Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1849-12-18
Letter from California.

WClNf. HouSl hoN very CNPi'|" VI Wv "
tailed, it gives the unvarnished sentiments n
OF at least one eyewitness, and is besides e
racy and good-humoured; Ii
SHIP ANpALusIA, Sept. l849. t
Dear Sir:-Some time having elapsed 5
since last wrote, | thought that would S
drop YOU few lines to let you know that
am still in the land of the living. My
first letter, hope, reached you in due
time, so as to remove any apprehension or
anxiety of mind YOU might entertain for
me. in which gave YOU all the news con-
nccled with my voyage up to that time.
We continued steadily progressing
South, now and then discovering soiita-
nv vessel far in the distance upon the ocean;
nne in particular, large vessel which our
CAPITA reported bound for London from
tie East Indies. Now Whale spouung
The water high in the alr--now huge
shark. attended by hundreds OF proposes.
with now ana then schools of flying hsh' |
The weather being fine, we cannot say
flat the voyage so far has been any olher
,L,n pIcaSant. We have had no very
heavv seas until we approached Cape
Horn. but fortune seemed 10 attend u.s. lor
we rounded the Cape IN three or four days
Which usually requires two or three weeks
Laving very far wind but we were not
90 lorluuate in making Valparaiso, being
driven back bv head winds, but still our
l,,ntain said that we had done much; IL
,.Ii,. having such wind as was desired,
ve IMAGINED ourselves safe Out OF Inc
roach of the so much dreaded Cape where
,le seas are 50 heavy, and stoIms rage
Ahont the middle Of one afternoon me
sky being overcast with clouds, scattered
here and there, the Captain being seen I"
wear an anXio counienance' soon all
nnuncod the approach of heavy gale ana
tj,at we must prepare for the worst; anu
surh a srene--sOon the ocean mat was
once 50 placid and so like the lamb, Is I'D
e, G.v hrirf hours converted INTO the non
As far ~ the eve could reach, the ocean
ora.rn,cd 4 scene as grand as 1t was ter
r,fi.k - huge mountains OF water - lhe
waves lifting their heads as if they would
r.gn touch the sky the winds howllng
whilst our noble bark, rs IT inspired d!
the scene. rode maIestcaily the waves
Soon NIGHT set in, and with The darkness
,h,. Gale continued to rage more ana more
the wind whistied in the cOrdage: tlle SCI
.vnnt the decks. and what rendered II Sill
worse. the weather was very colo ana st
we're on the poor sailors; hut "'''s' "'
w,s confusion above and wore SERIOUS
.soccf. Iaughable scene presents user
balvpcn decks, containing upwards OF
Lundrcd passengers, some by me Fol'i"i
,r,be vessel are thrown out OF their berlhs
,.,nls and boxes breaking loose from 'he'
,l,ces and tossed from one side to another
and whilst one passenger can Sc"''V'
keen his feet, another thrown upon III
deck with the QuicknesS OF though'' d
,rc.cu,inC nothing but a scene OF CONT
sion. With the dawn'ng OF the Gay W
discovered a sail situated alike WIN "u
s.Iyes hound for the United States. On
49,. a,ro,ions of my heart could see
lor L,pe and all that was dear to me, o'
,r,a r,,I, consolation that we derived iro
hor presence was soon lost TO u.s. as 81
soon Disappeared in the distance.
~, or three weeks Gought us to VI
raraiso. and found us safely anch"re"
,arbour. Nothing of importance occu
riinr. except that WAS so clad TO sec "a, IA
,,.t could not refrain from sheuui
;.,rs. the first being a small island Ih'''
led. no, far from Valparaiso. we We
,,,ough the usual ceremony OF rerelV'
,;.;, rrom the Custom House officer a
SURGEON. when we all dressed ouFSeI>
il onr hest and embarked tor shore
boats prepared for the purpose IN WINE
,,.;J - few strokes of the oar, we were
Tbc pcoplc are generally ignorant; til
u,,;,,;o, Catholic. The Churches
handsome, although the c''y woulu u
40 comparison with ours, beng very pc
l.. buI,, The women are pretty ina
some Of them.) they dress well ara W
-, bonpr,s. but have pretty halr' WI
, ~ Seem 70 take pride in dlsplayln!
me best advantage. 4,
v,o ram,ineI but three days, after WI
", weighed anchor and commune"
course. after rounding about eight
dr.J miles from Valparaiso serious
f,r,nna be(ell us we were almost rel'
- ,.,,,,,lr,e wreck bv white squaI
sudden puff Of wind, when haPP pc
,,bon, o'clock one morning s"o)eJ
ns 10 loss of two of our maS'S' VI
rnt oar vessel almost beyond control '''1,, j.
which, we replaced in ioui or eight q 4
Yours, &c, % ~
SACRAMENTO, Sept. 3d. 10 +
have arrived safe in Sacramento
49, ,.ood health, thank