Weekly Trinity journal., 1860-03-10
The Vanderbilt Steamers.
WARSAW, Mo-, Feb. 9th, 1860.

WARSAW, No, Feb 5tb 1860.
II Fnrror JOURNAL Having arrived safely at
INV destination and married, propose to send
Won short letter. principally detailing the ex-
,,oriences of trip from San Francisco to New
4 York on the Vanderbilt (Oppostion) steamers,
. and to advise Trinity people who propose to
visit the East to patronize the old Pacific line as
choice between two evils. For the truth of
what follows refer to j. W. Finley and Moses
Y. Brown, of your county, who were fellow pas
sengers with me on the trip. l give nothing but
facts.
1t was my own wish, as we'll as half-a-dozen
others from Trinity, on our arrival in San Fran
cisco, to patronize the Opposition line, and pur-
chased our tickets accordingly. We were assured
Inv the agents Of the line that the 0r2aba was
no floating coffin and that our food should be
of the best quality. day or two at sea, we
discovered that we were not only on a disabled
steamer but that our food was of a very indilfer-
ent kind, but as the officers of the ship partook
of ii, and seemed to do all in their power to
make passengers comfortable, we did not com
plain. Fifteen days after leaving San Francisco,
we were landed at Ianama. tQulCk "Trip, you
will say) Reached Aspnwall the same day, all
anxious to get aboard that splendid life. preserv
ing vessel, the Northern Light. Here the trou-
Bile commenced-many of the passengers who
had paid for first and second cabin tickets, being
left without staterooms, or even a setec
which to sleep. The Purser said it could not be
helped and we had to be satisfied with his decree.
Supper came things looked bad continued to
grow worse until we were set down in New York.
Two days from Aspinw0ll committee petitioned
the Captain for provisions enough to sustain life.
Captain thought there was provisions enough,
but as he did not eat with the passengers, was
hardly expected to know whether what he affirm
ed was true or not A day or two after there
was slight increase in guantty-Pnough to
keep us alive-but of shocking bad kind.
Many of the passengers were sick, aud when
they desired food which they could eat, they
we're put off with" You can't get it !" :" Go to
HI :" Leave here" etc. Some had laid in
wine, cheese, crackers, fish, etc, and these ari-
cles were supplied the sick as long as they lasted,
At Havana, seven days from Aspnwall, we
rcplenshed our stock. The table dishes were
washed occasionally. and wiped with dirty cloths
and old shirts Various articles were continually
missed hy the passengers, and one enterprsing
fellow offered larger reward for his carpet bag
than its contents were worth, by way of learning
how things were done on shipboard. He got his
carpet bag, and the iarJer got the reward The
Turser promised an Investigation, which was
never had. One lady, Mrs Ham, had her purse
and all her money stolen and intended to sue
the company on her arrival in New York. being
satisfied that it was taken by one Of the walters.
Twice were the second cabin passengers driven
from the main saloon, and in both instances the
passengers in the first cabin interlered in their
behalf 1t is a miserable place to be, let me as
sure you. 1t has been we'll said
"Man's inhumanty to man
Makes countless thousands mourn.'
shall leave for California soon, by way of the
Plains. WIN reach Trinity in August, if nothing
happens. j. NJ. FISHER.