The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1851-06-05

bruther-in-law, our co-publisher:-
CARIBBEAN SEA, on board the)
Steam Ship, Cherokee,
lllh of April. 1851.
..As have now leisure time, will en-
deavor To give YOU sketch of the time:
since left California. left nv cabin in
the mountains on the l7lh January, with
the intention oil leaving the country for the
States. Ii was considered the dullest time
that was ever yet 10 California. on account
of no rains. | arrived in Sacramento City
On the 2Oih. | went to the Post Office ant
received two letters from bro. John. was
surprised 10 learn that he was then IN San
Francisco. immediately took passage OF
the Steamer Senator, and arrived in tha,
city, The next morning | soon found M
brother, and we were glad 10 see each 9th.
err. lie appeared much improved in health
since had last seen him. lie is ngaged
III the Commission business. and pays six
hundred dollars rent per month. lremain-
ed in San Francisco about four days, when
became wearied in being idle and sudden.
" concluded to leave As there were no
Steam Ships 10 leave short of ten days, |
engaged passage on the fine packet ship
4scatna, oil Boston, which was 10 leave that
evening for Panama. accordingly bid
my brother good bye, aud We sailed the
next morning, 25th Jan, with one hundr ed
and seventy two passengers. most OF them
real gentlemen. We paid fifty dollars for
cabin passage. which is considered low
price, but there was some competition.
We had prery good fare the first two or
three weeks out, ba, il proved the reverse
the rest OF the voyage. The second da,
out, most of the passengers were sea-sica
and busy in casting up accounts. The 81
day the most q. US were better, about that
time we had strong winds; sometimes ia
vorabse. until the 18th Of Feb, when we
began TO have head winds. and dead Gains
We were then in the latitude of Panama.
and were still sailing south In hopes of get
ting into The southwest trade winds. but
we never found them; we were finally 10
one degree Of the equator, and 100 degrees
west longitude. iel are aware that Pau
ana lies between and Q degrees north
latitude, and between - and so west loo
gitude. On the 18th we spike the ship
lara bound for San Francisco. 18th bu-
RED passenger, The first funeral bad
ever Witnessed ct sea, il appeared yer,
solemn. As soon as the man was dead.
the flag wss heisied at hall N ut. aud the
corpse brought on deck and sewed in eau
vass, weights attached 10 the feet; ii was
then covered with the union jack a few
words were spoken, and prayer BIZ one
If the passengers, who was Methodist
preacher. The Capt. and all hands listen
ed with attention; when over, the body was
raised on plank and launched id the faith
omless deep. The flag was then hauled
Down, and all mas done There were three
others buried in the same manner during
the voyage, which was considered a small
number FOR 50 many on board, and the Sit
nation and Circumstances we were H.
We continually had head winds. or dead
Gains, and when calm II was excessivel,
bot and suliry About the 18th Of March
The passengers became alarmed about the
scarcity Of provisions and water; il was as
certained that we were getting very shori
especially of water; we all agreed 10 come
on allowance, and it was well we did, for
we soon had but three casks on the ship.
and no show to get any more. and nearly
two thousand miles from land. The wind
were 80 against US, that We could not get
any where for supply. The passengers
became more alarmed :han ever: it certain.
y did appear very gloomy The most Of
NJ fears were that muiiny would arise
among the passengers; some Of them were
for hanging The Capt. and others for throw
ing him overheard, for not laying In full
supply; but at the last, merciiul Proyi-
dence inierposed, and sent Us heavy show
ers Of rain. So that We spread canvass
and cangh; plenty, or sufficient 10 last Us.
Some Of the passengers would eat hearty
of salt food, for indeed there was no; much
else, which caused their raging thirst. II
was pleasing 10 see almost every one, night
or day when il rained, out with tin cup.
paD, or coffee pot, catching every drop The,
could: If they once got as much as the,
wanted, they we're happy. II il had DOT
rained, we must all have persisted. But
soon we discovered that the bread was &C.
coming very short, We Immediately ap-
pointed a committee Of five to examine til
ship aud ascertain what provisions there