Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1851-02-06
VOLUME VIII. NO. 6.

Gu lilTOUgn Tue WdleT lHOWlI0 NlhlS AOotA
from before her heel, and starting the funny in
habtants Of the deep, whr fed from before the
wake Of the ship like frightened sheep at the
approach of the rumbling cars over a rail road,
and one of the passengers reported, and aclu-
ally staked his word and honor upon it, that he
saw whale turn somerset in his haste to escape
frum before The ship, For the truth Of that AS
severation however am not pr pared to vouch,
us my attention was otherwise occupied.
Our vessel went ahead through the water
and we soon reached Chagres, without anything
having occurred on our way thither worthy OF
notice, being favored with good weather INST OF
the time. Here we disrnbaIked, aud having
secured the vessel by great chain cable to
prodgous great elm root that ran down the
rocks on the beach, we all sat down under tie
shade ofa banana tree, and taking suall lnIch
Of our provisions, just to help us in the aid Of
our gold attraction across the Isthinus, which
was soon finished, and swinging our picks we
started on our journey 'verland towards the Pa
cific, which we were told washed the western
shore.
Under ordinary circumstances, we should
have been under the necessity of employing
mu es to transport our blgglge over this part OF
our Journey; but as it was, we found that tho
charm Of gold suhiced to help US along amaz-
ingly up the steep and rugged passages OF the
Isthmus. In fact, was not sensible at all Of
any fatigue in the ascent. We soon reached the
summit of the ridge, where our eyes were met
by view Of the vast Pacific Ocean to The west.
Here we all halted, IN ornel have view thro'
the telescope before sp,knn Of, which we had
not forgotten to bring with US, the period haV-
ing arrived IN which we had the opportunity OF
testing the extraordinary vr'ucs 1t was sad to
possess Accor llnyly, the engineer having Sc
lecteG a stunted live oak tree, with two forked
branches somewhat in the form of a Y, and un
screwlng the silver caps frem each end, he ele-
waited the stick in a horizontal position, laying IT
in the crotch of the Y, with the further end
pointed in the direction laid down in the chart
as the latitude of Upper California due W. N.
w and with the telescope thus preplred, he
invited us all lone at a time) to AXE peep
through As was one of The nearest by, whenlt
was adjusted was permitted to have the first
view. Shutting my left eye, took close peep
through it with my right, when instantly thrill
ling prospect opened TO my view. Mines OF
gold exhibited the yellow metal III ALMOST virgin
purity shone with sparkling brl|Ilarce over
the GROUND AS far a. til, eve could take III, al
most literally covering the ground, where vast
= multitude OF people were engaged IN gathering,
t grubbing, and picking it up into every concelV-
II able variety uf vessels thtt ever saw. and some
: that never saw. The view appeared not tn'e
n distant, and was absolutely enchanting; and
& | would fain have ndulged in longer contem-
f. plation, but as minutes time was all that
a was allowed for each one 10 take look, wai
Of under the necessity Of giving place to Others -
ms Some fairly screamed with j'y and delight
IN the bewltching prospect, and were ready 10 dar
tn forward down the other side ol the ridge, bn
we're checked BY the captain, wh' told us tha
el we must be eased down the declvlty by rope
he fixed in a hook and strap buckled rnnnl on
al waists. one mt a time otherwise. the lmpetn
.y gwen by the attraction ot the g"l would ne
d. powerful as to send Us hen Hong to The bottom
and perhaps break our necks.
We were, therefore, obliged 70 submit to th
20 moie Of descent moreover, eich ut Us wa
er provided with piece Of load stone about tn
as ,he size of IL hens egg slnng in little bay, an
ay fastened to our shirts behind, IN order to couT
Ike teract the too great attraction of the gold rego
nd after we lad reached the foo of the hill.
ee We had all been let down in this way. excel
he one or two, there we're twenty five of us all
ed when John Clutcher, the last one round who's
it waist the girde was bucked, happened to Pu
his No hard that he puIle the ropi ont Of the Cal
in taIns hands, as he stood on tp ol the cks, an
lat down he came, plump,-turning somerset
we he struck the ttom and off he started, "u
&c, lick" with the rope dragging after him, toward
he the sea shore, which was MT many miles off,
He when we started after him, with the intention
,ur catching him, as we feared he might get drowl
ed ed If he plunged into the water lie had near
ON reached the sea shore, when the rope, by luck
MS, chance, happened 10 catch in the root OF trt
of that projected out knee. fashion, from a bar
of close to where he passed. and held him fast,
of that it brought him up standing; and the capta
bv hallooed out to us unfasten The rope and tac
,lJ lie and throw back to him, at the same tin
A., tossing us dn additional load stone, to tasten
in Clutcht's back to ST. ady hun. This being don
nd and the two remaining men being let down sal
~ Iy. together with the captain, we proceeded
md The sea shore, where we found annther Vess
,,, ready to take It's round through to California.
an This vessel was fastened by great ire
the chain to a large white sharp pointed stub tn
ver stuck up not far from the bank oil shore OF tt
. ia sea.-about ten feet high. This stub did
hall look 10 me like any tree that ever saw betnr'
bu, and vas after wards told that it was the tnSk
a mammoth that happened to die laying on
.h hack. How true that ls | shall not pretend
md, say.
,,o. We all went on board, when, christening L
chain by which the vessel was Secnred,-pt
the ceiv,ng, as we did, that this ship, like the o.
.d- we had left, carried no sails, nor yet was II
steam ship,-we made use Of the same taIlsma
you ic charm IN getting under weigh that we did
fix ore-shontlng Cdiy0rnd gotd' "he" ouI 81
,sps shot along through the water like an arrow FRI
must a cross bow.
And here let me not forget to say that as "
f us predicted at the outset, none Of us thou,
,iect OF being hungry, or craving food Of any XII
,ver the prospect that we were now approaching
wing golden land OF promise, banished all sense
es to want Of this nature. We only thought Of lur
of gold as big as tea chests. and bags ful