Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1849-05-18
From the New York Tribune.
THE DARK SIDE-TESTIMONY OF A
RETURNED GOLD HUNTER.

The following graphic statement has beer
furnished US for publication:
Since the arrival of the Crescent City from
the Isthmus, several statements have appear
ed in the public prints, so contrary to the
truth and to my own recent experience, that
L deem it duty incumbent on me to publish
to the world faithful account.
In the early part of this year, party of six
teen stout, hearty, and Intelligent young men
of Worcester, Mass, organized themselves
into company for the purpose of mining and
trading in California. We arrived IN New
York in February, purchased our outfits, I'M
plements, &C., at an expense OF several thou
sand dollars, and sent goods around the Horn,
to the value of several thousand dollars more.
On the lst of March, after having been
strongly advised to take the Isthmus route,
and informed that there were no passengers
waiting at Panama, we left New York in the
Northerner, for Chagres. We had pleasant
passage of twelve days. The Northerner
anchored some ten miles from Chagres, at an
anchorage known as Navy Bay. Here we
were transferred to the Orus, and taken up to
Chagres, and thence up the river as far as the
Orus could go-say ten or twelve miles,
Next day 10th march, we were transferred
from the Orus to canoes. and after two days.
padding, we arrived at Gorgona. Whole ex-
pense of passage from Navy Bay to Gorgona,
S12 per man. Five feet of baggage allowed
to each person. Every foot extra 60 cents.
1t was on the 18th of March when we ar
rived at Gorgona.
Pitched our tents and got ready to turn in
about midnight. Next day visited the town
and found that considerable sickness prevail
ed, that several had died, and many were dy-
ing of fevers at Panama.
On the Goth of March, at sunrise, Mr.. Bot
tomly, member of our company, and my
self, started on horseback for Panama, at
which place we arrived about eight o'clock
the same day. Distance thirty miles-road
very bad.
At Panama we found large number of
Amerlcans-say I200-awaiting chance for
conveyance to California. They appeared to
be in great distress, and went around asking
one another what was TO be done. Some had
exhausted all their means, others were weak
ened and emaciated by sickness and exposure
to the fatal climate of the Isthmus, and num-
bers were actually dying. They had found
to their soFrow, some to their ruin, that the
representations made to them in New Y ork,
by interested parties, about the facilities for
getting from Panama to California were false,
and that they had been most grossly deceived
by individuals in New York, of whom they
had expected better things, and who knew
they were uttering untruths when they stated
mama were abundant 1t is many hundred
miles out of vessels course. As for Brit
ish steamers going from Panama to San Fran
cisco, it is humbug. They don't go to San
Francisco at ALL The route lies exclusively
between Lima, Valparaiso and Panama.
We waited at Panama several days-quite
long enough to ascertain that there was no
chance at all of passage to San Francisco.
We had the benefit of the experience of hua-
Dc ofo, eli
had been waiting a passage for weeks and
months in vain. The California, due on the
LIST of March. had not arrived on the 23d.-
The rainy season was about commencing, and
taking all things into consideration, we DEEM
ed it best to put about and return home. Ac-
cordingly, we returned to Gorgona to advise
our comrades, but from that they had already
started for Panama. Such of US Tsix7 as
could gather our baggage in time for the Gre
sent City. returned to New York in that
steamer. The rest will return by the first
opportunity.
This is plain unvarnished and disinterest-
ed statement. In thus putting it forth have
no other purpose to serve than to warn my
countrymen against the Isthmus route. Ny
company was composed of athletic and cour-
ageous young men, able to endure any hard
ship, and willing to face any danger. But
with no chance of a passage from Panama to
San Francisco, they were averSe to remaining
with no other prospect before them but ''hope
deferred until death should cut them down.
A number of mercenary letter-writers, I'M
der good pay, reside at the Isthmus, and dis
course sweetly the beauties of Gorgona
and Panama. But of all places in this wide
woodland L have been around and seen the
elephant at divers parts-save me and my
friends, and God save you, good reader, from
the Isthmus. During the day the sun pours
down his heat in the most insufferable man
ner. l never knew anything about heat until
got there. At night had to sleep in COM
pany of lizards. ants, gallinippers, scorpions,
&c. But | could have stood all this very WELL
What we complain of is being swindled by
interested parties in New York, whose sole
aim is to make money regardless of human
life and human suffering.
While on the Isthmus [ made particular in
qulry and observation as to the number there
waiting passage to San Francisco, and can
with safety say that at Panama there were at
least 1900, at Gorgona 500, and about 500 on
their way across the Isthmus.
s. DOWNES, of Worcester. Mass.
Lovejoy's Hotel, New York, April 9, 1919.
TEMPER ANCE AND law