Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1849-06-28


Bias, Mexico, where the steamer Oregon had
put in for coal and water. We have another
from him at San Francisco, dated April 7th |
which we shall publish tomorrow.
San Bias, Merico,
March 2ith, lS49. !
DEAR SIRs -
| left Panama on the 18th inst, in the
steamship Oregon, on my way to California,
and on the evening Of the 22d arrived here.
The ship is taking coal and water here, which
detains us so long, but We are in hopes of get
ting away this evening
San Bias is no place at all, in comparison
with what had supposed it was it contains
about 2OOO inhabitants, ma iorty ri whom
live in houses built of cane, plastcred over
with mud and matched roais; there are a
very few good substantial built houses in the
town. The streets are very narrow, and this
Ike all the other Spanish places that we have
passed through has the hand of time forcl-
bly marked upon it, and everything seems
goirg to decay. am told that Tepic, city
interior, of which this is the pott of entry, Is
quite thriving and business place.
A vessel, the brig Cayuga, arrived here di-
rect'y from San Francisco on the 2lst, after
a passage of I2 days, and she brings later
dates from the gold regions, but in substance
it is only a reeration of accounts received
from there in the States before | left. The
amount oil gold is reported to be inexhaustlble,
but during the last winter diggers had labor.
ed under many lfculties on account of the
cold weather. " The oldest iEhablant" in
San Francisco says that this has been the
most severe winter that he ever experienced
snow ha. fallen on two or three occasions.
which is an occurrence rarely known on the
coast there 1T lhe Mines snow has fallen
10 the depth Of foot or two, and man who
came wn in this brig says that he has re
peatedy broken the ice in the morning, in or
der to get in and dig for gold. lie says that
considerable sickness prevailed at tie Mines,
and he got sick himself, which was the cause
IF his coming away but the fact that he got
sick is no evidence at all that the country
about the Mines is unhealhy,--for he says
that he broke the ice in the morning, in order
10 get into the river, and that C used to work
during the day where the water was three
feet deep hundreds Cf others pursue the same
course that he did The average quantity
of gold ob,ained per day by each man was
from 3 to ounces some obtained much more
but it was only now and then fortunate one.
Robberies and murders were of frequent oc-
currence, but the hanging Of nine men, un-
tremendously. by Judge Lynch, had put to
terror outlaws and villains, snd they were
very quiet.
There are thousand rumors here from
California, but they are not worth mSNtioning,
for do not know what to believe. The ia
cities for getting TO the Mines are not very
good and consequently rather expensive
living there is also high. The man of whom
7 have spoken says that some days he paid
SO for his meals, and some days he paid SO
He saws that he knew man who worked al
the Mines about three months aud obtained
$4,000 he then went down to San Francis
co and commenced gambling and spreeing
and when he saw him few weeks since, he
had not a cent. A party of gamblers had ar
rived there from New Orleans, and as soon a'
the Oregon arrives they will be reinforced by
The addition of about dozen more accom-
plshed rascals whom we have on board, anC
who are now driving stiff business among
the Mcxicans. during our stay here.
A party from New York who came across
the land from Vera Cruz, arrived here the day
before we did, and are to sail in the brig Cay
upa, in a few days, for San Francisco. The
expcnces, to each man, from the time the,
landed at Vera Cruz to that of their arTiva
here, was about 5000, and some were obliged
to sell their guns in order to fnso money Il
get along. They calculated, when they start
cd, that thei expences across would be abou
$50. The price Of passage from here I
San Francisco is $50, in tho brig this i
enormous, but enough are ready to pay il, T,
I'll her up. At Panama, the price Of pa:
sage, in sailing vessels, was 5000, and thos
who were fortunate enough to be able to Sc
cure a passage at this price, considered them
selves well oil. Tickets in the Oregon wer
sold in Panama for 800, IN few instance,
the buyers being very anxious to get to Cal
,ornia at once, and the sellers taking the
chance in sail vessel. My advise TO tho:
hound TO California, 50 far as my Observable
ard experience goes, is that they first obta
a ticket OF Messrs. llowland a. Aspnwal
IN one of their steamers on the Pacific.
you intend coming by the lshmus route, at
| believe this is the preferable one for exp