The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-03-25
INTERESTING intelligence
FROM THE
ISYHH6US and CALIFORNIA.
Our Isthmus Correspondence.
PANAMA, Republic Of New Granada,
February %. lS48

Our Isthmus Correspondence
PANAMA, Repubc Of New Granada,
February 22, 184S
The Tsp to Chages-Tst to the Opera- The
Rswte--Ihe Pleasures of GoLd Seeking-Txe
Journey to Pharmaceutical ofthe Mail Steamer
Orsgon-Her Speed-News from California, &c.
Comfortably seated in an old bamboo chair, in
the house OF NJ Ferand. French merchant, and
late Amencan Consul here, with the beautiful bay
Of Panama, dotted as 1t ls with lnnumerable
islands, full view, and the glorious Pacific shin
ing IN the distance, write you-trustlng that
rounded by your little ones and well tried friends,
you have not forgotten the maynard wanderer,
who let his fortune be good or ILL., can never forget
you.
AS you are aware, left New York IN the steam
ship Falcon, Capt. Thompson, on the lst OF Feb,
1S49. The ship had 3l5 passengers.
We touched at Charleston, S. c., Bar, and Savan-
nah, Ga river, or mails and on the morning OF tho
9Th arrlvedat Havana Here the passengers all went
on shore, and can assure you the old (and untor-
tunately worn out) slmlle of the bird escaping
from It's PRISON cage was most happily exempll6ed.
They danced, they sang, they drank, caroused,
rode up and down the streets and all over the
environs in rota~tes, and at night many paid
visit to the Tacon Theatre, and listened to The
bewitchiHg Tedesco, who poured forth her purest
notes In the magnificent opera OF Beatrice di Ten
di. II was indeed glorious carnival. A Spanish
town, like Havana, has always its attractions for
an untravelled American ; but for the careworn
ship bound passengers of the Falcon, Havana
proved a perfect Paradise. V,ve la bagateue was
The order of the day If the ship had remained
any longer, verify believe they would all have
been sick, or, worse than all-hat broke. never
understood before why sailors were 80 reckless ard
careless OF their money when they arrived In port
The problem ls now solved.
Al about O'Clock on the morning OF the 10th,
we lett this brilliant scene, with lts unrivsled
veity, and sailed for our port OF destination and
Oh Tuesday morning, February 18th, the joyful
news was announced that we were near Chagres
and on Wednesday morning, the 18th inst. upon
getting out Of my berth and looking through the
port hole Of my state room window, the famous
town ct Cbagres, with Its strong Notifications,
plainly visible, at the distance Of about mile.
How my heart bounded Upon going on deck.
found that the ship was riding at anchor outside
the bar 1t being impossible for vessel of her tom
mage, SO heavenly laden, to 60 1t with safety
the channel being very narrow and the water
shallow.
But here must go back little In my story. in
order that you may understand exactly what has
occurred since. Alter leaving Havana, it was pro-
posed that, In consideration OF the supposed diff
cuties OF crossing the lsthmus, \ committee OF
passengers be appointed, with authority to charter
the steamboat Orus to transport ue the river, and
to proceed Immediately upon rival at ChagIes, to
GOrgona, and engage mules for the transit Of pas
sengers and baggage to Panama. It was at tirst
proposed, moreover, that as 500 mules would be
required, and it was understood that only 800
could be Obtained at once that lots should be drawn
to decide who should 90 first with their baggage.
This arrangement tor one strongly opposed, and
aided by two or three sensible men, succeeded in
fYOwnlng It down II had been adopted, the cOnse-
quences must have proved most disastrous. 1t was,
IN fact proposition TO gamble TOR the chances Some
few individuals would, Of course, have gone first,
thora Yyarrv Vun haua hnan nhIt rod
to remain at Chagres tor weeks 1t was PROPOSE
tlOn, vehementy urged by some. TO set the freight
and baggage against the lives and comfort OF the
pdssengeIs-dry goods, boxes and cast iron against
immortal souls for the proposition was that each
lucky person was to take all his "punder" with
HIM, (and some individuals had tons OF freight,
requiring great number ot mules. OF course, } to
the detlmen: OF every human being on board who
was obliged to remain behind. For my own part,
] opposed the formation of any committee what
ever. Having travelled great deal, l had seen
the folly Of men-selhsh meD--bandlng together
for any such purposes. always have believed,
and this journey has strengthened me in the OPT
Mon, that every individual traveller had much bet
ter 90 on HE own hook" and trust to his own
but az the world geographically in the unhealthy
quarter where the town of Chagres lies-I know
nothing which can be substituted tor it with safety
There is no such thing as travelling democracy
The good or bad sense OF the majority on board
the Falcon prevailed, however, and a committee
was appointed. The idea seemed to prevail that
the majority had perfect right TO dictate to the
minority on snip board-though, Tor the lite OF me,
/ conId not the justice Of even 3l4 passengers
swallowing up for the nonce my individuality
The committee appointed were empowered to
charter the Orus, engage mules, and make all ne
cessary arrangements for the transit Of passengers
and baggage across the lsthmus--it being under
stood that tevery man WIS to have mule
for his own personal use, and then, II there were
more to be obtained, they were 10 be distributed,
per capita, for transporting the baggage. THIS
uya a n far and OF
general approval. And now we will return to the
morning OF the Falcons arrival at Chagres.
The committee went on shore at O'Clock, A NJ,
and returned about TO- They announced that they
had succeeded in charterins the Orus to take the
Falcons passengers to GorQOsa, Il distance of
50 miles, for $40 each man, and 81 for every extra
100 lbs. OF baggage after one trunk and one bag.
This the meeting agreed TO. DR.. Hientzemaa.
an American resident, (of about three weeks
standing, az has since been ascertalned, but a
pretty good honest man upon the whole,) was then
introduced, and a contract, which had been drawn
up between him and the chairman Of the commit
tee, read. BY 1t DIR. Hlentzleman agreed TO trans
port medlately upon their arrival each passenger
and 100 lbs. OF baggage from GOrgona to Panama,
for the cum OF SIS, and for every extra hundred
pounds Of luggage he was to receive s. he being
allowed eight or ten days from the time OF Its re-
ceipt to fulfil this part OF his contract. This was
also agreed to an office was INN edately opened
on board, and most OF the passengers PAID lnio me
hande Of the chairman the sum q SIS each, he
giving them pass, which the Doctor agreed IL
receive in payment. Among others, went into
this arrangement.
While discussing these matters on board the
Falcon, the bark Marietta, from New York, load
ed with passengers came into the harbor and we
congratulated ourselves on having secured the
steamer Orus in advance, The Orns, however,
instead OF coming alongside, us per agreement,
seemed to be busy in towing one or two vessels
over the bar and it was about o'clock p. M.
before she came 10 take of the passengers and
freight In the meantime we had removed to a
distant from Chagrs. Al 8 o'clock p. M about
half OF the baggage had been gotten out of the
hold and placed on board the Orus, when the
hatches were closed, and 1t announced that
only hall Of the passengers wsuId he taken up the
first trip Other rumors flew about some to the
effect THAT the Orus intended proceeding up the
Chsgres nver towards GorRona immed iatey, with
what freight and passengers were ready; others,
that she only intended hauling of a distance OF