Our Trip to Jamaica by E. Van Deusen

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Oct 30, 1913

Our Trip to Jamaica

By E. Van Deusen

We left Grand Rapids, Mich., Monday morning, September 15. Our party consisted of Mrs. Van Deusen, and our daughter, Mrs. Haysmer, and myself. We expected to make close connections in Ft. Wayne, reaching Philadelphia the next morning, where our grandson, Dr. E. D. Haysmer, of Washington, D. C., was to meet us and spend the day with us. Our train being late, the train for Philadelphia was gone. This was a disappointment to us, as it would cost several dollars more to take a Pullman train, but this was the only thing to do if we met Dr. Haysmer according to arrangements; but when, a few miles from Philadelphia, we found the train that we had intended to take, a wreck, three cars on their side, several persons hurt, and the passengers waiting for our train to take them into the city, we felt that the Lord had overruled. We might have been among the injured.

Wednesday we started on our thirteen-hundred-mile trip to Port Antonio, Jamaica, on the “Admiral Dewey” of the United Fruit Company line. We had a very fine, smooth trip. There were twenty-three passengers, but after the first day the absence of some from the tables told that we were not all good sailors, even on a smooth sea. However, they gradually returned, and later on all were at their accustomed places.

We arrived at Port Antonio at eight o’clock Sunday night, and were met by our son-in-law, Elder A. J. Haysmer, who got our things through the customs and ready for us to take the early train for our destination. We slept on board that night, and also had breakfast before leaving.

We boarded the seven o’clock train, which took us along seashore windings, then up by serpentine ascents and right and left windings, through twenty-three tunnels, to Riversdale, six hundred feet above sea-level.

Today is Wednesday, and we are recovering from our journey. We found friends, and letters of welcome from some whom we knew when we were here years ago; also a neat little cottage waiting to be occupied; and although our goods have not arrived from America, we have been able to borrow some things and are very comfortably situated.

To give you a little idea of the weather, I shall say that Monday noon the thermometer registered 82°, at night 65°; Tuesday noon 83°, at night 68°; Wednesday noon 78°, at night 65°. We were have a good breeze most of the time.

The island has made great strides in banana raising since we were here before, many ship-loads leaving weekly. We are enjoying the tropical fruits,—oranges, guavas, lemons, etc.

E. VAN DEUSEN.