Wisconsin tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1847-1854, 1850-02-15
CALIFORNIA LETTER.
PANAMA, n, G., Dee. 10Th, l849


Probably you are try
ing to keep yourself warm by the stove
fire, and | am writing on a balcony with
out coat or vest, and with pair Of thin
pants on, listening to the screech of par
r0ts, beautifully colored one being very
near me- A very pleasant breeze, how
ever, is up, as you may know from the
fact that some boys are flying kites, which
are waving in sight You see from the
heading of this where [ am. Mr.. Wasley
and [ arrived here yesterday afternoon,
both in good health, but fatigucd with the
journey. [ thought letter might not be
unacceptable from me at this distance,
furnishing you few particulars of what
| have seen in coming. My object viii
be to give YOU some idea of the country
we have past through, and the inhabit-
ants, and also to furnish some little infor-
nation as to what is best to be attended
to in crossing the Isthmus.
We left n. Y a little after 8 o'clock
2. NJ, on the LIST inst, by the Empire
City :" we had hardly left the pier before
we ran foul of q schooner and almost
crushed her i'm two; this however was the
only accident connected with our fine
looking Steamship. When we started,
the weather was quite cold, indeed I'M
comfortably so, except near fire, bnt IL
two days we experienced a sensible differ
ence. On the Sunday and Monday after
we started we had something like q gale;
the rest of the time the weather was pleas
ant For myself [ had no pleasant time.
as / never had on the water, and never OK
pect to have, on account of violent and
continued sea-sickness We met with
kind treatment on board, but nothing can
make sea-sickness at all tolerable Every
thing a well-furnishcd table could offer
was joyfully rejected for little water
Cruel On Thursday the 9th our posi-
ton was Lat % deg. IS min Al sec. \.
Long u deg. 40 min 90 sec W 1923
miles from Sandy Hook. Thermometer
at 3 p NJ, stood at so, in the shade
Friday morning early, we had little to
our right a small island, one of the Ba-
hama group, and [ assure you II was a
pleasant sight with its yellow cover. On
Sunday the 9th, were in Lat IA deg 90
min, 80 sec. N, and Long. II deg. 20
min. 90 sec. W. Porto Bello bearing s.
S. W, $40 miles. While in the climate
Of the West Indies the thermometer rang
ed from so to 90 during the dav, and
would not be much less than so during the
night, but | was too unwell to notice it
accurately. We were close to St Domin-
90 on the West and South, and had a view
Of it for some hours; its appearance is
interesting, forming an irregular and par
allel range of mountains. if good sized
hills on an island are deserving the name;
their formation is evidently rock. but Gov
cred with vegetation, the most prominent
beng shrubs We Just saw one evening
an elevated point Of Jamaica being to
the east of it We did not put into any
Port during the voyage, One pleasant
transaction took place while sailing, viz.
subscription by the cabin passengers of
Sl2O to present Captain Wilson with
piece Of silver plate as a mark of respect
for his considerate and gentlemanly con
duct. lie is certainly deserving Of such
tavors. Some celebrated names were on
board: Capt Suffers wife, daughter. and
two sons on their way to California to
join him, they have been separated for
sixteen years. j. L. Stephens also. and
some others
On Tuesday the 18th. about breakfast
time we made Chagres. but had to return
Il miles to Navy Bay, where we we're put
on board the Oris Steamer Charres. in
appearance at first sight, will disappoint
any one who has not been in tropical
climate. As you approach. you round
high point Of rock with the castle of San
Lorenzo on the top to guard the mouth of
the river, and the famed Chagres is Just
before you, on the margin of something
ike considerable bay formed by the riv- |
er. The dwellings as Won see them on
entering the river have repulsive appear
ance, being formed of cane. and covered
with palm leaves, which have dead and
dirty appearance The Steamboat land |
ing IS on one side of the river and the vii /
lage on the other. but in the evening we
went over in a canoe. amongst other OBJ I