The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1881-08-13
On the ChAgrss In 1Sa0.

On the ChAgres In h"T"'
Tn. rvpr rp,pyR-in the FREE TRADER
ofJuy 3Oth gave an account OF my voyage
IN Central America IN IS49, landing on ChaS
req river a few miles from the location OF inc
pre,ent city of Aspnwall. In continuation Oh
nv narrative will state that among 'hose
who had arrived at Chagres at thus time was
,he wife of Col John C. Fremont, and at her
reouest took her and her escort up TO Cor
gona IN my whale boat TWAS adiiicuit pas
sape rarely made, and took me five days. i
mn, drawers on my natives, to which they were
uracustomed, and they were unhappy Mrs
Fremont noticed 1t aud asked Inc what was
the matter. When told her she said, Lei
them dress Ia their usual way" So OIL came
their drawers and overheard they went amid
such powow as the parrots Of this country
never before had heard. We passed the nights
IN such favorable locations as the natives point
ed sometimes tied upto overhanging trees
and at other times hauled up on sand bars.
We always had music at night-made by the
all,gators, the tigers and the old Nick him.
self for aught know. We kept man on
guard with Colt revolver and rifle and when
he gave the alarm we were all on hand IN an
instant. In that couatry Il Ia necessary t" i've
always ready for beast, man or the ID
We landed Col Tom Benton's daughter Al
Gorgona right side up with care" She
mounted her horse, with pistol on one side
and sword on the other, and started for Pana-
ma with her escort.
Meantime, while we we're taking rest at
Gorgona, Lieut.. Beale, bearer of dispatches to
Washington came dashing up on horseback.
He had quantity of California gold nuggets,
the first sent to our government He says to
me- "Get me to Chagres in time for the New
York steamer, no matter what the expense"
Our man OF war--or whale boat-was fitted up
Ia double quick time, with negros at the oars
and myself at the helm. and five baskets OF
caret wine and light provisions in the locker.
We went through in thirteen hours-the quick.
est time on record But the steamer had left,
two hours before our arrival A sailing vessel,
however, was there ready for New Orleans, and
10 an hour her sails were up and our Lieut..
eDant wac on hs way rejoicing, He has since
then been sent as minister to some foreign port
believe But should like to take afolhcr
bottle of Claret with him.
Then We went over to Panama, my health
not being equal to the strain upon 1t on the
river. After spending some tine to recruit
opened hotel, and did good business, but
took the Panama fever and had to quit. Went
down to Bogota, an island below, more open TO
sea, then back 10 Panama and up to old Pana
ma, which went down with an earthquake $50
years ago. Some eight or ten church spires
stand out in the bay amoung which we sailed
around On the shore, perhaps mile away
stands cocoanut grove, which exceeds any.
thing of the KIND ever saw; the trees are o.
yer 100 feet in circumference.
Panama is some 40 miles below the head Of
the bay end in early times must have been n
city of rare beauty and wealth. 1t is about
two miles around It's walls, which are some
thirty feet high, and are mainly Intended to
prevent the sea from breaking over, the tide
here rising and falling some II feet 1t is
built on shelving rock that projects some
three miles out into the bay, where vessels
come to anchor and discharge their cargoes In
lighters at high stide. The top of the wall Is
wide enough for to 6 carriages abreast, but
saw but one carriage IN all Panama, and thai,
was the English consul's gig. a two-whccled
affair in his carriage house. for it never appear.
ed Ia the street where 1t would have caused as
much excitement as a bull fght--an amusc.
ment which occurs regularly once year.
All the houses are then closed ana in come
eight or ten bulls and half dozen of Span.
iards IN fantastic dress, when for while there
is hell broke loose in Panama!
On tho part of the wall that faces the open
bay are 40 brass cannon, their carriages all dc.
cayed and gone to dust but the cannon bright
ly polished up
They have inscriptions on them showing that
they were manufactured IN old SPAN. Evi.
IDENTIFY the city must once have been one of
great wealth, but where it came from is a co.
nundrum am unable TO solve. D. IL. L.
Seneca August 4, 1881.
Paris Letter.
Regular Correspondence