The Placer herald., 1855-09-29
Mortality on the Uncle Sam.

Mortality on the Uncle Sam.
Human experience seldom calls one to
endure more Of suffering than was probably
the lot of each passenger upon the i'll fated
steamer whose arrival at San Francisco has
recently been chron'c'cd. Death in his most
terrible form was on board staring his victims
boldly in the face, AMI from his iron grasp
there seemed to be no escape. Medical aid
seemed utterly unavailing and from the
panic stricken passengers but little assistance
could be expected by those already attacked.
Each one was anticipating his own sad lot,
and when the appalling record reached the
number of forty in one single day, it must
have seemed as though the vessel would soon
be left to its own fate, and freed from mortal
restraint roam the deep under its own guild
ance, or like the phantom ship of the tale,
become subject to the control of goblin
crew.
The cause assigned, in the various reports
given, seemed mainly to be in accordance
with III" f'llnuing from the .Sun:-Arriving
at Greytown it was found that Walker nlu
taken San Juan, and that the Government
had driven off most of the mules and horses
uscl for the conveyance of passengers be-
tween Virgin Bay and the Pacific, in consc-
qucnce of which delay Of four DAYS occur
red, causing much dissatisfaction and confil-
sion. Many Of the passengers walked across,
carrying their baggage and otherwise exert
ing themselves until on arriving at San Juan,
they were utter Y exhausted and overcome
To refresh themselves they INDUCED freely
in fruit and liquor, and after going on board
the vessel continued to he very careless as
to their Diet, some of the stecrage passengers
eating, as He a e told, more like ravenous
brutes than human beings. The third day
out sickness increased to an alarming extent
and a general panic ensued. From this time
until the arrival this morning deaths occur
red every day.
The fatal record sometimes was augment
ed with trightful rapiditv, on one day alone
the deceased numbered upwards Of FORTY
Medical skill seemed to avail nothing with
the destroyer, and little else was done beyond
easing the last moments Of the dying, and
quickly as possible after the vital spark had
fed sending them to their illowv grave. In
regard TO this latter fact much Indignation
is expressed, for it is said that in some in
stances the corpse was thrown over ere it
had time to become cold. One case is cited
which is particularly sad.
About daylight, this morning, but little
over an hour before the steamer passed the
Golden Gate, beautiful and accomplished
Young lady, who was on her way hithcr to
meet fond and anxious husband, breathed
her last, and in spite of the remonstrances
of her friends and Others who knew her on
board, was in twenty minutes after, passed
over the side into the waves. Numerous
heart-rcndng stories are told us of the sepa-
ration of relatives by the deadly foe, but
which we have not time here to give. Judg-
ING from the different statements by passen-
gers, we doubt not but that the number of
deaths is at least tco hundred One person
who kept a journal from the time he left
New York, asserts that two hundred and
twenty were buried from the ship"
Post Office Department.
The Washington Union, Of the 29th ult.,
in its Departments of News, has the follow
ing paragraphs:
Circulars BY MAIL-Enclosing circulars
or other printed matter in envelopes upon
which is printed, impressed. or written, the
name, Nc, OF the person or persons issuing
such circular, is decided by the Postmase c
General not only to subject the entire pack
age to letter postage, according to the ex-
press requirements of the act of 1852, but
that such l.ostagc must be prepaid to entit!e
the package to be mailed If unpaid, being
under the law treated as letters. they are, OF
course, returned to the dead letter office.
REGISTERING LETTERS We are advised
that Postmasters should make no record OIL
marks upon registered letters, by which the
fact of their containing money or otheI
vauables may be suspected or made known
1t has been ascertained that, in some instance
Postmastels are in the habit of marking tn,
word, Registered" on the outside of sucl
letters, together with the amount enclosed
The practice is unauthorized and mpolitic
and is forbidden by the department.
U S. SURVEYING SoUADRON.--On the 27tl
of June the Z. S. Surveying Squadron saile(
for Behring Straits, and will probably arrive
at S. Francisco in November. The same da,
the British steam frigates Encounter ant
Stq9, from Petropoiovski, arrived with th,
! Tartar in tow, from Castro.