Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1849-07-14
From, the Virginia tiaHforstans Letter to Gen
tleman q, Richnaoad

oulStlNtH 10 II SOOu DittASs anu soon
found ourselves upon the briny deep, going at the
rate of knots an hour We went on very well
until the Goth, when we found ourselves in the gulf
stream. AT O'Clock, p. NJ, were overtaken
by most alarming storm; | really thought that we
should have been lost, and whcn at the very worst
of it, the rope attached to the rudder broke; and
any one who knows any thngaboutit will tell YOU
that to be in that predcament is notvery desirable
many of our hearts (who had never seen any thing
of the kind before) trembed within us. as we'll as
many others who had been often at sea before
When the rope broke, / believe that the Captain
thought we were lost; but BluSter, with his ready
wit and undaunted courage, with the assistance of
his sub-offlcers and crew, soon managed to get it
mended and all right again. 27th-We are about
where we were ON the oath, and still stormy or
rather rainy, some wind, and every thing in bad
condition. 2Sth--We had made but little Roadway;
it was still rainy, and great many of the members
were dissatisfied, and wanted to go back. If you
had been with us, and well, you would have laughed
yourself to death to have seen the sick chickens,
and heard their remarks about things in general
About three-fourths of us were sea sick; some one
two had the measles; kept on my feet all the time
the spell lasted, Except one day. which was or
days. could have been up that day if it had not
been SO wet, and wished to be out of the wav so
laid in my bunk, but for 90 odd hours did not eat
3mouth-fulls. On the 25th, there were two petit
tons drawn up, one signed by 10, the other by Is
members; the object OF them to induce TO
take them back to Cape Henry. The first named
promised in their petition, TO sacrifice to the company
all their interest in the company together with all
their private stores, varying in amount from 5000 to
$500; the second promised to sacrifice ALL except
their proportion, viz the 18th part of whatever the
ship sells for, provided, however, that they should
meet us in California in time to commence work
with U.S. which trip should be made at their own ex-
pense. They were to be recognized as full MEM
bers. One of the members was heard to say, "Cap-
tain if you will only carrym back, you shall never
want for any thing as long as you lve,'' and also
offered to forfeit to the company about $500 at the
same time. There were many others who were
singing, Chose that could not sing, saying) 90
carry me back to Old Virginia, to Old Virginia
shore" but the nearest that came to it to give
my consent for the ship to 90 ashore (after found
the 29th, we were blown back,) and land those who
were so anxious to 90. did this because | found
that we were too much crowded, and | wished to
make as much room the ship as possible, and
knew that if we should land, 10 or 20 would
get off, which would give the rest sum of 80 to so
thousand dollars which would more than cover ex-
penses. When we got on that sand bar in the river
(of which wrote you) in pulling of: suppose we
sprang leak, which we did not find out until
we got into the gulf stream, as it was above
the copper, and did not show itself, and
thought we could have that fixed at the same
time and then come out safe. 18th, o'clock,
P. Mound us at the Northern shore bend of
the gulf stream, with clear sky and fair winds.
and going ot the rate of knots an hour Califor-
mia stock has advanced little, though there are
few who are anxious to 60 back. | opened my
Washingtonian Ieetotal Abstinence Society and OBJ
tanned 10 signatures. forgot to state, that when
all those members were so clamorous about going
back, that the Captain came out of his room both
times, and Strengthened himself up, gaped pucked
his mouth, and then made one OF his tall speeches,
and set the most of them to laughing, and the others
were ashamed not to sanction it. and that was the
way he got off. April LIST Sunday was spent i'll
quite a becoming manner. The morning was spent
in private reading and apparent meditation. In the
evening, we had reading of the Scriptures, by Mr.
A, s. Boyd, of Boydton, singing, then reading again
and prayer, by Brother E. Hudson, of Richmond
2d-Very stormy; when it commenced at g. p. NJ,
it carried off several small articles BELONGING
TO the ship but of much Importance
Sd and 4th.-Ihe weather was very bad and we
found that the ship leaked worse than it had before
and although few of us, willing souls had volun-~
teered ourselves to assist the crew in pumping out
the water, yet we found that would have to have
a meeting of the company in order to get united
action on the subject. MIR. Oldner, accordingly, in
sisted on the meeting, which was called; at which it
was determined that the President, Vice President.
and the five Directors, should each head list of
twelve or fifteen members, being all the members
that there are to spare, the others being stewards of
messes sick, and the watches together that being
team for each day of the week, and all hands to
pump 5th.--Found us about 200 miles East of the
Bermudas, going on slowly, not more than two knots
an hour, and beautiful day and it being duff day.
(Which is better than or raven either) we en-
joyed it finely. The night was beautiful moonlight
one, and as we have a splendid band of music on
board we enjoyed it finely, and stayed out late 9Th
Finds with good breeze, sailing at the rate of
seven knots an hour, latitude 80 deg Al min, long
81 deg. 40 min 7th---We were 1900 miles from
Cape Henry lat. 80 deg l6 min, long 81 deg. 40
min. 8th---( Sunday) we had reading of the scrip
lures and prayer, by Bro. E. Hudson, At O'Clock,
P, NJ, we had every indication of a tremendous
squa BI1ster was soon on deck giving ORDERS
he had as many of the sails reeled as would leave
us running at the rate of seven knots, which would
keep us out of danger; before that time we were
under full sail, and going at the rate of nine knots
it turned out, however, that the squat did not strike
u.s. in half an hour all over, and we went on as
before. 9th---We went eight knots. We adopted
our Bylaws for the government of the company
on the ship as well as in California, all of which
were good: for example, one imposed fine of $50
on any member who might use ardent spirits for
beverage, or bring it board or in the company in
California, or who might be found gambling. AT 10
o'clock, p M. lat. 80 deg. 50 min, long 46 deg 81
min. 1Oth-Was lovely day, though the wind
was not SO 1aVoraDe US yesterday; sailed seven knots
lat % deg. % min. North, long. 43 deg SO min
saw some beautiful flying fish, and you may imagine
that was amused at it very much, as it was some
thing entirely new to me and many others, who had
not seen any thing except our own craft, mounting
the waves of tho briny deep, and few other sails
at great distance off, which were seen only for
moment There was nothing of importance occur
red on the 18th. l2th--I arose quite early to see
the rise at sea, but it came out under cloud
which made it still more beautiful; but it was not
the sight wished to see it came out very prettily
when half an hour high | was amply paid for my
trouble of rising early as there large French
barque in sight about three four miles ahead In
half or three quarters of an hour we wore along
side of her; but before we were, however we had
our flag tapping to the morning breeze, with our at-
tude and longitude standing ont in bold relief The
name OF the barque don't now remember; her cap
tain was less industrious than ours, for it was long
time before she raised her flag; and for her ati-
tudn and lOnDltIlQ2 did trat IT, and