On a special train provided by the Rio Tinto Company, Their Highnesses arrived on Tuesday the 17th at exactly one o’clock in the afternoon, ascending from the station to the esplanade of the workshops and facing the Open-cast mine, where a carpeted and comfortably arranged platform had been established as a halting place for such illustrious travellers. Facing this platform, a large commission from the Rio Tinto Town Council, the Director of the Establishment, the heads of the departments, the parish priests, and the officers of the force stationed in said town awaited the arrival of Their Highnesses. At half-past one, the train carrying them reached this point, and once the customary greetings were concluded, the procession toward the town began.
The route, adorned with the green leaves of shrubs, formed a truly enchanting scene, not only due to the fine arrangement of its decorations but also because of the many people positioned on both sides of the path, and the banners of Spain and industry shaped like shields; upon the columns appeared the inscription: «The R. T. Company to Their Royal Highnesses.» At the entrance to the town, another magnificent arch had been placed, also exquisitely decorated, which read: «The Town Council to Their Royal Highnesses.»
Upon coming into view of the Plaza de la Constitución, where the Town Hall and the “Casa Grande” are situated, we were struck by another magnificent sight. The square was decorated with masts from which fluttered pennants of various colours and a vast number of small lanterns. The route, adorned with green leaves and fragrant plants, presented a beautiful aspect. The balconies of the Establishment were decorated with rich fabrics, and the chords of the Royal March, mingled with the cheers of the crowd, indicated the genuine enthusiasm of that population toward such illustrious travellers.
After a succulent luncheon prepared by the Hotel Colon, they set out to tour the Establishment accompanied by a large commission and several employees of the Company. For this visit, the Company had luxuriously prepared fine carriages decorated with the greatest taste, in which Their Highnesses displayed a shield with the arms of Spain. The first department they visited was the Huerta Romana Smelter, where they were able to witness the act of tapping six furnaces at once, an operation consisting of extracting the molten matte into moulds where it solidifies; true rivers of molten ore.
They later proceeded to the San Dionisio department where, suitably attired for the purpose, they descended via the Alicia Shaft elevator to the 19th floor (approximately 200 metres), travelling through the interior across spacious ore galleries until reaching the San Dionisio shaft, where they ascended in another elevator. They viewed the powerful machinery of those shafts; the water extraction pump; the ventilation machine that operates the drills; the windlasses of both shafts; the classification quays; and all the apparatus that forms part of that vast and well-organised department. They then moved on to the Cerda Cementation works, where they examined the basins and precipitation tanks, copper-scale washing machines, drying kilns, deposits, and so forth.
At six o’clock in the evening, they returned to the town and proceeded to the parish church, where a Te Deum was sung. A truly popular spectacle was offered that night by the residents of the town of Rio-Tinto; this was the celebration of a dance in the square in front of the Casa Grande. A ballroom was improvised, suitably carpeted and enclosed by some 6 or 8 rows of chairs; Venetian lanterns were lit, along with several wind-torches and all the lamps contained in the square’s iron columns and its central candelabrum. Amidst admirable order and with true enthusiasm, sevillanas were danced by the most beautiful young women of the town, who tonight wore their finest gala dress. Having seen this from the balconies, Their Highnesses could do no less than honour the dance with their presence. Indeed, from 10 o’clock at night until 11:30 when they retired to rest, Their Highnesses did not tire of praising the great order among the ladies who composed the dance. Beautiful popular songs and grand sevillanas were sung, which are only the mastery of the people of Andalusia.
Upon retiring from the dance, Their Highnesses received every kind of affectionate demonstration from the numerous public that crowded the square to witness the popular spectacle. The following day, they visited the grand South Lode open-cast pit, witnessing from the benches themselves the firing of fifty explosive charges set in the ore. They then went to the bottom of the Pit, entering through the large station tunnel, traversing several galleries and seeing some caves from the Roman era. From here, they passed to the new North Lode open-cast, viewing at the same time the ancient materials found in that area.
They visited with the greatest scrutiny the copper sulphate and sulphuric acid factories, passing through the various calcination tracks where they were able to appreciate at close quarters the effects of the smoke from their teleras. At one o’clock, the excursionists returned to the town, and after lunch, they returned to their carriages and headed to the Naya department, where they admired those immense and well laid out “Doestch Process” grounds.
At four o’clock sharp, they returned to the Station, where the special train that was to carry them to Huelva was formed. The immense multitude gathered to see Their Highnesses off, broke into cheers and applause for the illustrious guests. Three enthusiastic huzzas were heard at the moment the train departed, mingled with the chords of the Royal March. Long live Their Highnesses, the Rio Tinto Company, and the Town Council! In summary, the visitors have remained highly satisfied, not only with the conduct and good sense of the people of Rio-Tinto but also with the truly splendid and affectionate reception by the Company.
IN HUELVA–Yesterday, very early in the morning, they visited our town, strolling through the principal streets and expressing their approval of the cleanliness and order thereof; they visited the Church of the Concepción, later retiring to the Hotel Colón at 10am, where a splendid luncheon was served to them. Accompanied by the authorities and official bodies; a few moments later, joined by Mr. Sundheim, his charming daughter Justa, Mr. Doetsch, and the chief engineer of the port, Mr. Molini, they went on an expedition to Torre Umbria and La Rabida in a little steam ship used at the port and tastefully decorated
The amplitude of our river, the beauty of our town, the piers, the lovely landscapes were all appealing to our travellers as well as the wonderful beaches of Torre Umbria and the panoramic veiws from La Rabida: at six o’clock they returned to the Rio-Tinto Pier where an engine with two coaches awaited them to convey them to the station and from there to the Hotel. At that hour, a great number of curious onlookers awaited the arrival of Their Highnesses.
Last night an official banquet was held at the Hotel Colón, to which some 25 or 30 persons were invited; among them the Civil and Military Governors, the two parish priests, the President of the Court, the Prosecutor of the same, the Marine Administrator, the Delegate of the Treasury, the President of the Provincial Council, Mr. Guillermo Sundheim, Mr. Doetsch, several members of the consular corps, and other personages. Today at 8 o’clock in the morning they left by express train to Villamanrique, with our primary municipal authority and the official body descending to the station to bid them farewell.
(Adapted from La Provincia)
