The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-02-12
lAsersstinx Diary OF an Overland journey
through n xico-suneri.gs and Mortality
81 the Parsy-Description OF the Coan-


try, SC.
We present TO our readers this morning. the fol-
lowing very interesting account Of journey across
ahe Isthmus of Tehusntepec, by party OF Ameri-
cans who arrived here within day two
II seems they embarked in the Powhattan, Capt.
F. Hopkins, at San Francisco for Panama, and
that the vessel got short of wafer and provisions
when she only twenty days al sea. On the
fifteenth of November, during calm, and when
she vessel was about six miles from land, the cap
tam called for volunteers to man the boat and
search for the haIbor of Santa Maria, and procure
water il possible. Ten of them volunteered 10 do
30. To their surprise and amazement, however,
they saw the vessel take advantage of breeze
which sprung up while they were In the boat! and
nut TO sea again. They were accordingly left on
the Isthmus of TehuantePec, in destitute condi-
ton. They determined upon making their way TO
Vera Cruz, which place they succeeded In reach
ing, after undergoing dreadful hardships. -Four of
The ten died on the way of cholera. At Vera
Cruz they fortunately fell in with the expedition
which sailed from New Orleans TO survey line
of railroad across the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, by
the members of which they were treated with
great kindness. MIR. Mcpherson, one of the
owners of the steamship Alabama, sympathized
with them in their misfortunes, provided them
free passage to New Orleans The following is
a list of the survivors Of the expedition :-Eugene
Ring, OF New York Joseph s. Wyman, Boston
James Walker, Boston William Dupuy, Boston
James Barker, Boston; /. w Wood ward, Long
Island, New York
The general impression IL that the vessel in
which they embarked ftem San Francisco was
not driven 70 sea the conduct of the captain is,
therefore, unaccountable. The following is the
diary
Nov. 22d-Whle lying becalmed, within five or
Elk miles OF the shore, Captain Hopkins requested
Captain Kellogg 10 pick volunteer boats crew
from among the passengers, and 90 on shore 10 try
and IND the haroor OF Santa Maria, near which
port he supposed from his reckoning, the ship then
Our object was 10 water and provision the
ship, We had suffered for want of both for two
weeks. Ten of US, including Capt. h, left the
vessel about eight o'clock, a. NJ, and pulled for
the shore, having first put IN the boat small
breaker OF water, and little hard bread and beef,
as we expeced TO be gone nearly all day. Soon
after leaving the ship light wind sprung up
from Oft the land, ana the ship stood out TO
She made no signal for US TO come GA board, and
we supposed they would tack, ana stand in and
pick US up; but about twelve O'Clock we lost sight
OF her After pulling down the coast about three
hours longer-the wind by this time blowing gale,
and the running very hgh-we found That our
boat could not live long IN such weather, and de-
bermlned 10 put her ashore which we dared not do,
but last resource. This we accomplished IN
safety, through tremendous surf, and, had our
boat not been as well managed as she was, but
few of would have reached the land. Two of
the party Immediately climbed TO the top of nigh
pfomontory which made out into the sea, but could
see nothing OF our ship. They discovered
cho few miles back in the country, and after
hauling boat far up the beach. we all started
towards II. We found some Mexicans here, who
were very friendly, and OF whom we oou ght some
fowls ana eggs ana, returning TO the boat, cooked
our supper, wrapped ourselves IN the few blankets
and coan we mad brought with US, an lying down
In the sand, slept until morning, when We all
returned TO the rancho for provisions; and about
noon one of eur party went down 10 the beach TO
see the boat which he found the wind had blown
about sixty yards from where we had left il, and
stove II in pieces on the rocks.
We remained here till the 18th, and then started
for San MaIeo, twenty miles down the coast,
where arrived about shutdown, and were taken
bv our guide to a house where We could get some
food and sleep. Our route TO tins place was part Of
the way very mountainous, and part on the sea-
beach. Whsn about half way, we crossed the
mouth OF the TehuaRtepec river, fordng 1t within
two hundred yards OF It's mouth-the water reach
ing 10 waists. We saw at least fifty very large
algalors, lying summing themselves on the banks,
or swimming lazlly along, their noses just poklng
up above the surface OF the water.
We left San Mateo on the 26th, for Santa Ma
ria, about nine miles farther down the coast-tra-
yelling nearly The whole distance on the sea beach
and along large lagoon. The fresh waters here
n lea with tish and the banks of the MYERS
and lakes are abundance OF water fowl, and the
country Is alive with game We found Santa Ma
ma 10 be a small to1 n OF about four hundred nha-
bitants, LIVING 10 huts, matched with palm
leaves-the only dress Of the women ing a cou-
pie Of yards OF colored cloth, fastened around
the want. The little better pro-
vded for, wearing large loose trousers, ant
over their shoulders coarse shirt They ap-
pear 10 be KIND and genie people, but lazy
and indoent-lyIag on tortAGs, which are
hard, thin corn cakes, hsh, and such fruil
nature furnishes them. We learned that a Mexi-
can surveying party were stationed some nine miles
farther down, one at WHOM spoke English; and ac-
cordIngy one OF our companions started OF 10 see
them, and gain the necessary Information for cross
ing the lsthmus.
9Th -Werrturned 10 san Mateo through which
town had 10 pass on our route, and on the 18th
hired horses and guide for the Guy OF Tehaun-
npec, t~enty-four miles distant. We travelled
over splendid road, passing through very level
and beautiful country, but thiny covered with
timber, and with an excellent soil, and yet not the
least sEn a cultivation until within mile or two
~ the cry, when saw few corn plantations.
On arrival 10 the city we were surrounded by /
q great crowd Of Indians, women and children,
who gazed al with much curiosity. From what i
could learn were the hrst party OF Americans !
who had crossed the country Everything was /
IN state Of confusion the cholera was raging, |
and the city expecting every moment 10 ne Il
attacked ny the forces Of Gen. MelendeZ, an in
surRent chief, who was al The head Of an army Of 4
the JgChi eca" Indians. Many Of the streets and
principal public buildings we're barricadei and for
rh.d, end ell seemed 70 feel, they expressed IL,
muoho vailenie" We were taken 10 the Cover
nor, 20 whom we explained our situation, and were
quartefed ny his orders IN the hospital.
The city contains about 1900 inhabitants,
mostly laaiens. All the offices, end nearly all the
trade, 10 the hands ~ Spaniards and Mexicans.
The better part - the town J. built ~ stone the
buildings are low, and ike all spanish buildings,
open a court IN he centre, presenting only their
sides 10 the street
The Tehauntepec riyerrsn along side ~ the
city, and Ii is here a very small stream. Upon
this the inhabitants depend for all the water
they use. &c the same evening W. arrived,
one q our parry, CAPTAIN Kellogg, ~ Hartford,
Conn was attacked BY the cholera and the next
morning, 29h, Henry Cram, % Boston, was taken
with The same dlsease, and died "a twentyt-our
hours. Both Of our sick friends had every atte1-
ton paid them IN oar power, bat IN one case all
was Il no avail. The Governor gave rs our pass-
ports 70 travel through the country, and we accord