The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1852-10-12
lTor the Evansville Journal.
Letter from CalifOrn,a.

FOR the Evansvillc Journal.
Letter from California.
Mr.. SANDERs:-I make the following ex.
tract from letter dated Mission San Jose
rear San Francisco, July 29th, 1852. 1t wa.
written by young man who left this vicini.
ty last February, for California. The extract
referred to, should receive the attention o.
travellers going to California, and in fact the
U. States Government should not pass the
matter by unnoticed. The ship Russell, saic
to be Mexican or Spanish vessel, agreed to
take some three hundred aud eighty Ameri.
passengers to San Francisco, for five hund.
red and forty-five dollars each. 1t will be
seen that the officers of the vessel landed the
passengers after fifty-two days sail, in AGA.
pulco, Mexico, only fifteen hundred miles
from Panama and two thousand from San
Francisco, and ref sed to take them any fur
ther. The passengers had all paid their pas
sage money, after which many of them had
not even SO much as a dime left, but anticipa-
ted, so soon as they reached California, going
themselves an honest livelihood. But the
ship and crew left them in that old Mexican
port, Acapulco, and many were in 3 destitute
and starving condition. Thrown upon the
mercy of the Mexicans, G uerillas and Pirates,
many of them fell victims to the first named
parties, and many died of disease, hunger and
ill-treaiment.
twas an utter impossibility to get work
there at any price. Some Few of them, who
were exceedingly fortunate, obtained places
to work for their board. Butt suppose some
of those unfortunate beings are yet lingering
in Acapulco, having no means whatever OF
getting away. Those heartless Mexicans
still carry in their bosoms the hostile feelings
they cherished in the time of the Mexican
War, and when an opportunity presents itself,
they never lose tine in holding the Americans
as their enemies, and punish them according
ly it it be in their power.
The author OF the following was fortunate
enough to arrest himself from the inhumau
treatment of these desperadoes, and from A c.
apulco reached San Francisco on the 9TH day
day of July. He thus writes to his friends in
Fanderburgh county:
"We left Panama on the 10Th Of March on
the ship Russell, and in ffty-two days were
landed in small Mexican port called Acapul-
co. During the sail, water and provisions
being nearly exhausted, we were allowed blu;
one pint of water per day, under burning
sun; and our bread and meat was very infe-
ior--wholy unfit for civilized man to eat
being full of bugs and maggots. 1t is impos-
sible for me to picture to your mind the state
of things that existed. AS said before We
arrived at Acapulco in fifty-two days, dis
lance from Panama of about fifteen hundred
miles, and about two thousand from San Fran
cisco. There we were left (three hundred
and eighty of US in number, and the most of
us without dime in our pockets) to pine
away, and die by the hands IF the villainous
sea pirates. We were about half starved,
and many time have sat down to breakfast
and had nothing to eat but salt beef and cof-
fee. As you may suppose, great many of
my fellow. passengers fell victims to such hor-
rid treatment. Many poor unfor innate
young man have seen buried in the dark
blue sea.
The officers of the Russell had got our mo-
ney, and that was ali they wanted or cared
for, and we could not help ourselves. sup
pose we could have sold the ship, but she
would not have brought more than enough to
have paid the crew so we would not have been
any better off by SO doing. We threatened
to hang our captain, but thought it best not
to do so, for fear it might bring us into diff
Guilty. Life had almost lost its sweetness.yet
after all this, did not forget those l left be-
hind.
"The farmers here are cutting their wheat
and barley. This splendid farming coun.
try. They raise from fifty to sixty bushels of
wheatper acre; barley seventy-6ve to eighty;
potatoes four to five hundred. am now in
good part Of the country here, in Mission
San Jose, and doing well.
Every respectfully yours, &c.