The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1849-09-22


State.
The scenes ofthe last two weeks have assum-
ca more serious aspect. he scarcity OF fresh
wafer nae led 10 tile suspension OF all cooking,
except that OF two small doughnuts per day Tor
each mans and these are mixed with equal pro
PORTIONS OF salt and fresh water, and dealt out
ABOUT Tour O'Clock, P. M. 1t was whispered
among the passengers few days ago, that there
were sundry provisions in the hold which had
been shipped as freight A great excitement
ensued A committee was Immediately sent be.
low to bring up everything Of an eatabe charac
ter; and although it was a piratical act, so long
as there was flour and water on board, pork
enough was found for three or tour meals and
eagerly hoisted on deck, where it was broken
open and lunks OF it snatched from the bri Ne and
swallowed raw with as much greediness as the
most savory viands. A cheese next came up the
hatchway, and instantly forty or fifty men made
headlong dive for the prize which had been
sent out to feast the palates OF some emigratng
family 10 California. Never did starved rats
scramble with such rapacity, as did these men,
who, by dozens, were tumbIing about the deck
on all tours to seize a crumb OF the cheese
which, in the melee OK broken heads and bloody
shins, had been torn and scattered in a thousand
pieces. 1t was wolish affair. The pork put
us again sin town." ana Tor day or two, it could
be purchased at two dollars pound from those
who chose to sell their rations At this time wa
ter was also in bIsk demand, and fifty cents
pint was freely offered, with plenty OF buyers
but lew sellers
When in the vicinity oil the Gulf of California,
hundreds OF sea fowl, swarmed around US, but
all attempts to catch or shoot them on the wing
SO as to bring their fall on deck, were fruitless.
Last night, we had very serious alarm OF fire.
The wind was blowing heavy gale, and it was
intensely dark but all causes of alarm as soon dis.
peeled by the assurance that the fire, which had
burst out under one of the gAlleys, Vas call out"
Had the fire progressed little further, it would
have been no laughing matter. This morning
we are in the midst of an almost dead calm, near
ly in the latitude Of San Francisco, but almost
thousand miles from the laud. The prospect of
change OF wind has inspired new hope and bet
ter spirits on board. and but for which it had
been determined 10 change our course to morrow,
and make the Sandwich Islands, thousand
miles distant, as speedily as possible, in order TO
save the lives of the passengers
lhls afternoon we commenced on our last tank
OF WATER and the pints that are de alt out to each
OF us are very small, so that ii man cooks halt a
meal OF anything, he has but little over Kill of
water tor drinking purposes for twenty -four hours
Ills, with two ounces OF bread per day, and
d0ughnut OF an ounce weight every other day,
forms the whole of our ratons. A small quantity
every man has tree access, but as water cannot
be spared to cook them, and sea water renders
food bitter and increases thirst, few will accept
then-preteiing either TO eat them as thew are
or go without. Thus, we get up in the morning
and mat, 1--WE all loaiers now, )wi bout break.
fast aud without dinner-and at p M. we get
our miserable rations and hasten 20 bed and TO
sleep The cravings OF hunger and thirst fall
severely upon large portion OF our passengers,
oh 10 L..
those who have become frightened and desperate
which deserves no such appcllAtion. Those who
are recovering from chils an fever and it is for
tunate that we have had no worse sickness on
board) are in tact the only wi no suffer for the
want OF food and water.
Yesterday, bloody and brutal fight, but very
foolish one, took place between two passengers
who were striving for the pos ssion of sing lie
doughnut that had been lett in the galley alter
the rations had been served. Water is the great
article in demand, aud commands almost any
price. have to-day heard eighty cents offered
and refused for halt pint! This is twelve dol
lars and eighty cents per gallon tor water Ev-
cry anti temperance man Oil board, (and we have
not a lew such,) is now ready to acknowledge
that pure cold water is one OF heavens richest
gifts, aud with practical an illu stration of its
truth as this, no man on earth could help admit
ting it, Several disturbances have already oc.
cuIreu among the passengers IN consequence oil
petty thetts OF water, so that no one can be sure
that his pint will not be stolen, unless he swal-
lows it at once, locks it up, or carries it BIO tied
in his pocket.
2. s. July 2Sth. Lon. 1872 so, lat So OF. I
have only time to add to the above, that we this
morning spoke the U. S. Revenue Gutter Eryipg
from the States, and from her We get supply Of
water that will last US to our port. which we
expect to make in FIVE SIX days. | send this
by her. Lie.
Row. There was a lite riot on board the
steamer Empire State on Saturday, between
New York and Newport A company OF u S
recruits was on board, on their way to Fort AID
ans, and soon after the boat left they commenced
shonling, yelling, and making other demonstra-
tons OF riot and setting their officers at defianre.
Several articles of height were broken open,
and ademijohn containing camphene seized un-
der the superstition thatit was rum. OF this the v
drank freely, one man dying OF its effects and
several other suffering severely.
EFFECT OF IMAGINATION. We mentioned