The Evansville daily journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ia. [i.e. Ind.]) 1848-1862, 1856-05-19
Voice from thu Great Deep.


at home, has kindly gone to California to make
a gratuitous distribution Of the surplus among
the unfortunate people of that region. His
letter may prove interesting, as giving some of
the first impressions of a young land lubber
on the ocean. 1t is due him to say that this |
letter was not written for publication, but it is
quite as interesting as the productions of many
of those who are so unfortunate as to be COM
PEELED to aOrite for living:
Last Tuesday, April 8th, at 8 P. NJ, the
good steamer Orizaba left the dock of the me-
tropolis city, having on board your humble
servant, several of his friends and some six
hundred other passengers, bound for San Juan
de Nicaragua; thence the larger portion of US
will continue on to California.
We left the dock amid the cheers of thou
sands, and the tears Of many who were leav-
ing sweethearts, wives and friends behind. We
rounded too Immediately to take on board the
U. S. Marshal, who had warrants for several
of the passengers supposed to be fillibusters
They left without murmur, though it went
much against their spirits. At half past four
we firsd one gun and left the harbor, still hav-
ing on board Mr.. Whitney, principal Of the
line, and several of his friends In another
hour we met revenue cutter saluted, and
then transferred the aforesaid gentleman. |
continued on deck taking last look at New
York, the beautiful scenery of Long island,
ETC., till darkness and the cool air drove me to
my close stateroom.
Slept like a top, and next morning, the 9th
was on deck in time to see that most magnIti-
cent sight-sunrise at sea. To a person never
out at sea, scarcely a correct idea can be form
ed ofthe immensely Of the waters and the feel
ings experienced at being first out of sight of
land At one moment it seems as though you
see miles of water stretched away as far as the
eye can reach; the next it appears but few
rods to the stepping off place." then comes
an immense wall of clouds and sky
When | came on deck the water was smooth
as glass, with occasionally a gull or seabird
skimming over it. 1t was quite light, but
bright red to the east, where soon the god
Of ISIS on his chariot Of fire, came mounting
up grandly, like the clouds piling over the no
rizon, yet seen through such a haze Of atmos-
phere as not to iDjure the eyes. The sight
must be seen to be properly appreciated.
The morning is the pleasantest time at sea.
[ could sit and look at the water for hours
and not tire. In the wake of the vessel the
waves are green, at the sides the water is sky
blue, but when the wind blows and the waves
run high, all is black, warning of danger. For
all it was so pleasantly calm in the morning,
by noon it was blowing quite a gale. The
faces of the passengers began to grow pale,
much to the amusement of the sailors and
older hands. Some tried to laugh, but their
smiles were CHASTITY The stewart gave or
ders to get but little dinner; before that time
arrived, however, most of the passengers had
lost their breakfast, and were trying to cast up
a great deal more that wasn't there | VOW
ed it was ''joke, " and said | had made
contract with the captain not to get sick by
evening nearly every passenger, except my
SELF had been sick, including many who had
made the trip before. One old major was ma
king his fourth trip, having been once around
the Horn, yet was sick. l kept myself up by
knocking about on deck; if l sat down for a
few minutes l would feel qualmish. Some of
the passengers would say, 81 never did want
to see sandbar SO bad" and others would
swear they would never go on board ship
i again.
Towards evening a number of porpoises
were observed spouting round che vessel keep
ing along side, and sometimes jumping entire
i ly out of water. This is sign Of a storm.
For all the sea ran high, nearly every one slept
soundly. Next day it was calm, the wind
having shifted so that we could use the sails.
\ The following day. 18th, nearly all had re-
covered, and were all willing to laugh at their
sea sickness This day we saw many flying
fish. They rise from the top of a wave and
! fly generally several rods, but always with
the wind. Sometimes when the waves run
high they will cover the deck of vessel
One flew aboard this evening; it was about
eight inches long thick and clumsy, with
small, silver-white wings near the head.
i 12th-This day we were all witness to that
most solemn sight on board ship-a burial at
sea. The unfortunate deceased was unwell at
) starting, and since had been confined with
lung fever. This morning he died. He was
we'll attended by his brother and the Masons.
After dinner the flag was put at half-mast, and
) the deceased enclosed in sheet and weighted,
) was buried with Masonic ceremonies in the
great deep.
Sail no! The first day or two we had passed
many sails, but now had not seen one for two
days, so all were rejoiced again to perceive one.
First, mere speck only could be seen on the
horizon then we could perceive the sails, and
finally approached near enough to see the hull,
, though several miles distant. | had good
look at her through the ships glass. One man
: declared that he could see they had roast beef
for dinner! This evening we found fiddler
D and had dance, though the vessel rocked so
that we could scarcely keep our feet. We
spend all our time, except when eating and
sleeping, on deck, and some also do the latter
there
: Sunday, 13th-Land no! This morning
before breakfast, we were all in high spirits at
} being once more in sight of land, for the first
time since leaving port though we were still
so far off that we could not distinguish it dis
tinctly. After breakfast we approached with
in few miles and could plainly perceive hills,
rocks and trees with the surf hreakino along