The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-09-30

D in the welfare Of the sick, and turned
. deaf ear to all our entreaties, TO allow u
, to 60 on shore and try to procure fresh wa
ter and food for their comfort. The pas
: sengers were all highly incensed at thei
, conduct, and il required all the influence Q
: the more moderate TO keep the others from
throwing the captain overheard.
1 There were about forty ladies' on board
nearly all OF whom were sick. Indeee
scarcely an individual on board but fell
severely the effects Of ibis horrible state o
living, and the stoutest hearts quailed be-
fore the mournful prospect.
i On the 2s,h we arrived at Acapulco
and respite was obtained from our loath.
some situation by going on shore. On the
passage TO that place fifteen Of our psssen-
gers had gone to swell the population Of
that vast charnel house, the ocean, and
about sixty were still sick. These were
Immediately pu, on shore, and no exertion
was spared on the part Of the other passen-
gers to render them comfortable. But sew
eral more Of them died before we left, and
doubtless many more nave since gone to
their long home.
/ The passengers here entered protest
against the ships proceeding in her then
condition, and the agents were obliged 70
have her thoroughly overhauled, and clean
water put on board. This being accom-
!, lplisbed, we once more embarked, but hao
been only two days al sea, when the alarm
Of fire brought all hands to the deck. The
ship was found to be on fire in the engine
lroom, and for time bsflled oil efforts to
textinquisb It. The scene which followed
the discovery beggars all description. Men
and women, ran fra rant;cnly about the deck,
crying and wriaging their hands. Some
were seen on their knees calling upon their
Maker TO save them from impending ruin.
|Olhers were securing planks and sPars
with which to try and reach the shore,
then twenty five miles distant. While a
few went to work manfully to save them
selves and others by trying to put OUT the
fire. After struggle Of about two hours,
they succeeded in extinguishing it, and
l0rder was once more restored.
i Another occasion had also nearly proven
fatal 10 us. One night while the witch
were all asleep the man at the wheel sud
denly found himselfa most inside the break
ers, of Point Conception, with the ship
heading directly for the shore. He had
barely time to alter his course. Another
minute perhnpr, would have consigned Us
TO awatery grave, tor as the ships head was
brought around 10 the wind the white teeth
Of the angry breakers were plainly visible
close under her lee bow. The night was
pitchy dark, and the sullen growlings OF
the breakers, combined with sense ofthe
danger so narrowly escaped, filed every
mind with nervous excitement, that was
not dispeiled until the grey light Of morn
ing revealed an open sea out Of sight Of
land.
Early on the morning Of the 18th the
cry of land ho! brought every one again
to the deck, and soon after we gided JOY
fully into the harbor Of San Francisco.
And I am certain that Columbus did not
irst set foot on the shores Of America, with
lighter heart than did that crowd Of bali
famisbed passengers, hail the first view Of
the shores that were to put an end to their
sufierings.
was one Of the very few who were Ia
yored with good health throughout the jour
4 ney, and attribute it mainly TO my total
abs,inencs from fruits, and Is far as possi-
| bie from water, and living on plain diet.
And although ! lived on cracker and % ?
small piece OF dried beef per day, for .
] week at a time, | weighed more when J
landed here than when fsfi New York.
am now lord Of tho Pick and the Long
Tom, (an instrument used in washing the
gold) like the country well, and there
]is kind Of excitement in mining tina,
oeases me. But would advise all who
contempla.e coming here, that unless they
have particular desire 70 see the elephant
they had better stay al home. Ihays seen
him, head, tail, horns, and all, and think
myself extremely fortunate that ! have
escaped his jaws.
| NV time has run out. aud ! must close
for the present.
4 Your afectionate brother,
,.,. JAS. D. RICE.
! HARTLEY COLERIDGE.