Volcano weekly ledger., 1856-06-14
Suffering Among the Passengers by the
Sierra Nevada

sufferingS on board the Sierra Nevada, on
her last trip from San Juan to San Francisco
as well as previously on the Isthmus, from
sickness, exposure and other causes:
"The steamer Orizaba left New York on
the Sth of April, with some 500 passengers
for California, by way of Nicaragua. On the
16th she arrived at San Juan, and the pas
sengers disembarked. BY means of open
boats they started up the river during a
soaking rain. The exposure caused them
much suffering. When they arrived at Cas-
tillo, they were informed that the transit
across the country was closed; and after two
days delay, during which they were exposed
to the weather, they were told that if they
chose, they could return to New York; but
only fifteen minutes were allowed them-and
as they were compelled to abandon their
baggage in case they concluded to go back,
three hundred OF the passengers determined
to push on.
They were taken to Granada, where they
were detained month, notwithstanding that
an epidemic was prevailing there. Here the
most fearful disease commenced to rage among
them. In four weeks, seventy-nine of the
three hundred were buried. During this
time they suffered every privation- many
were without means, and those who had
money were compelled to put up with extor-
tion and robbery at every hand.
On the Goth May, in the evening, news
reached Granada of the arrival OF the Sierra
Nevada at San Juan del Sur, and three hours
were given the passengers, sick and well, to
get on board the Lake steamer At the
time it was pouring rain, and pitch dark. The
sick were carried down. in the best manner
possible, all getting thoroughly drenched.-
Upon reaching the landing Of the Lake
steamer they were kept in the rain until all
had exhibited their tickets, which detained
them several hours. Finally, all were crowd
ed on board; but before morning, three of
the Sick died, and were sent on shore.
On the Lake steamer, the scene is describ-
ed as having been dreadful. The passengers
were crowded together like sheep in PEN
There was scarcely room for the sick to lie
down. For nineteen hours they were thus
confined, suffering every torture of body and
mind; several poor wretches gave up the
ghost on the boat, and Others died while at
tempting the journey from the Lake to San
Juan.
After they embarked in the Sierra Neva-
da, the sickness broke out again, and during
the passage from San Juan to this port 33
deaths occurred.
The suffering on the steamer beggars all
description. The officers of the steamer cid
all in their power to alleviate their suffering
but that was little. No time was lost in
dsposing of the dead, and the body was
hardly allowed to get cold before it was
thrown overheard The safety of the living
] Il cd thot L.
ry detention of the dead
A brother Of our felow-townsmen, Mr.
A Myers was among the number who
died on the Isthmus-ED. LEDGER
STATEMENT OF PASSENGERS.
Below we give the written statement of a
number of the passengers of the Orizaba,
believing it to be our duty. We have had
some experience on this same route
That the passengers upon this route,
claiming to have superseded the Wander
bilt Line,' were most foully imposed upon
and lied to, in New York, by the agents of
! the company before starting; that they have
been wrongfully detained at every possible
place on the Transit, exposing them to trop-
ical climate, sickness, impositions from the ma
tives and thieving, outcast soldiers, all and
every passenger can testify. In the first in
stance in New York city, we were assured
by Mr.. Whitney and the agents of the com
pany, that the Transit was open to San Juan
del Sur, at which point we should be taken
Immediately. Here there was slight prob
ability of our being detained, but certainly
| the detention If any would not exceed ten
and at farthest, fourteen days and in the
meantime, if desired we could have opportu-
mites of taking another steamer. Again -
That on the goth Of March they had des-
patched for the Sierra Nevada to connect
with u.s. These were the assertions of the
bona .fde agents of the Company, while 9th
er ticket agents swindled the passengers who
fell into their hands into paying two prices
for their tickets-avowing at the same time
that this was connection and continuation
Of the Vanderbilt Line" and would beat
the mail steamer in. The bona fde agents
may disclaim any connection with the latter,
but still they are cognizant of their actions,
and supplied them with tickets Moreover,
there was no dispatch sent on the Goth, nor
even on The 5th of April, for steamers to
connect with us.
Upon the San Juan river we were obliged
to walk much of the way, andin one instance
to tow our baggage on floats; only being
able to obtain provisions at exhorbitant rates
at one or two points. Mr.. Hatch, Purser of
the Orizaba, here receives the condemnation
OF all the passengers; for, after having us de-
tanned two days at Castillo Rapids, he re-
turns from the Lake with information that