The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-02-17

charge.
as the steamer reared the fort the cap
tain with two others mounted the pilot
house, each with a rifle. As the steamer
came abreast of the fort an old gun was
in evidence, two barefooted soldier stand
ing By with lighted fuses ready for bust
ness, and an officer with much gold lace
and large sword stood by them. AS
the steamer passed those on the pilot
house held their rifles to their faces
pointing directly at these soldiers and
their commander, and with this display of
force the steamer passed the fort about
one mile, when she returned, the captain
with several of the passengers went on
shore and on their return three cheers
were INDUCED in by those on board
when we steamed away. Had those on
shore turned that old gun loose and by
chance hit the steamer the alligators
would have Jared much better for break
fast than those on board the steamer.
All day steaming brought US to Virgin
Bay at head of the lake just as the sun
was disappearing. Facilities for landing
at this point were only by lighters, the
water being very shoal. Even the light
ers could not reach dry land, one. fourth
mile intervening, and transportation for
that distance was on the back of ma
tive and twenty-five cents was the COM
pensation. At this point there was quite
village, where one could obtain some
thing in the nature of meals. One meal
of the usual diet was all that had been
provided while crossing the lake. The
| following morning note was posted on
the transit company's Office that to all
passengers who would surrender that por-
ton of their tickets calling for trans
| portation from Virgin Bay to San Juan
Del Sur, twelve miles, SIS would be paid.
Most assuredly that looked good. To
walk IL miles and receive SIS therefor
was very much like picking up money in
the road to many When the mules
|
as though those who had started to walk
had much the best of the bargain, and
many of those who elected to ride that
day were walking when they arrived at
their destination.
| On arriving at San Juan Del Sur an
other disappointment awaited US. No
steamer was in evidence for San Fran
cisco. Eight days elapsed ere one put
in an appearance and during this period
all passengers were paid two dollars each
day in lieu of rations. There was an
abundance of food at this point but hard
| ly any other accommodations. The
steamer that arrived was the Independ-
I ence and she could not accommodate all
the passengers who came down on the
much smaller ship and there was much
trouble, the cabin passengers claiming
their superiority by virtue of that fact.
The matter was settled by taking the
number of the tickets and when the
complement was reached no more were
allowed to 90 on board. Many exchanges
were made, some cabin passengers ex-
changing their tickets Tor steerage, pay
ing difference to compensate one for
their board during their detention. The
steamer Independence was intended for
the Hudson River trade and had had
another deck added, making her very
cranky. On the voyage up the officers
were continually herding the passengers
from side to side during the day time to
keep the old hooker on an even keel.
Fortunately the weather was very pleas
ant until the Gulf of California was
reached. There was some thing of a
blow at that point and the passengers
were kept below for about "a hours. The
| accommodations for the steerage pas
sengers were somewhat superior to those
on the Prometheus, but the facilities for
feeding them were much the same, and
will remark in passing that the steerage
passengers were not allowed abaft the
wheel shaft. The galley for cooking the
which gave the steerage passengers
chance for much foraging and other de-
vices for procuring dainties. Many very
amusing stories could be related of the
schemes resorted to for obtaining delica-
cIes destined for the cabin table.
We called at Acapulco to coal and to
procure fresh supply of beef, which
was accomplished by swimming several
head of cattle off to the ship and hoist
ing them on board with a tackle from
the yard arm. From that date our ra-
tions were varied occasionally with what
was designated as fresh beef, but it was
hard to determine just what it might con-
sist of. The morning prior to arriving