Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-06-23
Correspondence.


veral letters from some Of our young friends
on their way 10 California, by the long
and circuitous route around the Cape. The
following is an extract of letter from
Alex. J. Frick, son of Geo. A. Frick, Esq,
of Danville, who has taken the short route
across the Isthmus. 1t is addressed 10
relative, a lady of Danvillc. 1t gives an
interesting account Of the crowd Of specu-
lators congregaed at Panama:
.... PANAMA. April II, 1919.
Ere this reaches you, expect and hope 10
be on The Pacific speeding TO San Francisco.
Unavoidable deten;ions have kept us on The
'ls,hmus" until this time, when we should
have been in California Now we feel much
easier in regard TO reaching that country,
than at any time for more than month back,
as but few vessels had arrived in this port,
and those were instantly seized by spectators
who Immediately set Up the price Of passage
beyond the reach Of money, most persons
having left home expecting to be able to 20
through on board steamers, which were TO be
regular in trips and sufficient TO take passen-
gers as fast as they should arrive at Panama.
In other cases one person would buy nearly
all the Tickets for vessel and immediately
Sc. up the price beyond the original invest
ment, in this way those who had money and
were willing 10 be hunbucgcd, and swndled
succeeded in sliding in before those who
had hcrhaps been here a long time awaiting
an opportunity to get away, their money
dwindling less and less every day. This has
! in many cases driven men to the gaming
table, in the vain hope Of there obtaining the
wherewi,h, TO proceed oil their journey, but
are soon robbed of the little they had, and
left beggars in foreign country, no one, after
learning how they had become so, being
willing, and few able to help Them. There are
a great many, as said before, who are here
| beggars. What is 10 become of them? They
will certainly find means of going one way
| or the other Robberes and other crimes are
seen 10 follow this state OF affairs Nothing
of this kind has occurred, as yet, that am
aware Of, and hope they shall not, at leas;
until leave it. We, that is VIM. Penn
Mining Company, have secured tickets in the
ship 'Nian,ic," which arrived here las, Sa.
turday evening and will probably sail about
the 10Th Of this month.
April Ic.
Yesterday I cambered UP mountain stu
ate about one half mile above the town, cal.
high and commands a splendid view of the
surrounding country and Of the bay, which Is
studded with islands from which the town is
supplied with fruit and the few vegetables
which are brought to this market. The as
cen, is very steep and as neared the sum.
nit, there was no tree or foliage to screen
me from the almost overpowering rays OF the
sun, | hastened the summit, took one look
and was about to commence the descent, for
| could no longer endure the heat, when for.
tuna,ely a cloud obscured the sun and light
breeze sprnging ur, ! sat me down and for
about fifteen minutes enjoyed one OF the
most beautiful sights had ever witnessed,
more beautiful from the novelty. It is no,
like view from Bald Top: from which you
can see an American town, cultivated fields
with tho Susqnehann winding through but
a wild uncul,iva,ed country, on one side
naught is to be seen but the tops Of the lever
creen) trees, so thick and matted together that
it would seem impossible for the sun to send
his light through them, and in the distance
small brook, without sign OF habitaton near
it coursng its way to the sea, the whole as
it were closed up in impossible mountains.
Another view far down the coast, near the
site Of sold Panama. There are thousands
of acres of land which is cleared and has
been cultivated, but is now untitled. Before
me lay the present city of Panama, and be-
yond the sea which, when the sun shone,
glis,ened like sheet Of silver
April 10.
This is my day for cooking; this morning
we had for breakfast fried mush, coffee,
pilot-bread, and the cold remains of a shin OF
beef, from which we had previously made
kettle OF soup This afternoon intend CIV
ing them boiled rice cold, fried bacon, hard
bread, and tea: for dinner and supper.
Fish are abundant in the marke, here, We
ate at our table at which nine sit, $40 fish at
one meal. You may Judge from this that our
appetites and health are pretty good. at
tended divine service (Episcopall last Sunday,
the room was large and well filled. Many
went forward and pariook of the communion.
Your alectonate Nephew,
| A. j. FRlCK.