Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1913-02-28
RMINIUS T. HAEBERLE of
st. Louis, who as American
consul to Honduras travelled
about the mountainous coun-

about the mountainous coun-
try accompanied by his wife,
sleeping under the stars and under
forest trees, to attend to the duties
of his office, has been promoted
through the merit system to the Of
flee Of American consul to Siberia.
Instead of sitting in his office to
attend to routine duties, he set about
to %acquaint the natives with Ameri-
can ideas, and in doing this he aided
them to seek better means of living,
better methods of ~cultivating their
farms, and in many ways helped to
improve their condition.
Mrs. Haeberle visited the natives,
made them feel that the consuis
home was always open to them and
many took advantage of the hospital
ity. some after a journey of 200
miles. In this manner the consul and
his wife became acquainted with the
natives.
Mr.. Haeberle's efforts were recog-
nized by the government of Honduras,
and progressive articles which he
wrote were circulated by the govern
ment.
camped at Roadside.
Mrs. Haeberle was Miss Ida Wien
exc of California, Mo. She accom-
panied her husband on many arduous
trips.
Sometimes the couple would accept
the hospitality of the people along the
roads, and swing their hammocks in
front of their houses, and sometimes
they would camp along the road.
Speaking of his trips, Mr.. Haeberle
said: "A saddle mule is needed to
make the journeys into the interior,
MS there are no railroads. In addition
to the saddle mule, a traveller must
have a pack mule and a 'mOzo' or
guide. The guide does not ride, and
the traveller does not have to worry
about the guide becoming tired. The
only concern is to obtain a mule
which will keep up with the guide.
The riding is rough, being along
mountainous trails and lear preci-
pieces. The usual days journey is 81
miles.
The journey to the north coast is
a trip of six days, and to the south
coast requires two and one-half days.
Some of the fancy mules travel %
leagues a day.
Most of the houses are modest,
and with few accommodations, but
great hospitality is shown, and the
natives give freely of their food,
which consists principally of coffee,
eggs, rice, beans, and the native corn
cakes.
Eggs, by the way, cost about 20
cents a dozen in the capital, but they
are fresh, as there are no cold storage
plants in that country.
The name of the capitai Teguci-
galpa, interpreted, mean The Hills
of Silver and the name is properly
applied, as the hills and mountains
are rich in mineral wealth, silver and
gold,
THE old Spanish mine Of Santa
Lucia, near the capital, is still worked
in a small way. In the seventeenth
century more than 81, 200, 900 was sent
to the king of Spain as one-ffth of
one mines output for the year. The
king sent a wooden image of Christ
to the city, as a token of his apprecia-
ton, and this wooden image occupies
a place in the church at the present
time.
In the southern part of Honduras
was the largest Spanish gold mine in
Central America, located at Clavari-
CO. Nuggets have been taken out so
large and the virgin gold was SO
coarse that King Philip called them
My Royal Tamarinds,' tamarinds be-
ing a tropical fruit.
las American consul / always re-
ceived the cooperation of the Hon
duras authorities, which made it pos
sible to obtain interesting data on the
country. l always received great at
tention from those in authority, hav-
ing early demonstrated that l sought
to aid them wherever and whenever
possible.
Used OId-StyIe Pillow.
Il was not trying to teach them
anything, simply showing how they
could benefit by making use of mod
ern appliances.
when / first went there the old
Spanish pillow, made Of a wooden
beam, on the end of which was a
piece of iron, with which the ground
was only scraped to a shallow depth,
was in general use.
Il told them of the modern pillow
which would greatly benefit crops. ]
wrote articles setting forth the ad.
vantages of modern machinery for the