The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-08-25
AsPINwALL, Aug. 3rd,

Mr. EDIToR--While we assume tie
privilege of intruding few lines con-
corning our voyage to this place, we
will, from necessity agree to be very
brief. We left New York in the Steam
er Rising Star Friday July 9th, con-
coded by tradition to be tie most I'M
lucky day upon which 90 embark in
any new enterprise. But as evening
was dropping curtain between us and
the receding shoe, we saw the new
moon over our light shoulder, which of
course, insured u pleasant, and tortu-
nate term nation of our journey.
After leaving the harbor we encoun-
teredp. strong head wind, which contin-
ued 90 increase for two days. During
tbs time it raincd very lard 81 hours.
! These elements had II tendency to rile
| up the briny deep very much, and on
the second and third days the passen-
gers numbering about 900, were nearly
all sea-sck. And we judged large
proportion of the sick, were foreigners,
and Just then thinking of their native
land for as they rushed to the guards
to make their contributions to the At
lantic, they universally commenced n
song; the chorus of which runs as fol-
lows, e-u-rope, europe, the last verse
was like the first, sentimental and full
of mea ning), except it had no words to
it. On Monday the 4th day out, Old
| Neptune took compassion upon Us and
held to o his breath for time, until we
! had pa esed the the angry waves, and
was az ain riding upon the bosom of n
quiet ca, when the sick began 10 look
more cheerful. Before evening nearly
all tn g passcngeTs were out on the
! prone made deck discoursing upon the
| events through which they had passed.
| AS they continued to improve in health
and So irits, thus becoming more social,
| we ma dcseVeral very pleasant acquaint-
ances, among which is an Urcgonian
! 10y the name of Rector, Il manufacturer
Of vol len goods, who complimented
/ two of our Vermont sheep men very
| highly, for beneiitting his State very
! mater ally Il few years since, by the in
| trOduc ton of fine horses. aud spanish
mcrin sheep. The first point OF land
we ga after leaving the Jersey Shore
was NlatlingS Island, laying directly
north Of Cuba. Its eastern shore is
! bold nd rocky, and in general appear
ancc gave little evidence Of being in
! hahitC Il. On Thursday July Both, We
| passed around the east end Of the island
/ Of Cul ei, and within two miles OF shore
which presents II wild romantic picture
as it Is Owes in panoramic view from
the / choldcr Neceding Il few milc'
| from hOrc the land assumes an abrup
| cleVat Jon and again iccedine, forming
II bea ltiful plain, covered with low
bushy shrubs dotted here and there
with all palm and rocoanut trees.
| Cha nging our course now from fout'
to sou th-west; we passed into the Car
ibbeal sea, whose waters are eveF rest
less, ,eing kept in constant motion 10y
the TT adc-winds which never vaiy NOR,
than eight points from northeast t.
| soutl tease.
Jul y 3lst we passed the up steamer
Ocea II Queen in latitude IL 8, iongi
tude 7504Si, hut the sea was too rougl
! TO speak her. The Intention was Il
hav exchanged mails. In this latitud,
we noticed myriads of flying fish dart
and sides of the ship, They are small
deli cate, silver colored fish, and very
active on the wing, often flying from
four to six rods before striking the wat
err. IL was here also thatwe noticed fol
the first time, that we had passed be
yond fhe sun, and that our shadow n
meridian was south instead of north o
us Notwithstanding the p ssition o
the sun the weather was cool and agree
able the whole passage. One word DIES
criptire of the Rising Star, and we will
close. She ia 325ft in length, 40ft bean
and soft from keel to promenade deck
carries 5000 tons burden, and draws 20f
of water with full load. Being heavily
loaded with Pacific Rail Road iron =
She ran very slow the whole trip, ma,
king only the following distances each
day, first day 200 miles, l15, 203, 224
2l1, 2l0, DDS, 230, lis. In the course o
the day we pass over the Isthmus tC
Panama aud leave there this evening
in the steamer Constitution
Yours, E. w. Z.