New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-06-07
Going TO California-Hardships and Suffer-
iprs.


GENOA Cayugs Co, N. Y, Thursday May n.
To the Editor,ot The N. Y. Tribune;
Thinking that at this time, when the
spirit of California adventure prevails so extern
sively, introducing into homes that have hitherto
been the abodes of happiness and contentment
feeling of restessness and discomfort with those
moderate gains obtained in the ordinary pursuits
of life the public should be msde fully aware Of all the
difficulties snd dangers attendant upon the pursuit Of
gold send you the following account of the treatment
of certain passengers by the Vanderbilt Company One
week after the wreck of the steamer North America
number of persons from this vicinity purchased through
tickets for passage in the Prometheus and North
America The tickets specified that the holders should
be detained not exceeding twelve days the Pacific
coast to await the arrival OF the North America They
sailed from New.York In the Prometheus on the 5th
and arrived at Central America the 18th Of March
last They detained at Greytown twelve days on
account Of low water In the river stwhich place many
of them contracted disease About hundred of the
passengers by the Prometheus remained at San Juan
del Sur, awaiting their passage, the Sd OF May inst
Nearly the whole Of them either had been sick
with the prevailing fever Of the country Eight of them
had died, and many had returned-among whom were
several from this section The situation of those who
remained was deplorsble TO the last degree many Of
them being entirely destitute of funds and compelled
to depend for subsistence their more fortunate COM
panions letter from friend of your correspondent
dated May g. and brought by one of the passengers who
has returned, dsheMteaed states that he had applied
excessively for passage In every vessel OF the line, aud
had each time been refused, and that be had finally
given bis ticket and twenty-five dollars In money tor
passage in Boston sailing vessel The same letter also
states that there were persons-supposed to be eni-
plOyed by the Company-who were Offering chances
for immediate passage in the Pacific "a vessel Of the
line) for prices varying from 500 10 $3.50 II 1sther
states that the passengers of the steamer Pacc which
sailed the I'd Sd OF this MONTH united with those 10
whom passage refused in petition 10 the Captain
10 rec i've them on board, Offering, inducement,
TO sui nit allowance OF but two meals per day du
ring the voyage. This the Captain refused TO do, on
the ground the law allowed him 10 carry but 500
passengers 1t is worthy OF remark, thst on the trip
gers and that this time she had more than the legal
number having between five and six hundred passen-
gers The assigned by the officers Of the Com.
pany for the preference given 10 passengers who had
sailed from New-York at later date over those who
sailed the time fret mentioned Ia the Prometheus, Is
stated TO have been that the passengers Of the Prone.
heus having purchased tickets for the North America
were subject the rule OF maritime law, that the pas
stpeers beard of wrecked vessel lose their passage
money When il is considered that the individuals In
question were net passengers on board OF the North
America and that their tickets were purchased after she
was a wreck Il will be manifest that this Is but fmsy
pretext TO excuse a course of gross nhumsny and in
justice. Yours, respectfully ID. ID. WILLIAMS