The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1849-04-27
M. c. RYAN, esq.
GoRGoNA, New Granada,
March IS, IS4o

We left New Orleans, as you are aware on Inc 2 and
arrived in Chagres Monday. the 18th. Fortunately we
had fair weather and very pleasant passage Chagres
is one of the romantic looking places ever saw,
a ab1ou nis hs lou Instead Of
a swamp, the houses built OF cane with thaches of
palm, very much after the manner OF the Mexican
towards the hills which partially surround the place
The population OF Chagres is about eight hundred,
sstng Of negroes and mixtures with French, Spanards,
Of them cultivate the soil and they appear 10 Be engaged
at present in transporting emgrants up the nver in their
canoes Before the California excitement (Which to
them has been a perfect "God send,) | suppose they
lived mostly upon the spontaneous productions of the
country, hunting, and fishing.
There are two hotels in Chagres-the Astor and
Crescent City-where meals can be had at fifty cents
each, but unable to furnish lodgings for want OF
room having but two rooms each The Astor is covered
with palm leaves, and has mud floor. The Crescent
City is rather superior to anything in the village, being
built of wood, with wooden floors, and is kept by clever
old negro, named Lewis, who wounded many years
age in engagement with the pirates the coast and
now receives pension from the British government
Emigrants coming this route should by all means pre-
pare themselves with tents and provisions being much
cheaper and more certain than to depend upon these
Captain Tucker of the little steamer Orus from New
York, running the Chagres river, out and
ploted the bar IN very gallant manner, the
vessel passing safely along within four feet of i'm
ledge OF rocks, which absolutely necessary
avoid the bar the opposite side This passage very
dangerous shipping, vessels having been lost with
IN the last few months; and the wrecks now lying
around the bar portentous signals TO the hardy
OF the hidden dangers of the place. One of the
greatest curosites of the place is the remains of the old
Fortress OF St Lorenzo, situated on high promonory
of rocks which rises to the height OF two hundred feet
the Spaniards hundred and eighty ago, and
now like all OF the enterprises of Old Spain in the
world, is rapidly falling into decay
The Fortress" is situated the extreme points of
the ponontory, surrounded all sides except those
next the sea, with large moat and walls, the
and angles Of which built look ons for sentinels.
lnsil uf1poIv heou
u brass pieces, and two brass mortars most OF these
manufactured in Seville, SPAIN in l7i3. There
also large piles of balls, shot, and SHE'LL which
looked like they had lain there for many years In the
interior are number of apartments, which have been
used for dungeon, magazine, and soreIooms, all Gu,
out OF the solid rOck-alsO immense basin which sup
piled the garrison with water
Immediately in the is the .Key," as ii is termed,
which is rocky peak overlooking the fortress proper,
and commanding all approaches from the surrounding
country which side 1t protected by and wall
similar TO the other, mounted with twenty guns. This
key" is connected with the other bya secret passage
The place pronounced by the engineer in compa
ny 10 be one OF immense strength. II is used
State prison of the republic of New Granada, and is gar
rsoned by soldier who keeps guard prison.
err! Enclosed send you hasty sketch, taken by a
young artist attached to corps.
Tuesday, 18th. the majority of our company shipped
aboard the "Orus and proceeded up the eighteen
miles, where they had to- reship into canoes in which
they were carried 10 this place. distance OF hirtytwo
miles farther, where we all arrived Thursday last in
line health and spirits not having had single case Of
Col. Weller, "0ld Medicine" Maj Sewell and fami-
ly and half dozen others, myself among the rest
came all the way from Chagres in canoes and boats,
beating those up who came part the way on the steam
er By the way this little steamer Orus grand impo
sion; and while admire the energy and enter
prise Of Captain Tucker in bringing this little boat all
the way from the States, to upon this river, still
| cannot but think that he should be exposed. The
natives will transport man with one hundred pounds of
baggage from Chagres TO this place for eight dollars
captain Tucker charges ten dollars for and baggage
and only takes them eighteen miles, and passengers
board themselves Here he puts them ashore at ranch
where there are neither natives except those
in his employ, to take them the balance of the way up
the nyer-thus requiring time to make the trip
trouble OF Teshppng baggage, and more expensive than
10 procure canoe and at Chagres, where they
are both abundant
The scenery along this river is the most beautiful
ever saw. l have wished thousand times you were
only here TO it, The forests composed OF the va
rces peculiar to this clmate-while beneath the larger
trees there Is the most luxurant growth of vegetation
The tops OF some of the covered with flowers
that would adorn the most beautiful gardens the States
The nver is very crooked and positively towards
every point OF the compass winding around among the
mountains which rise at the various angles, and add
greatly to the beauty of the scenes
, A troupe OF "mode artistes" would make nothing in.
s country every boat having full supply Ladies
AVOID travelling Chagres river, or, my word for it,
ihey VIII be shocked without the aid OF galvanic bat
iery. his place is situated the Chagres river
mountain peaks, and is the head of navigation From
mere 10 Panama distance of twenty six miles, emgrants
,"Feheu 10 employ mules, horses, cattle, ana
even he natives, who carry mule load of $50 pounds
on tneir backs The horses very small and poor.
ff,e'ght rom here to Panama So per 100 pounds;
Mes! o. Inc Americans cross over on foot The road
Is SAID TO be toleraby good, with plenty OF good water
There are sad to be two thousand emgran,s the
isihmus bound for Calfornia-of these 500 are in
Panams, 800 here. and the balance on the way over
Colonel Weller MAJOR Sewell and family, and some
dozen others, left for Panama on Friday. witherby,
who our quartermasterLODonnell having been
discharged-'Old Medcine," Kinder, myself, and some
others. all here. and will can
gel our freight along. Major Emory and five others al
rived here yesterday, having come from New York in
the Norherner, which arrived at Chagres Tuesday,
the 18th, with $50 passengers. There vessels at
Panama. nor any prospect Of any Many are getting dis
York company which has been here for some time, sold
ont their 'stock in trade" and intend going home
There are more men now on the sthmus than can gel
conveyance from Panama for months to Gomez and al
though the difficulties OF the rone have been greatly
aggela,ed still would not advise any to come THU
way. believing that they will 90 much cheaper BY "nde
pndsnce the Rio Grande and get to California much
eooner Tickets from Panama to San Francisco are sell
i0g Panama from three to six hundred dollars, and