Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-03-25
WHOLE NO. 1874
American Hotel,
Panama, FEB. 90, 1852.

Mn. EDlToR:-
i consider il my duty
n friend and townsman OF the boys Of
Newport. 10 warn them of the hardships
and toll ofa trip 10 California 10 warn
those WHO are going against buying
ChagreS tickets instead OF q through tick
et | cntrcat all 10 be sure and get
through hckt by Tie first mail line :
none can tell the suffering which tho
poor fellows have 10 endure here in PAN
anna. There are h, re at this time and
on the road from Chagres, some 1000
persons, and only about 500 Of them
have through tickets, - leaving somo
5000 passengers without any possible
rlodc Of conveyance, and many
without means 10 get further. All
the steamers, which are not near as
large as those OIL the Atlantic side, are
taken up with through ticket passen-
gers; the Independent line, which so
many based their hopes upon, has failed,
leaving only sailing vessels tor passen.
gers; these are Of poor quality, and
not near enough OF them at that The
principal par, Of them havo been old
coal-heavers, fitted up and advertised
AS first.class clippers; would not trus,
myself miles from shore in any Of them.
As an example, the old George Champ.
lin, which Mr.. Ruggles lately sold here,
having been new bertied, is advertised
for u. new frst-clasS ship, to sail very
soon. On these old hulks they charge
from Sl35 to Sl75, and if they get into
tn hands ofspccu!a,ors which the prrn-
opal part do, they do not hesitate TO
charge you 5000. have this day seen
some few Deck tickets on steamers,
which means TO stand on deck. with no
privilege below: except TO cat, for $3.50,
-and one as high Us $500. ] was Of
fcrcd 5000 Tor my ticket before left
Chagves, and could have got even
more than that Tor il here. Many here
cannot get passages up, and they can
not afford TO board jecen:ly. There is
not so poor boarding house in New
portas the best are here, and they
charge Sl2 per week, and do not give
you decent food. There are hundreds
who cannot afford to pay such board az
lhis, and they have to sleep out in door.
ways, or the Cathedral steps, or in any
place they can get to lay their weary
heads. A great many go out into the
woods and encamp, eat the diseased
TODD the ativcs sell them, are exposed
to the weather, get cold and then have
the Fever, and soon die like dogs. uere
they do not give them cosin, and many
do not even &c, grave. was talking
with n gentleman yesterday and he says
that ] 6 out OF 20 O. one cncampment
had died with the Fever; they had
Chagres tickets aad could not get
through.
| think thatI have said enough TO-
convince every ono OF the necessity Of
purchasing through ticket L would
not try to pursuadc any one against 60
ing to California but if yon value your
health, your life,-if you ever hope 10
see yoag homes again, or to reach Cali
fornia, be sure and get a through ticket.
No person coming from cold climate
can live in this climate many days with
on, contracting the Fever. The Hoe
pital Doctor boards nj the anc house
with me he says that the Hospital Is
full, and that several die every day
persons are constantly coming from tho
cncampnen,s and the city, and they
have to wait Tor rome 10 die before they
can get place all cannot be accom-
modalcd. and great many die under
sheds in the bushes, and in any place
where they can find shelter. None can
tell the misery and suffering of those
who are detained any length oftime, ea-
capt one who has been an eyewitness
like myself have been here a week,
a d have had chance 10 sec, and II
this does not pui our Newport young
men, who may be starting for Caliior-
MIA, oil their guard, they will dearly buy
their experience Once more, be sure
and purchase a through ticket, for it
will save you an hundred dollars and in
all probability your lie also.
Yours &c,
BENZ. NJ. SEABURY.