Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1849-02-17
ARRIVAL OF THE FALCON.
ABOUT THE ROUTE TO cALrFoRNIA.

I
The New Orleans evening papers of the
9th instant, chronicle the arrival there, that
morning, of this fine steamship from Cha
gres, as heretofore announced by telegraph.
She left that place on the evening of the Isl
instant, and reached the Balize at 2. Nj.
on the 9Th. We gather from the letters and
different accounts, the following items OF
interest. The Falcon left New Orleans on
the 18th of December, and arrived at Cha
gres on the 9th. A letter in the Journal
of Commerce, from Chagres, dated Dec.
2sth, says:
The Falcon is al anchor, having made
her passage from New Orleans, 1860 miles,
| in little more than eight days. She brought
out more than $50 passengers, all hound for
| California. Gov. Mason's dispatch con-
corning the gold region in that country was
published few days before we sailed, and
as might be expected, produced no little
sensation in this city. sudden resolution
was formed to emigrate to that iaud, and
our ship was packed close, fore and aft,
with passengers.
After coming near the land here at the
isthmus, we coasted along some hours IN
search of Chagres, and at last discovered
the old Spanish fort built near POO years
ago, commanding the mouth OF Chagres
River. The coast all the way up the bay,
rises abruptly from the waters edge, re-
ninding one Of the highlands of the Hud-
son. Back from the shore, hills rise above
hills, all covered with yerdure of the rich
est green. The scenery along the shore is
exceedingly beautiful. 1t is now the dry
season, but the clonds have certainly poured
down frequent showers Of fine rain to-day
as they passed over, keeping the cir moist
and comfortably cool, though it is warm
enough to remind one of the hottest sum
mer weather in New York.
There was 1T Panama on the 2lst uIr.,
the bark Phila elphia, from New ork load
ed with coal for the Pacific Steam Com
pany also a schooner which would proba-
bly, be chartered for San Francisco, as there
were more than the California could take.
A gentleman who left Valparaiso, Dee. ?, ON
the British steamer for Panama, informs us
that the California Gold fever ragged along
the southern coast, probably more fiercely
than it does il the United States. Four
hundred passengers had been taken out at
Valparaiso fol- California.
MIR. Harris has furnished the n. O. Mer-
curry with information respecting the trans
portation across the islhmus, Sc. AS over
one thousand trunks were to be transported
two trips would be necessary. The steam
err California was not expected at Panama
before the 9th ult.
From Panama to California freight is
$50 per ton. Mr. Harris represents the
Chagres river as one Of the most beautiful
The has ever seen, with quick current, and
not less than eight feet water between the
mouth aud the Cruces. A week would be
sufficient to cut away the branches that
overlap the stream.
There was but one case of sickness on
board the Falcon, aud that was Il sailor
who had an attack of the Cholera Mor5us
before leaving New Orleans.
There was no sickness at ChagreS except
on board of one vessel. The bark John
Benson arrived there two days before the
Falcon, with fifty passengers. Mr.. Ii. rep
resents the country as very beautiful, and
says that 100000 would make an excellent
carriage road across.
The freight and luggage is being trans
ferred from the ship 10 the shore IN large
boats, rowed by native Indians. The boats
are called dug outs" and are made of
trunks OF large trees. They appear to be
much more convenient than would be at
first supposed. The natives are burdened
with scarcely an apology for clothing Pas
sengcrs aud their luggage are conveyed in
these boats up Chagres river some 40 miles
at an average OF twelve dollars each A
boat will carry four or five persons with
luggage, but when SO heavy laden, the pas
sage up the river occupies not less Than
two days.
The point on the river where we take
mules is called Cruces. From that place
to Panama is said to be 20 miles, aud the
passage is made ia day.
There are boats enough to accommodate
all this large company with conveyance up
the river, but whether we shall find suth-
Client supply of mules at Cruces we have
not yet learned. News from Panama, re-
eeived here yesterday, says that the " cal
iforuia" had not arrived at thar port, which
intelligence renders 1t highly probable that
we may be detained IA wAituIg Tor her here.
These rude preparations tor crossing this
narrow lsthnus seem to place Us back "a
century or two in civilization. IL Is COM
templated To place small steamer on this
river, and II this is done, II viii remove
Que of the most unpleasant features.