The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-05-03

our readers this week with the FIRST letter
received from our follow citizen, Mr.. Ell
DRIDcE, who was the first individual to
leave our county for California. Mr.. Els
style is descriptive and il he continue Ms
prompt in his correspondence, bis letters
will prove q valuable addition to our paper.
BRIG FELIX. PANAMA,
March 18th, l849.
Mr.. A. SANDERS:
Dear Sir:-Agreeably to your request,
! with pleasure drop you few lines, Civ.
ing you brief sketch Of my journey thus
far towards the EI Dorado, California. You
will remember left Davenport, January
Goth, taking Frink g. Walkers imposition
line Of stnges through Illinois Cor St. Louis.
! say imposition from the fact that their
conveyances consisted Of old Stacking
wood sleds, rickcty coaches and broken.
down horses.
continued this route az fur as Frederick
and there having TO pay my own ierriage,
although had paid my passage to Spring
field. quit the line with disgust, hired
private conveyance, went to Meredosia,
took s,enmer and proceeded 10 ST. Louis,
where ! arrived Monday, Feb. 9Th, making
the trip in seven days instead Of four rs
was promised BY the Stage Agents.
ltarried no ,ime here, but embarked a,
once on the fine steamer Uncle Sam, and
after . pleasant trip Of FIVE days found my
self in the Crescent City. Here finding
the Mary Filkins, a fore and aft square rig
eed, copper-bottomcd Schooner Of two hun
drcd tons, embarked at once for Chngres
on Thursday, 18th. We were lowed down
to the balize, here we dropped anchor aud
prepared for sea.
Our passengers, 30 in number, consisted
Of doctors, lawyers, farmers, and mechanics
Of many kinds, representing tho States as
follows:-Iowa, ! Illinois, 8; Missouri, G; ;
Ohio, 5; Indiana, /; virginin, J.; aud the
balance from Alabama and Louisiana, all
having the appearance Of decen. and res
pectnblc men.
Friday, 10th, the wind blowing fresh
from tho north, We weighed anchor and
stood out for sen. In about three hours
we lost all sight Of old terra .6rma where we
had 80 lately trod, md being surrounded
only BY the briny deep, in order TO keep up
spirits, we mustered en- mnssc and gave Is
loud and hearty cheers, 3 for Chagres, 3
for the Captsin, 3 for the Mate, 3 for the
Steward, and 3 Cor the good Ship. This
done we NIL set down md pariook Of henr-
~ supper, but in about two hours differ.
ent scene WIS presented. II YOU have ever
passed through a Cholera hospital. you
may have some conception Of this scene,
although not case Of Cholera was amongst
US, but Of all the poor sen-sck souls--cvc-
~ man with head over the gum wales how
ing submission and casting up his accounts
to the mighty deep!
Had time would like to give mnny lit
tie incidents on the trip, but il mus, suffice
to shy that we had plenty Of wind, inter
mixed with squalls and gusts, driving our
little bark ahead like dart, making the
trip in eleven days, = distance Of over cigh-
teen hundred miles.
Il seems almost incredible, but such is
the fact, TINT ] hive travelled about three
thousand FIVE hundred miles in less than
one month.
This evening leave on tho brig Felix
for Suffers Fork, 90 you SEQ il make the
balance Of my time rs quick rs the first,
will be up to my knees in gold before our
overland friends get fairly started from
Davenport-bul | am getting ahead Of
my journey.
Chagres consists Of about one hundred
houses. or rather hute, built OF bamboo with
palm ,haschcd roofs aud clay floors. The
inhabitants nre ignorant, indoent and fil-
thy; two thirds Of whom are amalga mated
with Indians and negroes; all nre as naked
as they were born, and live principally upon
the natural products ofihe country.
Chsgres river for the first twenty miles
will average about Is rods wide, varying
in depth from 10 to 20 fcet deep, sluggish
current and no snags. The steamer Orus