The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-04-17
The following letter was received from pas.
senger in the COrsair, belonging to ths town.

GoRGoNA, March 22d, 1919
few days alter our arrival, started with
horse that we purchased here, with load ovsr
the road TO Panama, the road about which vo,
nave undoubtedly heard such horrible accounts
IS as worthy oil them, as is the river Chagres I,
Is one oil the most romantic roads ever con,
up and down steep hills, over streams which in
the rainy seasons must be impossible. The rood
as 1t Is called, is merely well worn path for
the most Of the distance, but where it is possible
there are sometimes four or five tracks in con-
places the horses and mules have to 90 M hin -,
an angle OF 45 degrees, and up many Of these
places 1t is so worn that the original ton il from
10 III feet above the horses backs and so narro,,
that their loads touch the earth on each si5o
Sometimes the path leads along the side of a steeo
NIL, and single false step OF the mules. wonlA
send them head foremost down it, load and All
but they are never guilty OF this misdemeanor
they go along with their heads down and lool =,
every inch before they step.
There have been so many people on the 18th
mus that horses and mules have been broupbt
mere from all parts OF the country, many Ameri.
cans have bought horses and taken their o,y,,
goods over, and we are among the numbers I'M,
nave been rather unfortunate so far: as ma
horse strayed away and got lost, and has not
since been found, and another one was ohIiqed
10 leaVe on the road, he got injured hmt
VIII give the particulars OF this in regular rota
ton.
The distance from here to Panama, is about %
miles. After leaving Gorgona, the first stonn,ng
place is about e miles out on the right hand side
OF the road; 1t is native cottage made of drea
cane stocks, with roof matched with leaves
Alter leaving this, the next stopping place is an
American tent, set up by some young men from,
Manchester, N. H., who came out in the Gov.
sar. This Is about miles distant from the fire,
house; miles further on is the halt way house
on the top OF steep hill, there are 3 or A native
huts, but company from East Boston who came
also in the Corsar, have set up large tent. and
and have taken all the custom from the natives
There are also two or three smaller tents at this
place set up by our passengers Just before
coming to this place from Gorgona the road leads
over high mountain which is the highest pGint
on the lsthmus. After leaving the half wav
house, the road continues much the same for ;our
miles, when you come on the regular road lead
ing from Cruces, and which here intersects with
the Gorgona road The road from Panama TO
cruces, is paved or rather has been all the wav,
and Is vastly better than that to Gorgona. and is
the only one used in the rainy season, which is
generally from May to September, and is here
called winter. There has evidently in former old
Spanish times, been a great Geal of travel he
tween Panama and Cruces, the road is about
feet wide, and paved with those round boulder
stones used for he streets in Philadelphia the
edges OF this road, are paved with row of Iarg.
er stones on each side all the way to SUPPORT the
others, and keep them in their places at every
hoHow, there Is sort OF gutter across it, about
yard VIDE, and b inches deep as to allow the
waters to run across. On each side of the pavea
road, are paths in most places which the horses
seem TO prefer, as they consider the stones rather
hard walking, especially none of them have on
shoes.
From this point where the two roads intarsec,
II Is about miles to Panama the last 6 miles
Inc country is more open than any other part and
Is called the plains, the sun beats down here tre
mendously. From Gorgona to the intersection nj
this road, 1t is for the most part through dense
woods OF Plantaih and various other trees n
looks novel to travel through here and see these
ana various other trees with their large long
ieaVes spreading completely over the road
But the whole OF the distance to Panama. Won
meet at every quarter of a mile trains of horses
ana mules Juggling along with trunks barrels.
boxes, tents, washing machines, aud all the other
ParaPhernaila OF California emigrants
March 23d. We have now three horses and /
can get al the baggage over in this, and another
"Trip. nave already taken horse loads fo the
nall way house, and one TO Panama, from WHICH
CITY returned Monday. | left here ON the nre.
Vious Friday, and had great trouble with one
morse ne was young one, years old, and as he
hau never been on the road before tied him to
the tail OF the other one
had gone but short distance, when in going
up steep MI, he tumbled down and pulled the
mule down also, with heavy load on her,
Immediately united them, and unoaded the n,ul.
ana then had to move large log from the road
before | could get her up. then loaded her
again. whipped up the other one and tied him TO
tree, and kept Oil with the mule TO the first INIT
about IL miles, and after attending to her tee
went PACK for the other one, and led him to the
same place, and in the morning went back tor
the box. left this horse here and went nm 70
fanama, aud on my return found him in tiel
("hefe they had taken him TO graze) in the last
agonles OF death. | heaved sigh tor the noor
lehow, and then went on to Core ona i have made
three trips on the road, and am Intimately ac
quainted with about every yard OF it. The ma
yves all know me on the road, and call me the
'o"ong American who talks SPANISH thew call
me strong because they say | must be so to 30
over SO often and mind it so little as TO be always
singing. They treat me to nv supper and break.
iast &C, &C., and in return give them SONG
whlch Is as cheap way of paying as | knew OF.
Mahy Americans here, and at Panama have
gone' and are going, home DISCOURAGED at the
prospect OF going up on the Pacific f,o, D,o.uo