The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-14
THE UNION.
The Dark sidc-Tositrnony OF a Returned Gold Hum

The following graphic statement is taken from the
Tribune:
Since the arrival of the Crescent City from the 18TH
mus several statements have appeared in the public prints
SO contrary to the truth and to my experience
that deem II duty incumbent on me to publish 10 the
world faithful account.
In the early part of this year party of sixteen stout
nearly and intelligent young men OF Worcester, Massa
chusetts, organized themselves into company for the
purpose OF mining and trading in California. We arrived
IN New York IN February purchased outfits, imple
ments, &c at an expense of several thousand dollars and
sent goods around the Horn to the value of several thou
sand dollars more.
On the LIST of March, after having been strongly ad
vised 10 take the sthmus route and informed that there
were no passengers waiting at Panama, left New
York in the Norherner for Chagres We had pleasant
passage OF twelve days The Northener anchored
ten miles from Chagres, at anchorage known Navy
bay Here we were transferred TO the Orus and taken
up to Chages and thence as far up the river as the Orus
could gosay ten or twelve miles Next day 10Th March)
we were transferred from the Orus TO canoes, and after
two days padding, landed at Gorgona. Whole
expense of passage from Navy Bay Gorgona SIP per
man. Five feet of baggage allowed 10 each person
Every foot extra, so cents
twas the 18th of March when we arrived at Gorgona
Pitched our tents and got ready 10 turn in about midnight
Next day visited the town and found that considerable
sickness prevailed that several had died. and many
dying of fevers at Panama.
On the 20th March, at sunrise, Mr. Bettomly, men,
Der OF company, and myself started horseback for
Panama, at which place We arrived about o'clock the
same day Distance thirty miles-read very bad
AT Panama we found a large number of Americans
MA. They appeared to be great distress, and went
around asking another what to be done. Some
had exhausted all their means, others weakened
and emacated by sickness and exposure to the fatal Gil
male OF the ishmus, and numbers actually dying
lhey had found to their sorrow, their run that
the representations made to them in New York by inter-
esed parties about the facilities for getting from Panama
10 California were all false and that they had been most
grossly deceived by individuals in New York OF whom
tney mad expected better things and who knew they were
uteIng untruths when they stated that of getting
to California from Panama abundant No vessels
OF any consequence stay at Panama 1t is many hundred
miles out of vessels course AS for British steamers
going from Panama to San Francisco, ii is humbug
They do not 60 to San Francisco all Their route lies
exclusively between Lima. Valparaiso, and Panama.
we waited at Panama several daysquite long enough
10 that there was no chance at all OF passage
to San Francisco We had the benefit of the experience
OF hundreds OF our fellow Americans, many of whom
had been awaiting passage for weeks and months in
vain. The California, due on the 18th March, had not
arrived on the 23d The rainy season was about com
mencing, and, taking all things into consideration,
deemed 1t best to put about and return home Accord
lngly, we returned to GoTgona to advise comrades,
but found that they had already started for Panama
Such OF us sx as could gather baggage in time for
the Crescent City, returned New York in that steamer
The rest will return by the first opportunity.
lhis IS plain, unvarnshed, and disinerested state
ment In thus putting il FORTH have other purpose
to serve than to warn my counymen against the sthmus
route. My company was composed of athletic and cour
ageous young men, able to endure any hardship, and
willing TO face any danger But with no chance of
passage from Panama to San Francisco they were averse
to remaining, with no other prospect before them but
"bope deferred" until death should cut them down
number of mercenary letter writer's under good pay,
reside at the shmus and discourse sweety the beau
ties of Gorgona and Panama But of all places in this
WIDE word--and have been around and seen the ee-
plant in divers partssave and my friends, and God
save you, good reader, from the isthmus During the
day the pours down his heat in the most nsuerable
manner. | never knew anything about heat until got
there AT night had to sleep in the company of lizards
ants, ganippers, scorpions &C., &c But could have
stood all this very we'll What complain of is being
swnded by interested parties in New York. whose sole
aim is to make money, regardless of human life and hui
man suffering.
While on the isthmus | made particular inquiry and
observation to the number there awaiting passage to
San Francisco, and with safety say that at Panama
there at least l20O Gorgona 500 and about 600
on their way across the isthmus
S. DOWNES, of Worcester Mass
Lovejoys Hotel, New York, April 0, ls4o.