The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1868-09-08
On tho Way,
ACAPULCO, MEXICO,


| Mr. EDrroR-ArrivinR In Aspinwnll
we proceeded on a cruise Of observation
| Having four hours to spend In this way
we saw many things, some having q
tendency to remind us Of the prevailing
customs prior to Adam and Eyes great
discovery, and proving beyond doubt
that total depravity, though n raro OK
ceptlon, We're possible. VITA the ma
tives the article oi clothing lsof little or
no importance. All the children go
without any clothing whatever. The
Inhabitants number about 800 and are
composed chiefly Of Irmaca negroes,
with mixture OF spanish, Mexican
and Indian. With the exception of the
buildings belonging to the Pacific Mail
steamship Company and the Panama
Rail Road, the town presents a dirty
dingy, desolated appearance repulslve
in the extreme. There is no law, no
order, no quiet, no comfort, no morality
no religion mo schools, and no churchts
in this diminutive prelude to the abyss
Of woe. We were told that some years
since clergymen made an effort, and
raised few thousand dollars for the
purpose of building a church, when all
of q sudden he took French leave ia
king the money with him Of course
The train left for Panama at 10 o'clock
q. m. and proceeded 20 miles when 1t
came to a dead stop, on account of u
bridge being little out OF repair. We
were detained six hours and did not ar
rive in Panama until dark. The tide
being out caused us o further delay o1
six hours.
Vegetation on the isthmus grows very
rank, and together with fruits abounds
i'll great variety, oranges, lemons, lines
manages, bananas, pineapple and
ead-fruit grow in great profusion. The
dwarf Palmetto, cabbage, dates, and
auoqua are aInong the principal trees
that grow Oil either side of the Rail
road. Upon some of the largest Of these,
parasites have so curiously wrought and
lngeniously ingraciated themselves,
that they look very like full rugged
ships. The Panama r. r. is a very sub
stantial piece OF work It's bridges are
all constructed OF iron, and the ties
upon which the track il laid are all
made of lignum vitae. The posts for
the telegraph running across the 18TH
mus are all concrete and in appearance
very durable. Reaching Panama, we
went on board the transport, and in
due time were conveyed to the Steamer
Constitution, which lay in waiting three
miles distant from shore. During the
night all the baggage and fast freight
was put on board. and in the morning
at O'Clock We weighed anchor and
moved majestically down the bay. The
constitution is one of tho largest ships
on the line. She accommodates | 104 pas
sengers, and is small city in and of
herself. She carries her own cattle,
swine, sheep and poultry and butchers
every day Shewas built at New York
IN the year 1861 is of 1916 tons burthen.
Is 800 feet in length and Is feet in
breadth, from yard to yard. Is 90 feet
from Keel to hurricane deck. She is
provided with low pressure boilers, 80
feet in length and Ia feet in diameter
OF shell, constructed OF American iron
BIG and 3-S OF an inch in thickness.
one low pressure engine Of l05 inches
diameter or cylinder, and II feet stroke.
has feed pumps, OF 6inches diameter,
or " inches stroke, worked by main
engine, and two Independent feed
pumps. Has fire pumps, double act
ing, and total OK 700 feet OF hose, 1903
fire buckets und 33 axes. Has u life
boats, all made Of iron, and 1900 life
prcservers.
The entire passage from Panama to
Acapulco was pleasant and very agree
able TO all the passengers, with one ex-
ception. A lady resident OF Fan Fran
CISCO met with an irreparable loss in
the death OF her only darling. Coming
from New York, the change OF climate
ana fatigue incident to the journey
proved too much for the frail creature,
and on the morning OF the 7th inst.
with sweet canine resignation, the little
poodle departed this life and was con-
signed 20 perciless waves Of the "vastv
deeP:"' Aside from this triiiing episode
ana ,he birth ofe Dutch baby, nothing
unusual or amusing occurred. We re-
main here eight hours taking on coal
anu then resume our voyage, which
VIII probably end on the 18th of Aug.
Until then we remain
Very truly yours, E.w.p.