New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-05
THE NICARAGUA ROUTE.


Vsysss from Greytswa-Periisus Aa'es'"'''
Cuusspe~dsHcso Of The N. T. Tribune ,ess
AoApu1co, Monday, March :, ls'1.
NJ ,he further incidents Of our trip Call
~.v,,..v.,s. after leaving Greytcwn, had no op-
..,-,u, ,,v ~ writing, while at San Juan del sur
s..s Nv lass we have passed through some exciting
1890 ard unIcote 5-or, as well a. uncesired, i'd
verturss. Hoping that brief account Of suossquens
sveuts nav prove not altogether uninteresn,s,
vill proceed, In the order Of time, to touch upon
shem. And here must be allowed to say. that II
expsess IN this letter different opinions from those
heretofore entertained and published BY me, Tn 70
e,xd 70 the Nicayagua route, and especially OF its
conduct in the hands Of it's present managers, II u
bscsuss adverse convictions have been forced upon
me- bv scss of negligence, OF criminal carelessnssc
and dlsressrd of the wants. wishes and comforts o.
r.ss.peers. commencing at vsnderbilrs ofhce, IN
Msv-Yo,k. and continued with excavations, oy the
AGENTS ana employees OF tho line. on tne enufe
souis As Q candid man, and lover OF ruin,
S~ss II 4 Urlte as ALL state facts ~ ma them, 70
tns md thai ABUSES be remeded, and the rights OF
thousencs protected BY public opinion from The "a
paety which fiches their MEANS and then, IN a
ersie that has arrived, leaves them to the sufegs
Of ustss cesttuton, IN strange land under tropi-
eel sun--wah every foIm Of sickness and misery In
their micst. 49,
We Jeff GYeytown on Thursday morning, 18th
u being detained ioul Gays sah sns ca0,n M
the river, though slow ffom the smainess ana want
of power OF the boats, was c0mpirauveiy conIof-
Able There we're about 230 cabin passengers In.
elucipr most of the women and children, divided
between two of the boats. or course, a. sometimes
more than this number are packed upon single one
Of these small craft 1t will be seen how much We
were favored in the ascent OF the stream. There
being scarcely any provisions obtainable on the
Transit route till arriving at Virgin Bay, moss OF the
passengers supplied themselves before leaving Grey
l.
ssries rom New-YorI, / ackno Wedge my obliga-
tons to Capt Churchill, OF the Prometheus, Tor
basket OF provisions Compelled, as have been,
70 peak In severe terms OF .ne nv ny
possesses some amiable qualities, which we're shown
In his conduct toward those who, from position OF
otherwise, attracted his favorable regards
without obstruction, and between well wooded
banhs possessing little diversity of scenery dark
ness overlook us, and unable to 80 on, the anchor
was hove overheard and we we're :" nxed" Ior sns
feet IN length By twelve fourteen In breadth. The
AreYoom occupies third OF her length forward, and
the epgine-Toom nearly the same az MidshiPn .
sort of cabin in the bottom Of the hull on level
with the water. In one corner water closet COM
mon to both sezes in another miniature GROCERY
and in one of the remaining corners OF this cabin
window opening into small Kitchen, whore couse,
tea and few edioles were obtainabe at enormous
prices-so whom accYung the pTohts did not learn.
Half OF this small cabin is piled with baggage within
foot or too Of the deck or ceiling and upon these
heaps of al-sized trunks, carpet bags etc with the
remaining space OF not more than twelve by sixteen
feet were to sleep some thirty forty ladies and as
many children. The hurricane deck, protected from
the sun and heavy dews BY an awning Of light cotton
CLOTH formed the grand saloon Tor the male passen.
gers These are the accommodations for passengers
On the Transit but issufficient as they are those
up the Chasres are fifty -fod more indifferent The
San Juan however 10 capable OF being navigatcd BY
boats OF 20 BEAM l60 TO $50 feet in length. and
which can be fitted up with ssaterooms and oerths
for 400 passengers each With powerful engines and
eide tcAssis ITO the OF which there is obstruc
tton,) such boats, while drawing no more water than
those low in use, can ascend at the rate OF eight
miles per hour ard may easily surmount the Rapids
of Machuca we'll shorten greatly the period OF
transit saying nothing OF giving TO passengers some
reasonable return for the large levied upon them
for passage ACROSS and freight on baggage
Before sunrise next morning steam was got up.
and we were again ascending the stream, here no.
BILE river, with high banks dvusely wooded, and al
most mpei viously inteIlaced with vines and pafasi
tic plants, many In full bloom to the waters edge
All the way up the small islands and sand-spits
covered with angat0rs, up to twelve or fifteen feet
In length 10 whom the rifle and pistol balls, prouse
ly hurled az them by the honbres, seemed Of little
eonseque scarcely bing their sunny repose
At O'Clock, p M on the second day from Grey
town, we arrived at the rapids OF Castillo, where u .
portage Of few hundred yards Here We were to
pass the night, while our boat Immediately returned
TO the Mechuca, eleven miles below to bring the
passengers of the other boat which possesseG too lit
tle power to ascend the rapids There are number
Of shanties and booths at the Cas.os for the feed
ing and accommodation OF passengers, and large
frame hotel Ia process OF completion on the Point
Meals, very Indifferent as /, variety, consisting am
IL Of bad ham, brtad and tea or coffee, can De 90.
tanned foy dollar, and bad liquors for too bits
alsss. After, fortunately, securing cots and room
Tor the women and children Of my party, 1--we we're
oil the hotel coDtained several OF US visited the ru
ms OF the old Fort or Castle, situated on high
point OF land overlooking and giving name TO tne
rapids. Considering tee difficulties Of the situation,
and the means OF bringing adequate materials this
fortihcatl0n was u Work OF no small magnitude -
Much OF the walls, OF solid masonry, yet stand As
proof OF the care aud great labor with which tho
works were constructed by the Spaniards
The boat having returned with the remainder OF
Director, mooTed at the bank above the Rapids, We
again resumed the ascent OF the river at about noon
OF the third day from Greytown. The weather was
intensely sultry, with showers durirg the forenoon
and, crowded with all the people, nothing cou be
more uncomfortable than the situation OF the ladies
ano chiicren en- the Director. IL was not Of Ions
continuance, however. this scene OF disco mfort for
At p. M, having In three hours made eight mies,
We reached the head Of the Toro Rapics, where
was anchored the new and very commodious steam
or Central America Compared with the river
boats, this was North River palace; yet she has
not berth, and few other conveniences for passen-
gers. All We get Is simply mere benches and deck
room upon winch to sleep at night L found on
board friend and fellow passenger from California
IN August last, who vas Glins the part OF steward
and 70 make up for some OF the inccnyeniences on
the route. We were served with an admirable SUD-
Per Vof my FAMILY aho psfu)' WIN Knives IcIks'
and spoons, as SUBSTITUTES iof the implements tui-
nished us by nature, heretofore our sole depend
ence for feeding. Mr.. Riley is trump wherever he
tuYns up, and those who go up or down Lake Mica.
raeua with him will ind ufe
From ToIo 10 San Charles, 10 about twenty eli ht
miles, which latter place. at the foot OF the lake, we
reached just before sunoown. We came to anchor,
and renamed till in the evening" allo wing such as
wished 1t, time TO visit the town-t0 the whole
OF which. Including the curosities Of old Spanish
cannon or TWO, eiaoorately ornamented, mighg pos
sibly occupy half an hour. We again came to an
anchor about o'clock In the morning. under the lee
Of the Island OF Madeira, to await daylight before
crossing to Virgin Bay-so a. to DO less exposed 10
the sea caused BY the strong trade winds which
AZ 10 was, many ladies suffered severely from sea-
stckness, from the rsllIng OF so small and light
boat
AZ 10 O'Clock on she fourth day from Grcysewn, We
we're lanced ~ susin Bay, .hfous tolersby heavy
eurf 70 The terror Of the women and juveniles but
with perfect sssev. Hero began the usual hustle