The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1849-04-22
from the Pacifc-CalifOrnis
Matters, &c.
Correspondence Of the New Orleans Delta

ACAPULCO, March 20, lSi9
In travelling through the Terra Caente, we
passed close to the hacienda OF the Commandant
General of the South, Alvarez. lie is the famous
big talking fellow, whose feroclous plntos to
annihlate army in the valley of Mexico, but
who was so unkind as never to come within the
most distant view of the " barbares Yankis." We
found that Alvarez was away from home, on
march, at the head of 200 men, in the direction
of Senango, and other towns in the same neigh
borhood, where a fierce of castles is going on,
the Indians and Mulattoes having combined to dis
possess the whites of their lands. The rebels, to
the number of 500, were headed by one Domingo
Santiago, At the approach of Alvarez, the insur-
gents fled to the mountains, where they are holly
pursued Already several chiefs have been hung
or shot by Alvarez, who is an experienced assassin
and hangman,
On the 9Th inst, at halfpast O'Clock PM, we
Observed with the naked eye beautiful eclipse of
bout two-thlrds of the moon. We were then
bout twenty-five leagues from the city of Mexico,
the Acapulco road.
At small town called Alto, about sixteen
leagues from Acapulco, we found the people con-
siderably excited in consequence OF report that
he American steamers would buy stone coal at
Acapulco at SO per aroba Us lbs.), and they cal
culated TO bring 1t on mule back from stone
mountain near Chilpanemgo, forty-fve leagues
distant
The steamship California Captain Marshall
Captain Forbes being sick on board), entered this
harbor on the 9th of last month (February), and
left on the IIth, having Governor Smith, family,
and suite on board. The California crowded
10 inconvenience. The number of passengers was
three hundred and seventy-fve. Considerable dis
satisfaction prevailed on board, and 1t appears that
the crowd, though select, was very hard one.
The captain had control even over his own
crew, who are all expected to desert him as
he arrives at San Francisco So far we have no
accounts OF her return, and we do not know If she
will touch here on her way back There are about
twenty emgrants here, who anxousy await her
return So indeed, does the whole population of
this miserable town, she left here some $4,000 in
IL. IL Il
little articles. The report had reached here, in adj
vance OF the arrival of the California; that the emil
grants had expended 800 900 on the lsthmus of Pa
nama-a fact which filled the minds of this poor
wealth and hberality of the Americans.
A letter received here yesterday, by n re-
spectacle German, from friend of his in Califor-
MIA, dated about the LIST February, Qhe source is
confusion, anarchy, and scarcity of provisions at
San Francisco and the gold regions. To such an
extent does the lawlessness prevail, that no one
ventures out ut in in the evening without being armed
gold. There are thirty American vessels lying at
San Francisco, which have been deserted by their
crews. One hundred and fifty dollars per month
are paid laborers for discharging them. They
fuse the same pay to 90 out sailors. American
and English dry goods are already selling cheaper
than in New York or Manchester. Most of these
goods came from the depot at Valparaiso. An i'm
mense number of emgrants have arrived from
tans.
Aloafer passed here on the California, who man.
aged to get from New York to Chagres without
paying cent, then walked across the sthmus with
out paying cent, and by cennivance of a fireman
on the California, slowed himself away among the
machinery, and when the steamer was three days
out made his appearance on the deck. This skill
full loaer, attracting the notice of Captain Marshall,
he Instituted an inquiry into the matter, and caused
the fireman who had connived at the loafers
scheme, to be put in irons; whereupon, all hands
struck and refused to work, being seconded in part
by the passengers, who threatened to throw the
captain overheard if he resorted to such extreme
measures. So the ingenious loafer trIumphed, and
on his way through this place made no secret of his
exultation over the unfortunate captain. That chap
will do had rather take his chance for a big pile
of the dust than that of any other gold-seeker.
All accounts concur, that thousands of persons in
the vicinity of the placer have persisted from cold
and hunger during the past winter. 1t Is feared
that the mortality will not end here. Many more
must perish from the want of food, for which the
impatient god-seekers have made no provision
What perils and hardships will not men incur in
pursuit of the root of all evil
Last night four men set out from this port in
small whale-boal on their way to California, in
tending coast it all the way through and on their
arrival, to run their boat between San Francisco
and the gold regions for the use of passengers
The crew consists of two yankees, a Spanlard, and
an English sailor! wish them successful trip,
but fear they will have to return in distress.