Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, June 3, 1889, Page 3

LIFE IN THE HESPERIDES. It is Almost Realized in Portions of Central America. THE SULA VALLEY OF HONDURAS A Land of Waving Palms, Pinnated Cocoas, Luscions Fruits and Dark-Eyed Castilians—The Leg nd of Belize. An Earthly Parndise. ‘We who livein the cold climate of the north and witness the animating and radizal changes of the season, says & correspondent of the Chiengo Nows, writing from San Pedro Sula, Hondu- ras, have eome very vague and spicy idens of the tropics, and people the im- agination with languid and dreamy fan- cies of veritable lotus-eaters. W e stirred by a fasclnation for waving palms, pinnated cocoas, luscious fruits, dark- d Castilians and an existence as enchanting as that enjoyed in the ancient gardens of the Hesperides. And while our passionate fancies may have thrown too much coloring into the pic- ture dnd marred its real beauties with the deformities of exaggeration, it must be confessed that even some of our wildest fancies are fully realized 1n Central Ame v One cannot truthfully dissipate these glorious dreams of the tropics who has visited and lived for awhile in the Sula valley of Honduras, where our party 1s at present stopping. Our voyage across the gulf was comparatively uneventful, and we reached Bel on the evening of our fourth day from New Orleans. This is the capital of British Honduras and is beautifully situated behind a series of reefs and Islands and inter- sected by a small river of the same name. The harbor is an excellent one, and but for its shallowness near the city would be considered one of the finest on on the coust. The ¢ i name from 4 famous or Balice, whose piracies be scourge of this coast between 1630-70. But he was finally displaced when the valuable mahogany and dye woods of this section attracted English attention. THE LEGEND OF BELIZE. The historical and legend: account of this city is just now receiving con- siderable attention in the colony us one of the sensations of the hour, when we arrived there, was the revival of the excitement rcgur\lin&v fabulous buried treasures of the ol buccaneers on Turneffe, an immense island which lies in front of the cit; It will be recalled that an expedition was fitted out some- where in the north last year and fur- nished with a yacht and supblies, with which they came down to one of the reefs on the coast to search for this treasure. The party was led by A. G. Horne and Thomas Peck, who came here, and, a‘ter digging for a consider- able time at Calabash Cay, the princi- pals foll out, and the work was abandoned. Peck has since died, and Horne returned last week and has just negotiated with the colonial govern- ment for the privilege of making further excavations. The compnct hus just been signed whereby hor majesty’s province is to receive 10 per cent of the {ind and Horne is to pay the expense of a guard, who1s to watch the interests of the government. In addition, the owners of the land are to receive 10 er cent additional if the treasuro is ound. Horue is a very quiet, intelli- fuut gentleman, who does not seem to have any of the elements of a crank about him, though thoroughly imbued with the a that nearly $2,000,000 of buried treasure lies untouched beneath the tangled morass of Turnefle. details of the matter were ve: 10 obtain, us Horre is very reticent, ex- cept in his declaration that he pos- sesses exclusive information, and holds the key to the whereabouts of this fab- ulous treasure of the old pirates. Many theories aud wild statements are natur- ally afloav concerning how and when Horne came into possession of his secret and there is considerable credence laced in his ultimate success in find- ng the treasure, The state of Belize was erected into a colony In 1862, and since that time has been more or less a self-sustaining proy- ince. One of the chief industri the city is its hide and cattle business, carried on within the state and with Spanish Honduras. It also does an ex- tensive trade in medical plants. Sarsa- punlln gasafras, cochineal, gum arabie, quassia, and numerous gum {irees abound in this section. Its mahogany cedar and 1ndia rubber interests, though not so large as formerly, play no small part in its commerce, while numerous dye woods and fancy woods are exported in large quantities. Bra- zil wood, sandal and snake wood, rose wood. and many other handsome speei- mens, 50 much prizea for fancy wood- work, are found here. The city has a population of 7,000 souls, of which only about two hundred and fifty are white, the remainder being composed of not less than eight other nationalities, WHERE CORTEZ LANDED. ‘We spent about twelve hours at this rt and again sailed for Puerto Cortez 'his latter is the chief port of Spanish Honduras on the Caribbean sea, [t enjoys the distinction of having been the first landing made by the great and heartless adventurer, whose name it still bears. It was founded about 1519, and was first called Natividad. During the reign of the viceroys it attained considerable commercial importance. In 1874 it was made the northern ter- minus of the Inter-Oceanic railway, but with the decline of that enterprise fell into decay, until more recent years, when it has once more assumed its an- cient prominence, and is now the great lruit epot for the United States mar- ket. The, . population, consisting of about el lm ull!‘od is entirely Span- ish, The hanses, like most ol those encountered in the interior, have thatehed-grass roofs on, many of more humble pretensions aro made entirely of grass or cahoon leaves., The natives do but little work, contenting them- selves with a small supply of plantains and banunas, which they grow around their huts, and pass the greater portion of their time in dreamy inertness. Theore are, of course, many respectable nxmpliunl to this rule, us attested by some of the magnificent banana and cocopnut plantations near the place, from which many of the New Orleans importers are supplied. Iv was at this port that our party first appreciated the real luxury of sleeping in a hammock. One lies down peacefully without the annoying cunwloulnou. as some might suppose, of *‘savage beasts nud still more :;vaxe men,"” if nut that lesser terror of e night, the tropical mosquito. We had heard much of this latter pest, but he did not materiulize, They are comn- mon anou;lh in certain places, but con- centrated in disproportionate numbers. Around the stagnant peols and lagoous they congregute in vast numbers, but are sparselyscattered elsewhere. The chief annoyance, and tho one most to be dremod here at night (so we are in- formed), is the vampire bat, whow blood-sucking propeasities were related to us in frightful details. This creature has been often known to invade a ham- mock and take a tribute in the biood of the unconscious sleeper. But we have not yet encountered inim, and shall pray for ‘complete exemption from his ac- quaintaoce. A peculiar sort of individual 18 en- countered at Puerto Cortez, whose color, physiognomy, language, and en- tire demeanor marks him a_distinet race from those around him. He is the Carib, whose ehony hue, bushy hair, flat nose, and thick lips, at onee strike you as a pure Africal But his origin from this latter race denied. He is rather shy in demeanor, possessing but few if any of the traits of the other people among whom he livas, Rather in contrast to other natives around him, who are more or in- clined to indolence and laziness, he is very thrifty and energetic, and, though ignorant, he would seem to con- stitute a Spanish that the less very substantial n-h‘nu-nl of taking an part in the civil wars which have s often agitated these republics. Their favorite occupation is fishing and man- ufacturing boats, oars, etc., as most of the little pitpans, dories and other small craft sailing the sea to which they have given their name are the work of their hands. Their strange tongue was for a long time undistin- guishable, but of recent years it has been carefully and earnestly studied, and one missionary has undertaken the laborious task of compiling a grammar. It is undoubtedly one of the most diffi- cult languages spoken in this country, and the labor of collecting its difficult phrases, disjointed terms, and strange sh is by no means an easy task. city is very picturesquely located at the head of the Sula valley. Upon either side are located spurs of the Cor- dilleras, rising abruptly from the sea and running a zigzag course into the interior. I°rom its advantageous posi- tion it was selected as the northern ter- minus of the Inte sanic railway, and the thirty-seven miles of the com- pleted portion of this road traverses the heart of the valley and now termi- nates at San Pedvo. The history and many v this road, the immense sums in its construction, the fruitless efforts situdes of quandered to revive its drooping stocks, and its present dilapidated condition would fill a volume of immense proportions and even a succinet resume would fill more space than we can now devote. Ina future letter I may have something to say on the suject, as an effort is now being made by New York railroad mag- nates to absorb the road. After a brief stay at Puerto Cortez we took the railroad for San Pedro. Its courso through the Sulais bounded by decp, shady verdure. The ground is porfectly level and thickly earpeted with dried leaves beaten flat to the earth by the rains, through which thou- igs and beau- ng and load- ing the air with grateful ordors. In many places the road led through long bowers, where the prolific tropical vines looped together overhead the im- mense cahoon and mangone trees. Amid this wild and romantic growth fluttered and chattered the parrots aud parroquets, while at intervals the havsh scream of the macaw would be heard from the top of some tall coacoanut or guanacaste. There are several small stations along the line of this little narrow-gauge road, where we encoun- tored numerous types of the varied races which constitute the population of Hon- duras. The custom of intermarriage in voguebetween the whites, Spaniards, Indians, Mestizos, and even the Caribs, while not universal in this section, has been so much practiced that iv has left but few distinet races, and_perhaps no regular and uniform type of cizilization. There is consequently encountered upon every hand al! shades and sizes of peo- plesspeaking mostly the common lan- guage of the country. Despite these inroads npon the original true Castil- ian blood, the stranger may mect al- most hourly pure Spanish beautios, whose symmetrical forms, black lan- quishing eves,and expressive faces fully warrant the encomiums which have been lavished upon thom. THE CITY OF SAN PEDRO. After a monotonous run of seven hours we find ourselves at the small sta- tion of San Pedro Sula. It is situated in the heart of the valley, with the tall peaks of the Onoa and Merinden moun- tains upon either side, and flanked by the majestic streams of the Ullua and Chemebcon. Great forests of cocoa, muhogany and cedar trees spread out in ev direction, relieved here and there by coffee and bananw estates sur- od by hedges of eacti. city of San Pedro was founded in 1536 by Alvarado, one of the intrepid generals of Cortez, who performed the first wonderful march from Mexico into this count But littie is known of its enrly , though it came into prominence in 1868, when a large colony of emigrants from Georgia and other southern states located here for the purpose of raising cotton. It was thought that the fleecy staple of the south would find here a prolific growth in a soil of such wonderful richness. But they discovered too late that the soil was unsuited to the cotton plant, which rather inclined torun to stalk and branch out into a tree than to yield the coveted fiber. After two unsuccess- ful years the coiony beeame demoral- ized and most of them returned to the states. The only one left here of the original number is Mr. William A. Coleman, who wisely turned his attention to sugar-planting, and has been eminently successful. His estate near the city is one of the largest in the department. Sugar cane grows here without replant- ing for ten consccutive years. It is of excellent quelity, attaing o remarkable height, and is capable of being manu- factured into the best sugar known. But the fruit business is perhaps the leading industry of San Pedro at the present time, as every train to the coast is now laden with bananas, plantaias, conconnuts, mangors, limes. tamarinds, and other tropical fruits. The fruit in- dustry has increased v.onfohl in the last decade, and not less than four hundr thusand bunches of bananas alone are shipped from Puerto Cortez every moath. Of this fruit industry, as weil as many others in Honduras, we shall have more to say in a subsequent iet- ter. Our mext few days will be busied with preparations for our departure into the wilds of Olancho and the ex- ploration of the great valley of the Guayape. S That hacking coug hean be soquickly cured by Shiloh’s Cure. We guarantee it. For sale by odman Drug Co. ol ok = A Tyrone (1‘ Rural New orts the potato of Proteus among our crops. It defies all at- tempts to lay down rules for its culture. As far back as thedaysof that first agricultural editor, Arthur Young, who had General Washington for a cor spondent, we see the same ‘inquiries and the same difierences of opinion on points of treatment that are found to-day. A Moutreal correspondent speaks of sawdust as tending to induce scab. Now, my accidental experience last season was that the only quite clean and smooth potatoes that had—in heavy loam mulched, but without the use of any fresh manure—were where sawdust, used as a mulch for raspberries, had rolled into the furrow so that the young potatoes were found bedded in it under the soil covering. They were so 8o fair and handsome that, although the result seemed quite unaccountable, I resolved to make a special trial of a sawdust bed for the tubers next year. GREAT PANTS SALE 'HW : £ ) ars Soap |". Fair white hands; Brightclear complexion Soft healthful skin. PEARS'~Te Gt Engh Gonploion SO, Sl Evrywhare® RADWA Tnstant]; For SURAI ing the an to instantl RALGIA, LUMBAGU, and re xmted ap| ucmnm- are necessar, BOLICT SPASMS. NAUSES Sivad instantl 50 cents a Bottl "IMPORTERS Q\%fi’vf TN PLATE ¢ METALS, NAILS, HOUSE FURNISHING odpe § SHopsthe most excrucating & BRUTSES, KAUHE, TOOTAGHE, or any other extc r YA ON ‘IATILA PAINQ IN TH MA m Al INTERNAL PAINS, DIAR"H(FA DYSENT 9 NRRVOUSNESS, 8L REPLES uickly cared by taking lnwurdly 20 10 60 drops in half a tumbler of water. by Drugalsts. 'S PILLS there is no better CURE or PREVENTIVE OF FEVER AND AGUR o0 smm:n, Bnmg w—, HARDWARE DY RELIEF FOR PAIN palns: never fails to PAIN IN THE CH H..\\nm'rln LL OF THE INTING SPELLS, v T O sn)m uuumcnk lications, ru\)hadonh{lh.ml,mtIlknmn ¢, cAus: IN 8, RUEUMATISN, SNE3S are re JOBBERS & LAMPS, GLASSWARE . ; Boots and shoo KIRKONDALL, JONES Buccessors to Reed, Jones & Aoy Street, Omala, Browers. et Cornice. EAGLE Proprietor. Office Fixtures. SIMMONDS MANUF Manufacturers of &00, " Co. Wholesale Manafactorers of Boots & Shoes Agonta foj Hosion frubbor Shoe Co, 110, 1104 sud 1106 o T STORYZ & ILER, Lager Beer Brewers M North Eighteenth stroet, Omaha, ¥eb. CORNICE WORKS, Mann‘actarers of Galvanized Iron Cornice Window.caps and metalic £ks1'ghts, John Epenctor, 108 and 110 South 10th street. bank, ‘0fice and Salnnu hxhlm riitions, tailings, Cooters, Nl nd offce Bouth Tith B, Unaha. "Telophone 156 Paper Boxes. JOHN L. W, IthP 'NEU- ore extended ERY, No M. A. DISBROW & O Wholesale manufacturor Proprictor Omaha Paper Box Factory, Ad 1318 Douglas stroet, l\mnhn, Neb. ‘Sash, Doers, Etc. 0. Sash, Doors, Blinds aud Monldings, _Branch uf!w 108 and Teard street Omahia, Neb, BOHN MANUFACTURING CO. Mannfoctarors of Sash, Doors, - Blinds, Mouldings, stafe wark and {atbioF B wood Hothh . B! corner Sth and Lenvenwe rih streets, Omihia, Neb, am Flnlngs. Pumps, Etc. & CLARK STEAM HEATING 00 Pumps, Pipes and Engings, Steam. wator, Ty B0 mining supplies, ete FISHING TACKLE, SPORTING > = 80008, K nd 924 Farnam street, Oy PU. "RU“Z\I‘ LL & ('0 MP Steam flll[l Wfi[fl 8nnnllcs Engmes Boilers and General Machinery. Bieebiron, work, #loi puris Loavenworth stre Iron Works. STRAM Carter & Son, Prop’s. Manufacturers For Stle by M, H, BLISS, Omaha, Nebraslte STRANG & CLARK STEAM HEATING CO. Steam and Hot Water Heating and Ventilating Apparatus and Supplies. Engines, Boilers, Steam Pumps, Etc. 500 pair all wool Scotch stripes and plaids in all colors, $2.75, worth $4.50. 300 pair blue mix Scotch, all wool, $3.00. worth $5.00. 300 pair grey stripe, all wool, some. thing very nobby, $3.00, worth $5.50. 500 pair Scotch plaids, all wool, in brown and grey, $3.50, worth $6.00. 200 pairs dark cassimere. all wool, brown stripe; perfect fitting, $4.00 to $4.50, worth$6.00 to $7.00. 300 mairs all wool cassimere pants, in plain, plaids, stripes and checks, dark and light colors, all going at $4.50, worth $6.75. tion a few, as follows: 500 pairs all wool Scotch Stripes and Plaids, all colors, at $2 75, worth double. 300 pairs all wool Scotch blue mixed, $2, worth $5, 300 pairs all wool Grey Stripe, very nobby, at $3. 500 pairs all wool Scotch Plaids, in brown and grey, at $3. 50. ) 200 vairs all wool dark Cassimeres, brown stripe, at $4 and'$5.0 800 pairs all wool Cassimeres.in plain vlaids, stripes and checks,light and da’ And many others. In men’s, youths’, boys’ and’ chtldrens suits, we shall make special prices during this week, and you will find, ;t to your advantage to ex- Look, Read and Then Act! TREMENDOUS OFFER OF PANTALOONS M. HELLMAN & CO. LA TREMENDOUSLY LOW PRICES! Your choice from a stock of several thousand pairs at the Clothing Emporium of Pants for Fat People. Pants for Lean People. amine our goods and prices before purchasing. MATIL ORDERS SOLLICITED. C. O, D, with privilege of examining before paying, and if not entirely satisfacy_ ory, can be returned at our expense. M. HELLMAN & CO., 11301-1303 Farnam, 304 to 312 S. Pants for Tall People. Pants for short People. Pants for Everybody, Having bought for spot cash the closing slaughter of a large eastern exclusive pantaloon factory, we are enabled to offer special bargains, of whlch we men- Any goods sent by express colors, $4.50 I3th Street.] 12131218 JILER WORKS, of all kind §'eam Boilers, Tanks aud Sleet Iron Work _ Works Soutn 20th and B. & M. crossing. PAXTON & VIERLING 1IRON WORKS, Wrought and Cast Iron Bui ding Work, Engines, brass work, genoral foundry, maghine and blacksmith work. Office and worxs, and 17th stroet, OwAha. OMAHA WIRE & IRON wom:s, Mannfactarers of Wire and Iron Railings Desk rally, window guards, flowor stands. wire sigas, orth 16ih street, Omal " OMAHA SAFE & IRON W 'ORKS, Mant’rs uf fll‘fl and Bnrglar Proof "afns an L a3 fire un\npe- Sts. ckson " SOUTH OMAHA. UNION 0f Omahg, Limiled John TOCK YARDS (O, SHROEDER & DEAN, GRAIN, Basement First National BONDS Wo deal {n Land W, Applicable to_ Govern eguln Correspondence Solicited. .| Frovisions = Stocks Bank. O ISSUED BY STATES, OUNTIES, CITIES, SEIUDL DISTRICTS, ETC., Banking Busine S. . KEAN & CO., Basxers, 100 WASHINGTON STREET, CHICAGO, tiL, 115 BROACWAY. NEW YORK. Tel. W1 ND WANTED Tssued by Cities, Counties, School Districis, Water Com panies, &, Correspondence solicited. 56 Devonshire Htreet. BO! We are in the market for the purchase of round amounts of such bonds, N. W. HARRIS & COMPANY, Bankers, 115-117 Monroe Street, CHICAGO. STON. )i advice fre Flenco; budinoss quietly and (L//l s OHAufinHUBINESS L Q_I.I-FO U. §. DEPCSITORY, OMAHA, Capitai... Surplus Jan, OFFIL HENRLY W Y LEWIS B. A, THE IRON BA NEBRASKA NATIONAL BANK NEB, 2400,00) 2,00 ES, Cashise NK, Corner 1:th and Farnam Sts, A General Banking BusinessTransacte:l. 8. W. Corner Farnam and 1 Paid in Capital, OF 0. K. BARKER, Prestdent. E. I’Il.\'»u Prosids Cashier, 'OR, Asslst DIRECTORS: uals recolved on »AY THE PANK OF COMMERCE, il s, $300,000 ont, ant Cashier. TATE e INCUITARS Vcwes J(MAYNES‘. g (o (CES - BOSTON-FAASS” SEND FOR k45 RATED (ATALOG GVE ERES CHURCHILL l'x”"\b.l!, Dealer 12 Agricultaral Implements, Wutm Carriages and huexles. ones strect; between Hh maba, LININGER & ME LF LO-- Agricult” Implements, Wagons, Carriages _Bugglos, ote. Wholesale. Omana, Nebraska. NDORF & MARTIN CO« Wholesale Dealors in Agricaltural Implements, Wagons& Buggies ¥ 901, &6, A7 Jonos streel, OmAhn. MOLINE, MILBURN & STODDARD (,o.. Manufacturers and Jobbors in | Wagons, Buggies, Raes, Flows Bla Cor. 9th and Pacific streots, Omahs. : _Arti {.' Materl A H()\l‘lu. Artists Materials, Pianos gud Organs, 1813 Douglas ltml Omahs, Nebraska, V. MORSE & (0., Jobbers of Boots end Shoes.. 1101, 1108, 1105 Douglas strect, Omabn. Manutactorsy s n::\;'n'm&-i, e Jobbers of Harfl and So Coal 300 South I5th streot, Omahs, Nebraske, NEBRASKA FUEL CO., Shipre s of Coal a-d Coke, 214 South 18th St., Omaha, Neb. comml--lon and storag RIDDELL & RIHDhLL, Storage 2nd Commission Merchants, Speclaltion T Bustor, ogen. chsese. poultrs, games Ftroot_Omwi e E. :\N!HH & (‘0 Dry Gonfls, Furmsmna Goods anfl Nuflm 1102 and 1104 Douglias, eor. 11th stroet, Omaha, Neb. KILPATRICK- KOCH DRY GOODS CO.y [mporters end Jobbexs in Dry Goods, Notions Gents' furnishing goods, Comor 1IN and Har Omuha, Nebraska. ot HELIN, THOMPSON & Ot .y Tmporters and jobbers of i Woolens ant Tailors' Frimmings, 7 Bouth 15th street. —_— __Furniture. DEWEY & Q]()\F. | Wholesale Dea'ers in Furniture Farnam street, Omahn, Nebraska. CHARLES SHIVERICK, - Farniture, ! Cmaba Nebrasks. Crocerlos. PAXTON, GALLAGHER & CO. Wholesale Groceries and Provisions. 706, 707, 709 and 711 80uth 10th st., Omaha, Neb. Me(' URD BRADY & CO., Wholesale Grocers* 13th ana Leavenworth streets, Omaha, Nebraska, Hardware “W. J. BROATCH. Heavy Hardware, Iron and Steel 8prings, wagon atol )mmwnm, lumber, eto, 138 i nd 1211 Hainey streot, Omaha. LEE CLARKE, ANDREESEN HARD- WARE COMPANY. Wholesale Hard ware, Catlery, Tin Plate, Motals, shent iron. etc: 'Agonts for Howo seal Mi wior aud Lyman barbed w - e {EBAUGH & TAYLOR. Build I‘S’ Hardware aud Sca’s Repair Shop Mochanics' tools and Buffuio scales. 1605 Dougls strest, Omana, Neb. s ! Lumher .7()IIA A WAK Whn esale Lumber, Etc. GHAS T LEE, Dealer in Hardwood Lumber, Wood carpets nnd parqugt fcoring. oth and Dauglas strects, Omehia, ~ OMAH. Lmnmnc 5 AllRindg of Bnilding Material at Wholesale, 18th Street and Union Pacific 'rack, Omaha, LOUIS BRADFORD, Dealer in Luwnber, Lath, Lime, Sash, Doors, Bto, Yards- S bonmn Coraer 10th end Douglus; FRED W. GRAY. Lumber, lel: Gcmflm l-llc., 4 Dealer in All Klmls of Lumber, 18th and Callfornls Burcets, Owaha, Nebrasks, L OUFHFbLDh R & g v Wholesale Notions and Furnishing Goods, Lo 14 ana Howar.l strosts, Uinii, Toys. H HALDY & €O, Jobbers of Toys, Dalls, Albums Faucy Goods, House” iy e Us cmiringes ) Al N )y, CONSOLIDATED TANK LINE CO., ' Wholesale Refined and Luhriuannz Oils, Axle urease, oto, Omaha, A. H. Hishop, Mansges, T OGARPENTER PAPER €O, ) Wholesale PflIJBF Dealers, Carry s 2ice paper. Buee "UNION PACIFIC ON SALE PRINCIPAL POINTS EAST, WEST, NORTH and SOUTH i Sl 1802 FARNAM STREETD,