New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-06-06
IMpOSITIONS UPON CALIFORNIA PAS
SENGERS.
Ia ne Editor 81 The ". y. Tribune.

SIR: paid the highest plice for passage IN the
steeroge from San Francisco to New-YOrk upon the
9Th Of May 1851 and weut on board the Golden Gate
steamship, belonging to the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company on which boat was taken to Panama, and
after crossing as usual by the railroad to Aspinwal,
came thence to NewYork by the steamship Illinois,
touching by the way at Jamaica. l propose to state
a few facts which have come under my personal
observation during this passage briefly and with as
little comment as possible, hoping that | may find
papers in the United States of sufficient Independence
Of ntiment to publish the same for the benefit Gs
NAV safely say of suffering humanity
From San Francisco 10 Acapulco, | was in state
Of semi-sarvatioD, not having been previously pre-
pared for the fact that the provisions furnished TO the
passengers in the forward cabin such as should
hardly consider fit to offer TO my dog. At Acapulco,
Panama and Jamaica, | provided myself with food
and fruit; but when one pays S2G0 for a passage OF
some twenty days dmailon, he might reasonably ex,
pect 10 be furnished with something fit to eat.
crossed the Plains to California in 1919, and have
mostly lived in my own tent or house ever since; but
it has been reserved for the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company, 70 show lie food upon which found 1t I'M
possible 10 make meal.
II il pretty generally considered that the water of
tropical countries is unwholesOme, and as matter OF
course it is Of LUX ewarm temperature on board ship
in those climates. Having provided myself WIN
small quantity Of good spirits wished 10 take water
10 nv berth wheIewith to dilute the spirit and also
TO use ice with it, which was furnished by the steward
upon the Pacific, for consideration. But that was
not allowed. The passengers compelled to crowd
around the pump, where I'M, hit mot awHys) be found
q man pumping into bucket, wherein was one tlu
cup for general Attempting TO take little fCr
my OWL Use i'll q cup OF my own on one occasion, II
was knocked out Of my hand by the man III charge Ci
tie pump who sdd must drink il there only. Con-
seCuently was obliged TO raw spirits, exclusive
of two cups in each day of villanous compounds fur
mshed at breakiaS: and supper and called by way OF
a Joke, belieyej tea and coffee THIS was on board
of the Golden Gate. On the Illinois, water was
free to us al all times but ice was reserved for the
cabin.
At Aspinwal, by very isconvenient arrangement
made by the Company it became necessary to have
our tickets registered and exchanged We arrved by
the at about noon, and going to the office were
informed that the steamer would not leave until late
in the evening and that tickets would be exchanged
until p. ma very pleasant and profitable arrange
ment for the avernkeepers of Aspinwan, who charge
Al msa for what costs them about III cents and 1t
becomes necessary 10 eat on shore "a the passengers
are not admitted bard of the Atlantic steamer until
their tickets have been exchanged At about P. III.
went to the Office window and remained there for
two hours, having before me the agreeable sight OF
some half-doZen cool comfortable men inside, engaged
in pie and intellectual occupation of smoking
cigars and cutting fun among each other at the
steerage passengers do not eNaggerate having
been insued by one Of them myself. AT last the rain
began TO fall III torrents and only then, after threats
of pulling down the Office, did they commence tho ex-
change Of tickets. The consequence OF all which
necessary delay that did not haul of from the
wharf before about 10 P. M; and | am certain that
every passengers on board had eit az least from % 10
s. in Aspiuwall.
On reaching Jamaica We found two notices posted
up for our infOmation TO the effect that the boat
would remain there during the day. aud the other noti-
flying US that passengers would not be allowed 10
bring fruit on board. This, at first sight, had some
appearance Of care for health; but alas on in
curing into the matter further find that the motive
was only 10 give their stewards who had not made
enough out Of starving by the sale of cakes
dies and bad liquor chance to sell fruit to those
passenger who were mot allowed to bring fruit on
board An irishman ia quiet, well-behayed man
thought this was hardly fair but speaking 10 that
effect he not only conTadicted, but struck several
times BY colored fellow, of the underlipgs of the
boat while the steward Of the steerage presented
revolver at the head of the lshmaD, swearing that he
would see fair play.
There was a regulation on board of the Golden
Gate that any passenger who was filthy in his habit,
might be expelled from the mess. very excellent
rue. But before making il, it might have been as
well that the Company had provided Ill some measure
for the cleanliness Of the passengers Dickens writes
Of the steerage Of the Screw packet ship being
srewed with mattresses which at all events might De
moved and aired occasionally; but on board of the
boats upon which il has been my evil fortune to
from California, the whole forward cabin is occupied
fore and aft and athwart ships, by one horrible maze
OF standing berths piled one above another from
which the bedding is never moved except by their
cupants the fetd efuvia from which, after topic al
night is beyond imagination. In the morning, the
green hand thinks that he can refresh himself by
good wash, and goes forward 70 find that not basin,
towel or fraction of soap is provided by the com.
pauy. His only chance for q wash is to press in
among the crowd around the saltwater pump,
where, while one pumps, many can catch few
drops Ui water in their hands have the privilege OF
rdshtRg! Decency viii not permit me 10 particuleriLe
the denominations undergone on board of these ships
II Is sufficient to remark that il is ordained by the Pa
eihc Mail Steamship Company that the necessary
functions OF nature shall be performed in public.
The great trouble appears to Inc to originate in the
fact that too many passengers taken on board of
these ships, although, am informed not more than
the law allows If So the law is shauefuly defective
There is not room in the crowd to move about in com
fort and in the event of fire or shipwreck within a
mile or two only Of the shore, it would only be by
their own exeTtons that any of the people on board
have not mentio1ed in this list Of grievances many minor
such dirty Knives and forks half Tin
-. .nd mates dirty beans soup and In
u,l having spun NY yarn" 10 greater length than