Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-04-10
Nj ISC Ii A N Y.
no, FOR CALIFORNIA.

We went down TO the North River, last Friday,
TO witness the sailing Of two splendid steamers
the Empire City and the Cherokee-crowded with
mass Of gold seekers, Of all ages, sexes and de-
scriptions. The day was mild and fine-bright,
indeed, as the sun and pure air could make it,
Thousands Of all SORTS and conditions of people Were
gathered on the piers, the surrounding vessels, the
wharves, the barges, and even In little wineries,
that swan arouhd in the sluggish ebb tide, like
ducks on shell fishing campaign. Elbowing, with
much difficulty. our way through the living mass,
dodging horses heads, and springing one side and
the other TO keep clear of the Wheels that per-
severingly eDdeavored to crush the toes ofsne bo-
dy, we arrived opposite the wheel-house of the
Empire City, just as carriage made its appearance
through the clustered humanity. Ii contained two
men and woman one of The men was bound for
the gold region, and the lady was his wife. He
sprang from the carriage as it stopped, glided up
the aft gangway, and was soon out of sight. The
lady sat silently looking after him. We looked in
her face. She was quite young, pretty, but pale !;
and her eyes, that tried TO force up shadow of
smile, were encirced by an unmistakable vermion,
and the gances of the le-iale orbs struggled thro'
tears that the sun shone at the instant, and
changed into rainbow brillianis.
Presently the young husbandappeared-his hand
clasped hers secondhand, with choaked good
bye, he vanished again, and was lost among the
,hrong that crowded the deck as thickly as bees in
hive. She spoke no goodby but drew down
her veil, and sat as silently and as comfortess as
Niobe, until the vessel steamed away down the
harbor
Seated in the maintop was man u the garb of
mechanic he had climbed up there 10 hold con-
versation with himself. His feet dangled against
the mast, and his face rested upon his hands,
Whether he was shutting his eyes, and fancyng
himself in California or calculating The chances Of
his new and perous enterprise, or whether
ellis eyes with his heart, and that was far away"
we, of course, could not guess but he moved not
limb, nor did he even look up when the steamer
sailed out of the slip, amid the cheers Of ten thou
sand stout lungs afoat and ashore.
On the wheel-hous were some dozen young men,
who were intent on making the must Of their tary
at the wharf. Two of them held bottles in their
hands. from which they frequently drank the health
Of their friends on the pier.
"Give my love to Sally Cove, Bill" exclaimed
one.
"Aye, ave." responded the other, "and smack
over the mouth in the bargain"
"Ef yer doo-l'll lam yer when come back
from Californy," answered the man on the wheel
house-whereat there was much laughter.
could find, which they threw at their friends on
board, who caught them with the certainty and ad-
dress of old crckeiers Mem. Oranges and bad
whSkey are dangerous commodities to stow away
in une's bread basket, when going out to sea. Have
tried it.
Halfway up the main ratlins was Vermont
built and equipped Yankee, with bell-crowned hat,
grew hnme-spun irowsers, cowhide shoes, and but
ternut colored coat, that had been made stu hum"
also-and an umbrella. That man will make for
tune, if he lives. Probably there was not another
umbrella on board, and when that party of adyen-
turers come to walk across the lsthmus, with the
sun pitching down upon them, at the rate of one
hundred and twenty Fahrenheit, he will be striding
along under that cotton umbrella, as comfortable
and as calm as summers morning He will see
others droop and stew beneath the tropical glare,
and when asked the loan of his shade, will reply:
"You tarnal fool, why didn't you bring an UNI
berel yonrself?"
We saw on board, pacing the forward deck un-
easily, man who leaves for the new world OF the
west, because he cannot stay at home noble,
liberal-hearted fellow, whose obligations, at the
shrine of the convivial god, have impaired his
health, and expensive endeavors, to keep rank and
pace with his more prosperous and fashionable
neghbors, have reduced him 10 the verge OF bank
ruptcy. A small sum has been secured for those
he leaves behind, he has three ounces over his pas
sage money, and, with heavy heart, bids adieu to
his home, his sweet wife, and chubby little ones,
with the hope Of retrieving his fortunes. There are
great many of these among the California. bound,
and they will, like him, succeed, or lay their bones
in the placers.
At length the Empire City moved away, and
passed cannon how are you? with the Cherokee
which soon followed, and both walked down the
river like beings of lifeand so they were.f 1hou|
sand living beings on board could make them co.