Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1850-04-18
Panama, March 20th, 1850

! Promises 10 write for Newspapers
are like those made to return umbrellas,
rarely fulfilled, but in the presen, instance
am going to establish a reputation for
truth and veracity, and comply with your
request that wonld give you A" Items" Of
trip TO California via the Isthmus. So
many persons have passed over this route,
and so much has been written on tho sub
! ject, that l do no, hatter myself can en-
Tighten you or your readers, and conse-
quently shall not make the effort Ii would
take much smarter man than either Of us
10 enlighien some Of them. Because you
have never yet been inoculated with the
| California fever, is no reason you may not
! yet, with your wash par on your knee"
! an extra collar inyour hat (about the ex-
tent Of an Editors baggage) be seen wcnd-
ing your way towards the place where all
the foolish fellows and hard cases seem to
be- heading (lll divide the compliment with
| you) will, therefore, for your benefit, and
! 'hoN W DOht W Nv llC lOOl-
steps, &C., give you Items, DC, of my
trip thus far. We left New York Februa-
ry l2th in the /" Empire City," and for four
days we were f,vored with a gale that
made everything snap and crack, and i'm
pressed the unintiatcd with the idea that
their chances for going TO the bottom were
much better tan for getting to California.
! The third night out tho dead lights"
smashed in and the sky lights overhead
were crushed with the weight of water that
was constantly breaking over US; and in the
Ladies' Saloon everything was drenched,
and for few moments "two feet large
on the floor. Chairs, Tables, Lamps, Dish
es. were knocked into smithereens," and
passengers trunks boxes and bundles were
rolling from side to side in delightful CON
fusion some rushed on deck with the
tube of "Ilfc Preserver" a, their mouths,
red in the face from the exertion, and some
took it leisurely, particularly II e married
men who had been blown up before
starting I; some were too sea-sick to get
up, and preferred their chances below, and
there they lay where they had fallen
sometimes on top Of a Trunk and some
times the T.0nk them, getting bruised
| aud singing ont " who the ID is stepping
on me-" take that pair Of Boots off my
toes, " "whose Trunk is this on my shins."
The State rooms were drenched and the
bedd ng soaking, and nigh, have quoted
the words Of the song " I'm afoat, I'm
afoat.' After the gale alated and the
sun came OUT the example was followed
by the passengers. One moonlight even
ing we were electrified by hearing a sound
| like the tuning of Instruments and learned
for the flst time that there was " Band
on board soon after they took position on
the wheel-house and showed us French
Horn, Violin, Clarionet and Trombone
/ for an hour they 'disconrsed sweet sounds
Il The CIarlunett would occasionally Squeak
l the French Horn get a>tmalhec, and the
/ Violin hoarse, but we we're too much pleas
ed to crlticise. In the midst OF that most
beautiful production Newport gals amt
you coming out to night" a shower came
up and every body rushed for the lower
regions" the stairs being narrow and slip
perry with wet, much confusion ensucd
and when the Band undertook to scramble
down, the " leader" slipped and fell and
landed at the bottom of ihe stairs, and all
the others, propelled by the croNd in the
rear, stumbled over their fallen leader, +"
and soon the pile numhe red dozens it
took some time to resurrect the Band aud
when they did come to light, what plight
they were in ! OF the Violin there was
nothing left but the neck, which the owner
still adhered to. The Trombone was bent
not on a spree-but double. The Clarl-
oCeu was minus joint, and the French
Horn looked like a fellows new hat after
having been set on by fat lady at a par
ty, and it there is ever note got out OF II
again il will be Flat" Thus ended The
musical per ormances for the voyage.
saw the oue-eyed owner of the Violin next
/ morning looking over the side with a mel
ancholy expression OF coun,enance, as if he
contemplated "immeIslon !" and the
Trombone man had on a face longer than
ever his instrument could be extended and
looking as if there was no music in his
soul" We arrived at ChagTes on the
22nd, without anything further occurring "tO
mar the festivities" &c. landed per steam
er Orus on the 23d put up for the after
noon at the " Irving House." a building
recently erected a most magnlhcen, ai-
fair, having one long room below built on
the plan of John Gof's old Ten pin Al
ley, which suiliced for store, warehouse foI
Coal for the Orus, Sitting Room, Parlor
Smoking Room and Dining Room over
head a similar one containing about 100
cots, a d when they get the Roof on anC
the 4" End" which is not yet, j, will b'
"Algunas Calabazas" (for translation cal
on the Count) Here we dincd the Bill
of Fare elaborate ! lst Course, Pilot Brea'
aud IA, Bacon end Bacon and PHO