The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-06-27


ing is 200 feet long by 60 broad; employs 100 looms
1900 spindles, and abon 100 operatives. The oper-
atives are mostly Spanish girls from Lima although
a few are from the interior, and are of Indian
traction. The factory is owned by DR.. Casanava,
a Spanish gentleman. Cotton cloth of very good
quality is manufactured. The girls all speak the
Spanish language.
The Panama has performed the whole passage
round in 76 days-having encountered much heavy
weather From the United States to Valparaiso we
had but GA hours of fair wind The whole distance
of ii $50 miles being almost entirely performed by
steam, the sails being of no use. The last day 3
run of the Panama the trip from Rio to Valpa-
raiso was 800 miles in 2Sa hours, l6 inches steam
and only her trysail set. The engine has not been
stopped once during the voyage, except when enter
ing port, and not an accident Of any kind has oc-
Cured. The unprecedented success which has at
tended our voyage is doubt attributable in great
measure to the ability and never-tiring vigilance
of Captain Porter. We part with him at Panama
with feelings of the deepest regret, and we only
hope that Captain Stout who is there to take com
mand, may fill his place.
Sunday, Mayo q P. M.-We have just arrived in
the harbor of Panama, and our anchor has dropped.
STEAM AND STORM AT SEA.
From Rio ,Janeiro to Valparaiso IN the u S. Mail
Steamer Pannma-Stedm and Sails IN the Straits
Shore and Sea Seen.ru-7h Pacific in Storm-Loss
Of a Ihan-7he Panama on a Lee Shore, DC
PANAMA, April, 1849.
We left Rio Janeiro on Sunday, March 25, with
the wind ahead, and except for few hours, kept it
ahead until after we entered the Straits of Mage-
Ian, Twelve days in all. We made Cage Virgin,
the northern point of the Straits at $50 A. NJ. on
Friday, April 5. This cape is high barren bluff,
with lofty snow capped mountains in the distance
At $50 we came to anchor near the northern shore
in Possession Bay, in III fathoms water, where we
laid until 80 on Saturday When we entered
the Straits saw three vessels.
At 10 A. M. on Saturday, spoke schooner Roe,
from New York for San Francisco-ali WE'LL and
going at a fine rate. She came close to us and ex-
changed cheers, bnt owing to the strong breeze
was unable to speak with US. She fell astern, not
being able like ourselves to make straight course
in spite OF wind and tide, which at that place runs
very strong, say 81 or miles per hour with 30 feet
rise and fall of the tide.
The land along the shore is high clayey sol,
covered with kind of faded vegetation, but no
trees or shrDbbery. In passing along the shore we
could see irsDurerable herds of animals resembling
our deer and elk grazing Both shores are bold
and the channel looks easy to navigate. The en-
trance of the Straits, between Cape Virgin and
Cape Espirito de Santo, is Is miles wide, though
the narrowest place is not over two miles wide
In The afternoon We passed three islands, called
Elizabeth, Martha and Magdalene Islands, from
the northernmost and southernmost points of one
of them reefs of rocks extend about mile Still
think there is danger difficulty in work
ing through the Straits than is found in all other
narrow misunderstanding most from strong winds
and stronger currents. The land on these islands
is also of a clayey appearance, with high bluff
shore and intervals Of low beach.
About P. NJ. Saturday night, April 8, passed
close to Port Famine, called by the Standards
who made settlement there, all the members of
which starved to death but d. before assistance was
rendered, after which the place was wholly aban-
doned. We kept under way all night, with our
Captain on deck at his post. We had high bluff
rocky mountains close aboard on both Sides and the
wind blowing violently, with rain. About mid
Bay. At ga. NJ. of the 18th saw brig at anchor in
York Roads, with the stars and stripes in her main
rigging. A small boat with five men left her and
pulled for our ship. Capt. Porter stopped for them
She proved to be the brig Saltillo, l04 days from
Boston, for San Francisco She had been % DAYS
getting thus far through the Straits and still had
more than hundred miles to go before she could
enter the broad Pacific. We gave them file of
papers. The Captain offered lis $500 to tow him
through the rest of the passage.
They told us there were great numbers of In
dams near bv From our vessel we could perceive
hordes of wild dogs, but no other animals.
Al 81 of the 7ih we passed and exchanged sig
mails with the schr. Iowa. About IL we passed GIa-
cer Bay, where both the mountain and the valleys
were covered with clear glacier of ice, having
most beautiful appearance, like blue waters with
countless ripples. had almost forgot to tell you
of the lofty reak of Mount Sacramento, which we
on Saturday, from Elizabeth Island. Ii is
$500 feet high, covered with perpetual snow, and
can be at distance of 80 miles.
The farther we advanced in The Straits, the
stronger became my opinion that square legged YES
sells would find great difficulty in getting through,
owing TO the great strength of the tide and the
rowness of the passage, which in some places does
not exceed II miles in width. When the wind
blows in violent squalls from the gullies in the
mountains sailing is almost impossible Fore and
aft schooners may do well enough when they have
the tids with them, but cannot make any Roadway
against the tide. The schrs. Iowa and Roe were
doing well under short sail when we passed them,
but as have already mentioned, the brig Saltillo
had been 70 days getting far as York Harbor,
and the Captain told us unless he had more IA
vorabe chance it would take him 80 days longer to
get the other part of the passage, which is little
lC0 miles. This makes il certain that many
of the sguare-rigged vessels which left New York
for California via Magellan will have hard time
getting through These remarks of course apply
to the passage from the Atlantic TO the Pacific
The shore on both sides is bold, having from 80 to
60 ialhoms WATER and in fact in some places there
is no bottom 10 be found.
At O'Clock we passed ST. AIMS Island. which
brought US into the sea reach, and at last we felt
the swell of the Pacific. At O'Clock we passed
Cape Tamour; We had heavvJswell on, with rain
and squalls from the west; the wind was dead
head. Our ship made the quickest time through on
Recommending the run from Cape Virgin to Cape
Tamour in 81 hours running time distance about
80 miles.
Our engine ana machinery did nObly through
thi, trial, and has done all the wav not having
to stop once for repairs since we left New York
We passed Cape Pillow on Monday. April 9, 2
A. NJ, with heavy gale of wind and an awful sea,
the ship pitching very much: the passengers gene
rally, fore and aft, were much frightened At A.
NJ. she pitched her head clear under when the bolt
which holds the bobstay was drawn and the bow
spirit carried short off by the head. have been at
sea. off and-on, twenty years, and | assure you |
never saw it blow harder, worse cross sea on.
OF all the ships | have seen, there is none to
he compared TO the Panama as safe and staunch
sea vessel
In all these trying scenes the Captain walked the
decks with evident anxiety. for we were on a lee
shore with heavy gale and tremendous sea, still
he kept up the dropping spirits of many of our heart
sick passengers, who would have given all in Cali
fornia TO be ashore. But no accident happened to
US except the breaking of the bowspr and the loss
ct the third mate from the top-gaant forecaste on
the main deck. A monstrous wave carried him of,
and we saw him no more. You may imagine how
bard 1t blew when tell you that some of our best
seamen were afraid to go aoft never saw YES
sci more easy in sea. Both builders and engi-
neers may be proud of their work. We had the
vinlent Gal w dave IA tLo ,,y;rJ baoJ