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

forest, through which suppose no hums,
, being ever passed before, almost preclude,
the idea Of escape from that quarter. Blu
there was no alternative, and we accord
inely landed With the determin siion Of cut
: ting our way through the forest if possible
and gaining the head Of the rapids, wher,
another boat was to be 10 waiting 10 con
vey Us forward. At length, after about
ten hours ineesssnt toll, cutting our way
through thicke's 20 dense, that no. breath
Of fresh sir could be felt, and great por.
,ion Of the distance over rugged and al
most inaccessible mountain, with a burn
ling tropical sun, constantly darling his
withering rays upon our heads, We succeed
ed 10 reaching her. But not until half Of
those engaged in the operation, bad sunk
entirely exhausted under the effects Of
heat and over exertion, and had 10 be car.
ried on the shoulders Of others to the boat.
And now came the tug Of war. Gu, Of two
hundred and fifty passengers, not more
than forty were found able to do active du-
1ty, and the sick. and all the baggage was
Ito be carried over the mountain. In ma
Iny places we were obliged 10 drop our bag
gage down over the steep rocks, and lower
The sick and ourselves down by means Of
ropes. Many were in fainting, and some
even in dying condition, which rendered
the task Of carrying them ,brough the mar
row and rugged path extremely laboriou.
and delicate. But at length. after man,
hours d unremitting labor, we succeeded
in shipping all hands on the upper boat. .
i Here a new difficulty presented itself
Not particle OF medicine could be had for
The sick, and no provisions fit for The stom-
ach Of human being was 10 be had on
hoard, and we were again thrown on our
own resources. So finding that something
must be done for the sick and furnishing, o
small party with the captain Of. i,s head,
took up the line Of march again down the
river, 10 search Of provision. They were
fortunate enough TO obtain a supply BY
lpaying aboat ten prices, and 60, back on
board again about sunrise the mex, morn
ing. Soon after weighing anchor, We agnn
pushed forward and accomplished the trip
to Virgin Bay without further accident or
note. Here we were transferred from the
steamer to the backs Of mules, 10 take
ride over the plank road, the agents harp
ed upon 50 persevsringly in the east. Bu,
We soon found il like a great deal else thai
was told Us there 10 connection with tbis
rouie-"aA gammon." For . few miles
the road was ,olerable; the balance, TO SAY
the least, was miserable, and in some pla-
ces, absolutely dangerous. As for planks,
they we're like the Irishman's Hca. An
idea Of the grading Of the road would be
better obtained by trip over the Giants
Cau.eway, than from any description can
give. Added to this, the, naturally stub
born character OF our steeds, soon began to
manifest itself in variety Of ways. Some
refused to 60 II all, or would 60 any wa.
bot the right one, and others on coming 10
stream would lie down rider and all, and
take arolling bath in the mud and water.
Their antics and stubborn cspers produced
some Of the most ludicrous scenes imagina.
BILE, and to those Of us who felt like enjoy
ing sport, this proved the most amusing
part of the route. However after ten
hours ride, (if going on foot the greater
part Of the way, and pulling ones mule and
baggage after him BY main strength, could
DO called riding,) we arrived safely at
San Juan Del Sud, on the sea shore, and
after being slowed, or literally crammed
away on board The miserable old hulk, cali
ed the Monumental City, we soon foond
ourselves bofefing the waves Of the nigh
l,y Pacific.
And now commenced scene ofsufer
ing and death, a parallel to which sincere
1 Iy trust, it may never be my lot to witness.
In q vessel with accommodations barely
sufficient for two hundred persons, we're
crowded about seven hundred human souls.
Many who were brought on board sick,
ierew rapidly worse, from the effects ofnn-
whole some food and the nature Of the air
they were obliged to inhaie below decks,
which was nauseous and suffocaling in the
extreme. Numbers were soon relieved b,
death Of their suferings, bot their places
were rapidly flied with fresh victims L
1.-The dysentery and fever, which now begar
10 break out among US. We were Limited
10 two meals day and the provisions
were Of such nature that we'll fed dol
might we'll have turned from them ia dis
gust. Beef was brought to the table will
tho marrow in the bones in an actual stat