Weekly Calaveras chronicle., 1866-12-22
Notes of a Trip to the States.

BELLv1LLE, ONO, November 18th, 1856
| DEAR FR1END:-I will attempt to give
You pen and ink description OF my journey
to the Atlantic States. On the 25th OF Sep
tember jumped aboard the Old Nose,
with joyful heart, in hopes of soon meeting
thoseI left behind me eight years ago, AT
ter thirteen days and three hours SAIL We
arrived at San Juan del Sur. Had very
pleasant voyage. Experienced no rough
weather while on board, except one night
which caused a few of the most delicate to
imagine that they had swallowed Jonah, and
some made several attempts to heave MN
overheard, but all their exertions proved
failure. We were very much crowded ana
the Steamship Company got many SOUND
cursing for sending. so many passengers (soo)
to sea on vessel that could not accommo
date more than half that number, ana some
went so far as to wish that the steamer ana
officers might sink to the bottom OF the
ocean before. they got back to san fran
cisco. In my opinion this was no 1auit OF
the officers; and surely can TESTIFY, as well
as many others, that they were courteous and
kind and did all in their power tor the pleas
ure of the passengers, and felt IKE blessing
the, ship that brought me safe into port,
where we were landed in small boats, and to
my surprise found that there were not more
than 100 inhabitants in San Juan del Sur.
I There were three wooden buildings and the
balance were cane huts. The natives had
covered each side of the wharf and street
| with coffee-stards, where passengers could
get respectable lunch before starting for
Virgin Bay. At o'clock took my seat
by the side of a driver offa coach drawn by
four animals, the driver called them mules.
After very close examination of their ears.
I concluded he was correct. After l5 coaches
had got of, the wagon-master allowed US to
proceed on our way. 1t was a cloudy day
and the road was good, and everything IN
dicated pleasant trip to Virgin Bay, dis
tant IL miles. The scenery was delightful
to one who had lived eight years among the
hills and mountains of old Calaveras. The
road was lined with temporary coffee stands
kept by the native girls. Some of them had
very handsome features; their steeth were as
white as pearl and the expression of coun-
tenance somewhat amiable and l must con-
fess little lovely. Their dress was singular.
| The climate was SO warm that their clothing
was extremely light. Some wore muslin
sack across their shoulders, leaving exposed
| to the eye round and well-formed shoulders,
with fully developed forms. Others wore
two breadths,,of muslin that reached the knee,
one before and the other behind, which dis
played their we'll l-formed limbs to the salts
faction of all that might chance to pass along
that road. They liked to have Americans
admire them and were delighted to have the
passengers make purchases form them. Our
| driver, contrary to the wishes of all, would
stop at every stand, which were about quar-
ter of mile apart, to get drink and give
the girls chance to sell lunch or drinks to
the passengers. When We had got out two
miles, he allowed me to take the ribbons and l
drew the reins on four mules, though they
were very small. The passengers expressed
| themselves perfectly delighted with their new
driver, who passed all the coaches on the
road. Cofee-stands were not taken into
consideration. and our coach was the first to
arrive at Virgin Daytime, three hours
This place contains about 400 non- enterpris-
ing inhabitants, who depend on making their
livelihood by selling the California passengers
curiosities and nitro -glycerine whiskey. Af-
ter waiting twelve hours, all the baggage had
argived and been placed on board the steam
er, which took us 20 miles in ten hours across
Lake Nicaragua to Fort San Carlos, at the
head of San Juan river. Here we exchanged
the steamer for river boat, which took US
down to the Castilian falls, or rapids, where
we were landed. Ten minutes walk brought
us around the falls to where laid two boats
that were in waiting for US. While the bag
gage was being changed 1 walked up to the
old fort, where | was accosted by sentinel,
who pointed to his musket and then to his
heart. ! attempted to advance, when he ac-
costed me in the same manner as at first, and
looked somewhat determined but not very
soldier like. l concluded it was necessary
when two sentinels had their muskets point.
ed at me, to retreat, which I did in good or
der. After waiting two hours we sailed
down the river to Greytown, distance lS5
miles, where we arrived at 10 o'clock at
night, thus making the trip from the Pacific
to the Atlantic in two days and five hours
Here we were first informed that the steamer
Santiago de Cuba had not arrived. She was
then over due two days. and you can imag-
inc our disappointment. On the following
morning the first cabin passengers, and all
the ladies in the second cabin, were furnish
ed checks to board at the Greytown hotel.
The gentlemen in the second cabin were
boarded by the company separate from the
steerage. Greytown has about 600 inhabit-
ants, and is a much more desirable place to
live in than Virgin Bay. There are few
Americans doing business at this place, and
l was informed that some of them have be-
come wealthy 1lelI principal business IS
the rubber trade. I saw but one man on
horseback while was there, and was no
little surprised to know there was not a wag-
on or vehicle of any kind in all the Mosquito
Kingdom. We remained here eleven days
and ten hours, when the steamer San Fran
cisco came into port to take us to New York,
which filled sad and anxious hearts with
| JOY. The river steamers ran out to the bar,
where the passengers were taken out to the
steamer in surf boats, thus making SIX dam
gerous changes in crossing the 1sthmus of
| Nicaragua. After eight days and eighteen
hours sail in disabled steamer, without
| ballast, which caused her to roll and float on
the ocean waves like a rubber ball, we ar
rived at Charleston S. C. We remained
here twenty-four hours, took in ballast, coal
and provisions, and made some repairs,
which gave the passengers chance to see
old Fort Sumter, and the mother of rebel
lion. About 500 of the passengers left the
ship and took the cars for their homes in the
interior, and expressed themselves satisfied
with ocean travel, and many of them beiev-
ed that the steamer would sink before she
reached New York. Through my faith I
stuck to the ship, and arrived safe in New
York Nov. 4th, or 40 days from San Fran
cisco. Your friend, u.
TARRED AND FEATHERED.-SoIne time
since, Mr.. c. J. Richards squatted upon