The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-01-31
Yhe Gold Fever.

PArAnA, New GRANADA, Jan. 2, 1S4s.
We arrived In Chsgrss on the I'd Of January wn'eh
oonsiss Of some nifty huts and about three HUNDRED
men, women, end children The castle st the mouth
Of the Cbagrss 10 dapidatsd, with no soieers, and
was built in 1891 was the frat passenger who left
Cbsares and arrived the nrst at Panama, leaving
Chsgres on the Sd at p. NJ. and arriving In Panama
at eP. NJ. on the oh passing many Of tho John Ben
and Falcon passengers on tho river, and In the
mountain dshls between Cruces aud Panama. sim
Gle canoe in these times from Chagres to Cruces With
two osrrmen costs about twenty I've dollars Parties
oftwo and our larger canoes with three men, cost
about dollars EACH being allowed two hundred
or three hundred and ny pounds each The are
about twenty ave feet long, from two and half
feet wide, with covering In the centre about three
feet high from the bottom Of the Canoe and about
feet long, composed Of bamboo and leaves. You can
not sit upright with hat in the canoe, but must lie
ak miles against you In the OF the Chsgres often
three bostmsnt cannot move the canoe for fifteen
minuter, tho current is so powerful To avoid the
current in the centre Of the river they condne them
selves close to the bank and have often to the
stream when the s too deep for their poles
the shore Much time is In this way, and renders
the distance thine lost oonsidered equal eighty miles
from Chagres to Cruces The current being strongest
from Gorgona TO Cruces, the natives Is oorrespon
dent informed yeur readers strive to land you at
gopa by saying that the road 10
better and mules cheaper, from Gorgona to Panama
than from Cruces to Panama Istoppsd one hour ct
hours. While there Captain Elliott, Of the army,
Mr.. Birch, Of New Orleans Mr.. Luckett, of do and
three natives died Ut IL sad Of Asiaic cnolera which
raging with great violence At New Orleans when
the Falcon left slept in the house next to Captain
Elliot being by his bed side several times during the
night to render assistance and carried tho Of his
death to General Persfor +. smith, at Panama, who
seemed deeply affected at ouch unexpected and mean
choy intelligence. 1t 10 said that Captain and
and l.. ate fruit exposed themselves to the rain and
sun, sncamped 1t Cruces, . foo. In the
had some $500 tco in specie In their charge, which Is
there st and likely to be- in consequence Of the
city OF mules and the enormous expense from
Cr ices to Panama. There large numbers of mules
belonging to the Epgi,h, used for the transportation
Of specie Its way Mexico to the Alta ntic, and
the British consul has learn prohibited ther by
Americans, any object that for which they
were designed by the British government. riding
mule or If you are fortunate enough to get one
from Cruces to Panama. costs from $l2 to SIS now,
and will probably cost travellers congrsgate
On the day of my arrival $50 could not hire one
made the earth trembe, In pursuit. Of mule, and by
management got mule and guide, and thanked the
stsrs tor my For the transit OF my baggage
from Cruces to Panama consisting of three packages,
weighing some sixty pounds each paid one Pho Anuio
anative, So, aud IN making change he oontrived to
get rome $50 out OF me Ny baggage has not arrived
but presume it will to-day.
The bark Ann and Julia, at Chsgres, had been
Ashore; all the crew sick, consisting Of eleven.
sticks and an earthen bowl which is the custom ct
Cruces Luckett and Birch died some two hours after
sugar oane went TO bis bed and died In half hour,
In the mont horrible convusions having had, IS Mr.
Birch ala not the ordinary symptoms Of the choieis
arrival of the California some four months, and who
are about to return to the States the California not
having been heard Of There are two schooners in
port-one Of forty tons, and the other of ninety.
party Of about thirty have purchased the latter fer
81 000 from the British consul, and leave here on
Tuesday next, for San Francisco. l am one Of the
party having resolved not to wait for the California
whose arrival very uncertain There are about two
al have 10 rad at
awaiting the arrival Of the California down the
coast but Of this We have nothing strictly reliable
teleIably veil conducted. General Smith told me
about an hour since that he had recommended the
commander Of French brig Of war, about to sail for
valparaiso to stop 1t Pito and request the whalemen
&c nerally there, to to Panama, and carry pas
fengers to Francisco, who said II tho winds favored
him he would do but hardly think he will trouble
himeef 20 much
Several who attempted to walk, for want of means,
from Cruces to Panama, became sick In the mountains
Chsgrss, sick, disccnsoate, and without money In
strange land, far from their homes and friends.
From Chagres to Cruces Is about three days jour
ney performed It in less time; but 1t cost me CON.
siderable money When the natives fingered ! gave
them money. From Cruces to Psnsms is . days jour.
should certainly battle your entire body in brandy
No man wa ever born, nor ever will be, with descrp
tive potent enough to describe the horrors Of
the ravine between Cruces and Panama. Chagres,
Latoon, Gc.gons, and Cruces are mud puddles, and
bede Of death to the unscclmaed where Ave shakes
OF oOmoCme0
dreadful in the canoes from Chsgres to CIusss but
yeu cal eurvivs It abstsmious Eat NO fruit what
ever .voia the night air &c but whom you pas. the
highway Of nations for centuries, from Cruces
70 Panama, you win encounter dangers and fatigues
that win try the steutsst hsart the road path 10
ana you are in danger Of crushing SosS
legs Yeu often descend flight Of cavities formed
of s mule: for as1 s.. I
the bottom Of the preepos Sometimes In descending,
the mule steps into nire, and down you both 30 to-
al k,xsk HA vHvxA
mule, and Indeed the rider, often stand trembling
some seconds on the brink Of precipce ere either
Of
through by being CONDENSED into mighty small CON.
pass. But why attempt to describe It! 1t can't be
done In word, from Cruces ito Panama are nsught
but rocks nine suiss, rsvines precpees and stones
weighing from one to hundred pounds, and every
conceivable impe tfment of nature to harass you. 1t
10 horrible NEST horrible and with this apparently
exaggerated description before you you cannot form
any conception Of the dangers and fstsues Of jour-
Captain Stoddsrd, and officers generally, especially
Darlington the purser dad their utmost to please
the passengers The Crescent Is noble vessel and I,
rs Of The passenger, tender her courteous and
generous minded commander and officers my fsrvent
gratitude their kindness myself and the passen
gers, wishing them much good luck, happiness, &o
Panama 10 walled city, with dtaptdsted walls, castles
and churches Of centuries old Eight out Of pro-
baby blacks, who seen very happy. Yesterday Was
festival they out last evening in the brilliant
moonlight in ,be public squares, singing and dancing
merry all clad In white, with excellent instrumental
music no. The river Chsgrss with all its ssrpen,s,
has much beautiful scenery The rich products Of the
earth grow in luxurisnt wildness on It's banks The
air rings with the sweet notes Of beautiful birds.
From Chaeres to Cruces the emban kment gradually
rses and many q noble bluff towers high above the
general alton. AZ you enter Panams the scenery
IL truly sublime the left is the tranquil Pacific
your right majestic mountains olsd with per.
petual snow and before you Is Panama. with spires
an III every side. The road for some two mile
have beer paved rome two hundred years, by the
old buccaneers. The streets are about as wide %
Greenwich and are paved like ours the buildings,
supeiintendsd by the native women. Tho priests
about the streets this morning. Sunday with their
black gowns black hats and segars, seeming very
happy The population 10 about 10000, all Catholics
The country Is In dreadful plight The value Of ooin
change every hour would ike to impart some In.
tegepce to your readers respecting the state Of the
country but is so improbable that might perhaps,
misead your readers, which am careful not to do.