The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-11-19

FROM AN ADDISON CO. Roy.

voyage TO Call10rnla around cape horn. |
FROM AN ADDISON CO. BOY.
In TIE Ship " Cdl1ornia Packet" l9s
Passengers
SAN FRANcIsco, Aug. 25th, 1850.
CONCLUDED.
Mr. EDIToR
On the 21,h, we made the Falk-
land Islands; from here we experienced
head winds. and a rough time, until we
doubled Cape Horn, aud we're in the
mild waters of the Pacific The royal
yards, masts, and rigging, were sent
down, the flying gib-boom got in. to pre-
pare for bad weather off the Cape. We
were in the parallel of the Cape, Sum
day the Goth, So days from Boston.
There the wind hauled to the westward,
which lasted five days, and obliged us to
run as fat south as latitude go , where
we found the days to be, in length about
seven hours, between daylight and dark.
We encountered quite number OF pretty
smart squalls, but on the 25th we had
regular Cape uorner. 1t struck US a,
bout four in the morning. with such pow
er, and change SO sudden, that il re-
CURED the utmost exertion, aud skill to
prepare the ship 10 meet the fierce EN-,
counter. Before The sails could be taken
III and furIed, the stay sail was carried
away. The high combing waves run
ming quick, and arrested IN their course
by violent gusts, created on the whole
extent Of the Oceans surface, sheets Of
flying foam. The sudden encounter of
winds and waves, caused the latter to
mount up into vast moving pyramids Of
angry foam. The scene was terrific the
bowling of the wind, the tremendous
heavy rolling of the sea, which broke in
on either beam, the stern now lifted by
the sea, and her head plunging into the
vortex below. Our ship of 600 tons
burden, must have looked comparatively
like an egg-shelI OH the waters. As to
the enjoyment of gale off Cape Horn,
| think that there is but little. A pleas
ure party may enjoy sailing excursion,
with charming breeze, near a pctur-
esque shore, in sight of friends and
home. But let these same lovers of O.
cean,-probably some that read this
pass through rain, snow, hail, head winds
and gales, off Cape Horn, land out of
sight, seas violently beating against the
ship, washing over decks, threatening
wreck itsell-and their thoughts will
turn to boyhood's home," and father
land. " 1t is in such moment as this,
that the profession of a sailor becomes
really sublime 1t is a contest for mas
terry between the elements, and the dar-
ing of man. At such a moment, all
hands are called; fore aud alt--each
sailor stands in silence, 10 receive and
execute, whatever orders the officers may
see fit to give; he is the master spirit
whose GOODNESS. experience, and ntel>
lectual energies. alone can control the
demon of the tempest,
June Sd, the wind shifted so that we
could lay West, North West course.
With stiff breeze we were fast leaving
the dreaded coast of Patagonia behind
us, and were ploughing our way up the
mild waters of the wide Pacific. The |
snowy peaks Of the Andes were soon in
sight, which admonished us, that we
were near the harbor Of Valparaiso. We
made land on the morning of the 18th.
some twenty miles from the harbor. Al
so, but short distance from us were two
Barques, which on coming up with, we
spoke, aud found one to he the Barque
Southern Of Roston. from San Francis,
CO, bound for Valparaiso, six'y-six days
passage. The other, was the English
Barque SahdnG, which your readers will
recollect, we also spoke with. on the f.
luator, on the Atlantic side. She did
not stop at Rio Janeiro. Her Captain,
A regular pussy John Bull, gave in that
he was ialrly beat. suppose il came
quite natural To him, as it does to the
rest of his connlrymen, to give up to the
Yankf0.
The wind being rather light. we did
not enter the harbor until the afternoon
nj the 18th. We came to anchor al 4
P. NJ. l07 days from Boston. And 10
nur great jpy, we found thai but a shor,
distance from us, were the Barque Spien-
lid, aud the little Brig Reindeer they
raTe in the day before. Beat three days.
And # ever a company wished 10 eS-