The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1858-11-04
GENERAL SUMMARY.

the STEP"
GENERAL SUMMARY. .
The overland mail, which left San Francisco
on the 9th ult., arrived in this city Saturday
night In conversation with Mr.. W. 81. Hilton,
passenger by this mail, we learn some partic,
ulars which may not be uninteresting to our
readers. M
Through California and Arkansas the ar
rangements are complete, and the stage glides
over the country as swiftly as in all probability
it ever will. But on the plains, the arrange
ments are as yet incomplete The company,
however, are rapidly filing up every deficiency
In the way of men and mules. Mr.. Hilton
thinks that the trip will be made inside of 20
days With great ease, when once the company
gets everything fairly under way. He considers
the route decidedly favorable, and in all re.
spects safe and pleasant.
Some of the stations are sixty.fve miles
apart, but most of them are from eight to ten
miles. On the plains, the corrals are either of
logs or stone, and occupied, some by dozen
men, and some by no more than four or Eve
The stage was detained fourteen hours by a
sand storm in the California Desc t. and two
days by reason of high water in the Kern river,
at the point Of crossing which the ferry. fiat was
out of repair, which was supplied as speedily as
possible.
The company are making preparations to
bridge the various streams that cross the road,
and have already engaged large number of
men for instant work. Adobes, or Mexican
brick, are being used in the construction of
station-houses along the route, and in many
places workmen are engaged in making roads.
Mr.. Hilton was provided with canteen, las
also were the other passengers,) filled with
water, from the want of which he was thus pre-.
served. The mails from st. Louis bound west
ward were far enough advanced to justify be-
lief that they would reach San Francisco in due
time.-&. Louis Democrat, Oct 20.
President Benson, of Liberia, has addressed
a letter to the Secretary of the New York State
Colonization Society, in regard to the charges
made by Capt. Simon, of the French barque Regi.
ma Coli, of connivance on the part of the Libe-
.iaII oovcrutnenI IN the new french slave trade
President Benson pronounces as false the as.
sertion that either he or the Government of Iii.
IBERIA had any completely with, or consented to,
the illegal operations of Captain Simon; that
the Government received 81 1854 as passport
money, and that some of the emigrants we're
Amcrico- Liberians. He states that Captain
Simon paid only the usual tonnage duty on his
vessel, aud import duties on the goods to be
landed, amounting in all to 1869 that no pass
port money was received, and that Capt. Simon
was allowed to go to the coast to seek emf
grants only on the explicit understanding that
he would return to Monrovia to have them ex.
amined and to clear. President Benson's let
ter is very clear and direct in it's statements.
and he promises to publish, at an early day, the
full documentary evidence, which will complete.
ly exculpate the Liberian authorities from the
charges OF Captain Simon.
We have dates from Vera Cruz to the 22d
inst. TIE sloop of war Plymouth was in port,
waiting the arrival of Minister Forsyth, who
was daily expected. A Senior d. Faustino
Snarez had been arrested on his arrival in the
steamer Mexico from Havana, with a number
of letters on his person, addressed to the Zaloa
guista General Cobas, and to q number of
priests, &c, recommending him as an sdventur
GUS Spanish soldier, worthy of their patronage
IN the struggle against the Constitutionalists
Senior Ramon Pellon, of Vera Cruz, to whom
scme of the letters were addressed was discov
cred by them to be of the wrong stripe, and is
held up by the Progreso in no aattering light.
A decree of the Constitutional Government,
proroguing to the end of the year the permits,
sion to introduce foreign soap, rice, lard, and
corn, under the decree Of the 9th of April last,
had been published.
The Advertiser gives an account of the loss
of the ship "Wild Wave" of Boston, 1850
tons, which recently left San Francisco, bound
to Valparaiso .|.
"Left San Francisco Feb. 9, 1853, bound to
Valparaiso. Had eastery winds after leaving
San Francisco, which forced the ship to the
westward beyond the usual track On the
night of March a, about one o'clock, steering
south, discovered breakers on the lee bow; at.
tempted to go about when the ship misstayed,
and in wearing struck on coral reef, which
by observation the next day was found to be
in lat. 240 OF s., Ion. 1867 63< w.
"The reef surrounds an island set down on
the chazt as Oneo, placed in lon. 1902 81. In
which was a low lagoon island with small
growth of brushwood, bat no inhabitants. Soon
after the ship struck, she blged, and lay over
on her beam ends, the surf breaking over her.
Saved few provisions, instruments, &c. Re.
manned on the island ten day, during which
time, owing to the heavy aurf, was not able to
board the chip only two days.
About March IA, the captain, lat officer,
and FIVE men, left the island in life.boat,
taking with them $l2, 900 in specie, which they
had succeeded in saving, and proceeded to
Pitcairn's leland, about rs miles distant, with
the hope of falling in with whaler.
"On arriving at Pitcairn's, experienced great
difficulty in landing had the boat stove in the
breakers, and found the leland destitute of in.
habitants, these having left for Nerfolk's Island
two years previous. Found Wild goats and
vegetables growing on the island, upon which
the men subsisted four months. During this time,
with some old tools which we're found among
the deserted habitations, they constructed with
great labor, hewing the timber from the trees
of the island, boat about thirty feet in length,
fastened partly with wooden pegs and partly
with iron, in which, having succeeded in launch.
ing her on the 23d July, Captain Knowles, the |
FIRST officer, 81. n. Bartlett, and two men, en-
barked from Pitcairn's Island for Tahiti, three |
men preferring to remain. |
MET heavy gale from the northwest, which,
lasting three days, forced them to steer for Nu- |
kahivs, Marquesas Islands, where they arrived |
on the 4th August. There they found the U. 8. |
ship Vandalia, Capt. A. Sinclair, who at once |
received them on board, and set sail for Oneo, |
via Tahiti, leaving Papcete August l2th. Capt |
8. and officers treated the shipwrecked party |
with true hospitality, and made all expedition |
in proceeding to the rescue of those who still