Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-04-25
For Lou Ion Free Press.
4 TRIP TO CALIFORNIA rio NICARA-
GUA-THE TINES, &C., Sc, IN
THE LAND OF OPHIR.

erS on my way to California, l shook LANDS !
there with all the Boys. l then felt bad enough. 1
At o'clock A. NJ, the engine footed her horn, /
we was then off at tightening speed, down the /
East Tenn. & Ga. Railroad; at 5, z. NJ arrived |
III Atlanta: next morning took cars for La
grange and West Point; thence Railroad for
Montgomery, Ala, which place we arrived at Z, !
Z. NJ. took pperat Montgomery Hall. We was
soon conveyed down the wharf in Omnibusses
where we found the splendid Steamer Fashion,
steaming vi, for Mobile, and was soon sailing
down the Alabama river, at the speed OF Ful-
ture In four days we were landed safe on the
Docks of Mobile: departed thence on board the
elegant larye steamer 81 Charles, bound for
New.OvlcSgs, at which Port we arrived March
lst. Left New. Orleans, March 9th, at po'elocS
A. NJ. on board the superb and fast sailing
steamship PtuaperO, bound for San Juan del
Norte. Thousands of people were rushing on
the wharve5 TO take a last farewell OF their
dear friends: at Z. NJ. we were launched out
upon the broad sea, moving gracefully over the
waters of the mighty deep. The Pampero ex
perienced stormy weather on the Gull OF Mex
leo and Caribbean sea. On the evening OF the
18th we hove in sight of the lofty mountains OF
Guatemala; our ship soon made her Port and
landed us safely from that rolling and rocking
sea-sck producing steamer, on the low and
ouaomire soil Of Central America, at San Juan
del Norte. .scortched beneath the burning rays of
a tropical sun. What a relief 1t was TO get off
that ola ocean steamer after being rocked
about until our stomacheS were turned wrong
side out, and nothing left but q few dregs OF
eall and bitterness Next morning we were
steaming on our way up the San Juan river, be
ing q low stage of the water we were compell-
ed to get out and carry the boat over the shoals
several times. The shores were beautiful on
either side, and presents some OF the most
! beautiful and picturesque scenery In the world;
! LARGE trees covered with vines and charming
! flowers which filed the air with fragrance
I Saw a great variety of tropical birds Of vsri-
our kinds and sizes. Some with elegant plum
aye and singing their sweetest notes. monkeys
were very plenty on the trees above US making
sour faces at us as we passed; parrots 1ew
! thick around us, but no music in them; alliga-
tors and Cuanos were numerous, and other am
phibious animals peculiar to that portion OF
Gods foot-stool. Reached Castillo at the rap
ids the third dav; next morning changed boats
10 GO twelve miles farther; and there took the
Lake steamer that was waiting to convey us
over the beautiful Lake Niearauga TO Virgin
Bay: passed several lovely green Islands on the
i lake. covered with eternal yerdurc--some
which old time has not covered with night
cap of green. The lake aud Bay lays very
handsomely, with a little native town at the
head Of the Bay, which place we reached on
the 2O:h. Now for the lSthmus transit and mule
r;Ae Evening Huyrah boys. Fly ronnd.--
The mules are ready. Ladies put Oh your
boomers! You that have none put on your
friends breeches. So here We go.hippa mootd
Vhorabcnna-dios senOrito; how are you old
,,0cotYimpo. Thermometer standing high In
the cellar: cuanos and lizards big as year
4 old negro boy baked OH the shore; and "lhga
.ors painting with heat. We had quite pleas
ant mule ride and splendid road. On aScen
ding hill about dark our ears were once more
s.Inted with the sound of bursting bilowS
against the beach like distant thunder, while
tbore Law the Bay and Pacific Ocear;-the town
of San Juan del Sur in full view,whleh place we
reached Ey moon light on our jaded mules
whore the steamship s. s. LeWis was awaiting
onr almost fatal destiny. Next day We were
Steamino on our way for San Francisco touch
;ur only at Acapulco, which port she put in on
Sunday 9th March. This was day OF thanks
,;r;ro. our ears were saluted on all sides of the
: traofs with the sweet notes OF the violin and
, o+bor ;nstruments | of course had 20 JOIN
tbnn, in their cotillons-faee the silk and tip
tLe fantastic toe with the Mexican ladies; il
woke I'D in roC at last, and all went aboard
tbo Steamer 'as tight as dicks hat-band. =
| When eight days out from Acapulco, some o
, the ships machinery gave way, and prevented
Lnr nun,ps from working. She was leaking
badIr. the cry was given toward night, eighteen
. u.ter in the hold! Every man to the pumps
! ord NV hard pumping and baiing all night
tbev prevented her from fathoming the depths
of he Pacific, and succeeded in mending the
broken part--raised steam and pushed ahead.
We experienced tremendous gale when off the
!, Gulf of California, which lasted for two days
The sea run mountain high, and dipped our ole
baSl nearly under several times, but she being
GOOD swimer kept "on top half the time, un
I'll, on the morning of April 9th at clocf
A. NJ. the passengers were aroused from thel
berhs bv an affiigfttful shock; to cur sad aston
isbment she was hard and fast on the rocks, one
mile from the shore of California. The dark
ness of the night and density of the fog render
ed il exceedingly dark and unpleasant to tht
S feeliars. How far from land no one knew Ii
!. tbis condition we were compelled to await the
annroach of dav; at every flow Of the tide she
| was raised ten feet or more and brought dowr
| broad side upon the rocks, crushing her hui
S TO atoms. singing us from one side to the 9th
J. er. bruisng us to a frightful degree. Some
{ were cursng and swearing, others shouting ant
nravino-all was confusion. "NiccoDTOt-'ce
E Gates seenly reyy bad" shouted the Dutch
The loud and agonizing shrieks of the Womei
: and children, and tremendous peels of the can
non. as signal of dstress-the sorEowfu
7 tolls of her great bell, and the roaring OF he
boilers. When the water came in contact will
the fire, the flames gushed out and the shil
4 took fire. The captain had to use all his ener
S gy and mild words to get the sailors down t.
subdue the consuming element. Had they
not over five hundred souls would have perish
! ed beneath tie briney waves of the Pacihc!.-
4 There we we're compelled to stick OH the verg'
S of eternity for six long and solitary hours
when one hour was gone no one expected tt
! sec another. At length day approached ant
t land was perceived in the distance; boat wa
: lowered and sent ashore,to ascertain if landing
? could be made; which was so. All the boats wer
Immediately lowered, and the passenger getting
i ashore. Ali on land once more, looking with ven
gence and dismay upon our old unlucky bari
5 that brought US over the waters of the might,
deep. We crawled up the rugged cliff lOO'
feet high, and was taking a last and calm sur
sey of our noble bark, when the wind increased U
: hard gale and wrung her to thousand rag
ments in less than an hour. When we na'
takenIan observation of our steamer gong toplec
+ es, we left the place of that horrible scene an'
| went cut four miles 10 Mr.. Ploons' Saw Mills