Morning journal and courier., 1884-10-28
Tuesday, October 9s, 1884.
COLONY HIsTORICAL SOCIETY.

Tuesday, October 9s, 1884.
 COLONY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. \ m 1nterestfns Paper-A New Haven Pioneers Voyage to California and
 Oregon fin IS49-A Resume Of the Trfp-Old Methods of Travel = The
 Gold Fever Rush.
 At meeting of the New Haven Colony society held last evening very paper was read by MT. George of this city, subject, "A New Ha- yen Pioneers Voyage to California and Or egon in 1849, and first impressions of those countries" The sudden finding of gold in the river beds and mountains of California gent such thrill of excitement, not only through the United States and territories, but the world, that by land and sea a great tide of human beings rushed to the new found land of gold. MT. Sherman's paper was an account simply of the dangers and delays in 1949 of journey by the then speediest route across the Isthmus, and then by steamers from New York and Panama Leaving New York, Oct. 1, 1949, in twelve days the steamer, with 800 to ,O0O passen- gers, reached Chagres on the gulf side ot the Isthmus After three weeks delay in Pana- ma, in thirteen days the steamer from Panama reached San Francisco about the first of November. Stops were made at Aca- pulco and Mazatlan in Mexico, and at San Diego and Monterey on the California coast. Acapulco was described as Q completely sheltered, mountain-locked harbor, capable of easy and impregnable fertilization. Pana- ma was described as a city with an old world look No wharves for landing Ruins of the old city of Panams are seen few miles distant from the present city. A curious mixture.of black and white races compose the inhabitants here and al Chagres on the Atlantic side color lines are entirely obliterated. The Chagres or Atvanto river was described as an impetuous noun tain torrent, hardly navigable by the strong est canoes and the most skillful natives. The ascent half way across the lsthmus to tht mountain pass of the Andes occupied severa days. It seemed at first like madness tc make the attempt. The strong arms of the boatmen, with the aid of ropes and long poles of well tried strength, made the ascent day or two more was spent 1T crossing the mountains by narrow bridle path part of it by steps in the solid rock over long dizzy heights. The Isthmus climate was described as wet, hot and malarial Many died there. On account of the long delay the steamer on the Pacific side had tc carry about double load of passengers. The waters of the Pacific were peaceful and calm Only in crossing the gulf of California, after leaving Mazatlan, was there any rough water Crowds of wayworn travellers were taken or board at San Diego and Monterey and few at Acapulco and Mazatlan. These travellers many of them, had been nearly year or their journey, exhausted in strength as well as money. About November 13 the Golden Gates of the imperial great harbor of Sar Francisco were reached. Incessant rains made the streets well nigh impossible. The site of this future world renowned city was s mere sandy desert. The afternoon gales oi wind made the spot one of the most disagree, able on the face of the earth. summer climate till about o'clock in the afternoon then a winter till the next morning. The voyage from San Francisco to Astoria in Oregon was in the pilot boat schooner Mary Taylor, Capt. Smith, Dane, 8 skillful New York pilot of heroic courage. He sailed this vessel from New York around Cape Horn, being the second vessel he had brought around for the mouth of the Columbia 1T Oregon. After weeks detention in the bay of San Colito, just within the goldeI gates of San Francisco harbor, witt seven or eight passengers, part of them wo men and one little girl, in fearful gale ant storm we left for Oregon. Driven up to Capt Disappointment in three days, we could no find it for eighteen days after. Cemmodor l Wilkes in 1843 experienced like disappoint ment, losing a U. s. brig, the Roanoke, on l bar at the mouth of the Columbia river | With his other vessel he found 8 harbor a | we did in Vancouver Sound. Oh ristma | week, 1649, we spent in these British an'
 American waters trading with the native for salmon and strong cedar canoes. Dur 1 ing the long storm at sea searching for tn ! cape our only boat was dashed to piece 1 by a heavy sea which nearly cap sized the schooner. On the 1st day of Jan
 uary, 1850, the passengers were all safel.. | landed in Astoria, twentyone days afte | leaving the mouth of San Francisco harbor Ten days more of canoe navigation was re l quired to reach Portland on theWilliammett | river. A visit made to Fort Visqually ol l Puget Sound and to the Cowlitz Farms wa
 described and the survey of the Chehali | river. This flows from east to west nearl,
 parallel with the Columbia directly into tn l ocean at Gray's harbor. The Cowlitz rive | flows from north to south, emptying into tn | Columbia, while eWilliammette river emp tics into the same river on the other side o it, flowing directly north from tn l southern portion of the most feI tile part of Oregon Mention wa
 made of the early religious character of tn
 people of Oregon due mostly to the mission
 of the American board at Walla Walla.
 The Chinook tribe of Indians, once yer. numerous, and other tribes on the coast hat l been swept off by malarial fever just befor Oregon's coming into the settled possession of the United States All of Oregon ha ! been open for settlement since the Ashburtol treaty The taking possession of the long established posts of the Hudson Bay Go was very carefully and peacefully made.
 In 1849 the H. B. Go. were very courteous and helpful to the new immigration iron ''the States" Other inter esting historica events during four years residence of tht speaker in Oregon, from 1849 to 1853, may be the subject of another paper or a persona narrative.
 Remarks were made by Messrs. James D Dewell, Thomas R. Trowbridge, jr., Captain Charles H. Townshend, Thomas R. Trow- bridge, ST., William Goodyear and others Mir. Dewell spoke of his brothers residence and business in San Francisco three years before the discovery of gold, and of his hay. ing left just before it's discovery. He traded then in hides, the principal business there MT. Trowbridge said the paper was appro- priate to Connecticut history, because oi Connecticut charter reaching from ocean tc ocean. Captain Townshend gave an interest ing account of his visit in 1864 to Puget Sound, particularly of the salmon and the way they are caught. Mir. Goodyear toldia little of his experience in California about the same time. The paper was commended as one of great and original and peculiar in terest. On motion of Justus s. Hotchkiss a hearty vote of thanks was passed to MT. Sherman The meeting was one of great interest.
 KILLED BY THE CARS.
 UnnA Of NRP~nfnrd 1nd