Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1870-04-29
5Miscellamu,
For the Bellows Falls Times.
On the Pacific Coast.
AMUSING INCIDENTs-soMETIME sERI-
Gus ACCIDENTS.

Gus ACCIDENTS.
CAMP G ASTON, Cal,
March Z, 1870.
1t was beautiful morning, the Sd of
February, 1870. The sun was shining
in all her splendor, the air was soft and
balmy as June in New England, when
we left our hotel in San Francisco and
walked down to the Folsome st. wharf,
where lay the Pelican" on which we
had engaged passage to Eureka. She
was a coal black Brigantine, rugged pro-
peller of 500 tons, and had about her a
peculiarly saucy, raking look, which at
once attracted our attention and awaken
ed our Z" Brother Jonathan" curiosity.
We went on board of her, and Yankee
like, commenced our inspection. Her
smoke stacks had peculiar rake (tip)
to them, after the English fashion, that
were made from heavy iron, and quite
short. Her engines were massive and
compact Her spars, (for she carried
| them both fore and aft were well round
ed, though evidently intended more for
strength and rough service than for beau
| ty. Her bowsprit was short and heavy,
and upon a closer examination we no
ticed that her sides had been pierced for
ordnance, and she evidently had once
been used for other purposes than the
peaceable transportation OF. passengers
and freight along the Pacific coast.
What had she been and what had been
her history was the natural questions
to ask ones self. We glanced at the Pi-
lot house for solution of the mystery,
and there read in bold letters, the one
word, Pelican" nothing more "That
was not war-like name," we said, al
most audibly, and could not have been
her cognomen in days of yore." We
walked forward to the pinnacle, and
there too, the word Pelican" stared us
in the face in mute defiance. We would
try once more, and walking aft to the
capstan, we again exercised our ortho-
graphic instincts, and read emblazoned
in the brass cap, not the peaceable word
Pelican" but the significant and war
like words " Sea King, hal now
we know you little rebel, that tell-tale
name upon the capstan has revealed to
us your maiden name, and we recall to
mind, that when youth you attempted
to " sow your wild OATS" and got caught
off Wilmington,-but being in pleas
ant humor this morning we will overlook
your youthful indiscretions, if now, that
you have been redeemed by nations
blood and treasure, now will take us
safely on our journey, and in future de-
mean yourself with proper respect, to-
wards your Uncle Samuel"
These were substantially our thoughts
as we stood upon the polished decks OF
. the Pelican this beautiful spring-like
morning, and contrasted her as she now
lay peacably at her moorings on the qui-
ct waters of the bay, with what she was
when hurting death and destruction from
her brazen mouthed cannon upon de-
fenceless merchantmen.
We were aroused from our reverie by
the Captain calling his men to {" stand
by." to cast off the line. We loosed oul
cables, swung out into the current, and
steamed down the bay, receiving ths
, kind adieus of our friends standing upor
the wharf, who wished us safe passage
to our journeys end.
Passing down the bay the scenery il
beautiful. Oakland on our right, Presi
: dio on our left, Alcatras in front, whil'
: further on, is Angle Island, Fort Point
G and the Narrows or Golden Gate thro
which we pass, and fearlessly tread ou
way "o'er the trackless deep" OF tn
Pacific Ocean. Alcatras, Preside, For
Point and Angel Island are all militar,
posts and garrisoned by the I'd U. S
ARTILLERY and the 18th Regulars, and to
gether form strong protection to tn
!. Bay and City of San Francisco.
3 Our course is north'a ard and for tn
!. most part is along the coast, near enougl
inland to discern the distant mountain
of Northern California. In front, be
= hind, and on our left, we can see nothin
Q but the trackless ocean, unless it be a
occasional whale, who, nearing the lam
:, rises for a moment to the surface t
"blow." and founder about nearthe to
of the water, and then sinks again ou
of sight.