging the mail
sack, having changed it's contents,
drops into the boat, and, after an
other struggle with the battling
waves, in maneuvering so as not to
be thrown against the side of the
ship, he is finally successful, and the
boat is hauled up the side with its
contents of mail and men.
Watching the accomplishment of
this. to me. impossible feat, together
with, IN OF nf N tai al "a
position, on account OF the violent
pitching of our ship for the past "a
hours, together with implicit faith
in our captains ability to safely
bring us to port and loss OF inter-
est in the scene, my brain is soon
clouded by insensibility and it is
broad daylight before / awaken to
find my limbs stiff and the rug with
which was projected covered With
crusts OF salt.
AS gain my feet | am impressed
with the steadiness OF the deck and
observe that we are headed n. by
~ w, with "A good sea running to
port and the wind blowing a hat full
from the S. w. Toward the east may
be seen the serted peaks of the An
des, and a little toward the south
smoking volcano.
AS we proceed up the coast We en-
ter the South Pacific current from
the Indian ocean. which brings the
warm trade winds and beautiful
weather. through which we are walt
ed on, at n i4-knot clip toward our
destlnation-the land OF perpetual
summer, languid women and beauti-
full scenery, where work is dis
grace, only attempted by lazy ne
srpps and nv them nulV when forced
to do so, as their iuvariable habit is
procrastiuation and their ready an
swer, 'm0u, ana a"-tomorrow.