The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-01-29
PART I.
rittnn for the CECIL WIG


1854 on my unexpected voyage around the
world. when young man. had a great
desire to see other parts of the world
The California fever at that time was still
high.
made up my mind to try my lack il
that direction.
l went to New York and purchased 6
ticket for San Francisco by way of Aspin
wall and Panama. 1t was not long before
we were on our journey on board of the
side-wh;el steamer George Law, COM
manded by Lieutenant Fox, who was, dur
ing the rebellion, Assistant Secretary OF
the Navy under Gideon Wells.
We had rough voyage until we passed
Cape Hatteras. This and seasckness
knocked all the .eafnripg idea ont of my
head.
I thought with the side wheels and the
tremendous heavy sea the ship would be
pounded to pieces. But after we passed
Cape Hatteras it soon moderated
A man at sea soon forgets storm, and
tile DaIobc6 OI our Journey W
was moderate and pleasant weather.
When we arrived there it was early in
the morning.
Our great concern was to get across the
Isthmus. At that place it was said to be
60 miles wide. The railroad was only
completed half way across. We could get
no information as to when train would
start.
We got breakfast, consisting Of coffee,
ham and eggs, ashore, which was very re-
freshing, for which we paid 81. After
breakfast we took stroll looking at the
sights, which were anything but pleasing.
Our attention was attracted more particu-
larly to some of the natives, largely made
up of Jamaica negroes, lying about under
sheds.
, But l could hardly walk on account of
not having gotten over the rocking of the
ship.
About the middle of the day train of
cars was brought out on the main track.
Some one made break for the train and |
train loaded with people any faster than
that was. / got in some way but | did
not know how. | only know | had no
bones broken.
did not know where the train WAS
going, or when it was going, or whether it
was going to remain where it was and |
doubt whether the other passengers knew
any better. However, we sat there an
hour or two and drank good deal OF claret
wine, as it was called, which was COM
mon drink on the lsthmus, for the water
was SO bad one would have to hold his nose
while drinking.
Finally, we started for the summit,
which was said to be the end of the road,
and as We passed along we realized that it
is no wonder that it has been said that the
Panama railroad is a grave yard from one
end to the other.
Before we reached summit we were
transferred from passenger cars to dirt Or
platform cars, where the passengers were
huddled in every way. 1t was about dark
loaded very rapidly.
The first introduction to the place MAS
our being up to our knees in mud.
Tired and sleepy, we got some kind Of
accommodation in a tent; hut no sleep, for
the internal dOnkeys in Il corral close by
kept up a continual bawling all night. Fla
ally daylight came to our relief. We got
some breakfast, chartered donkey, dashed
our traps on its back.
On TIP OF this kind one will fall in
with chums that will stick by each other
through thick and thin, and will 20 by the
name Of the place they hail from.
So there were four of US chummed to-
gether
l was the only one that knew anything
about mules or donkeys, but soon found
out knew but very little Of their ways on
the lsthmus.
We got off as early as possible, | leading
the donkey with a halter. We came to "a
small ditch full OF mud. got over some
way and began to pull on the donkey, but
he wouldn't bulge. pulled until gave
out and Stacked pulling, about to give up
the Job, when all at once the donkey reared
on its mind legs, gave spring and went
over the ditch, leaving all of our baggage
in the ditch, half covered with mud. 4
native came to our rescue and offered to
deliver donkey and baggage at Panama for
81. We agreed to the offer, and assisted
in tying the baggage on the mule again
When finished, he tied the halter around
the donkey's neck and let him 90.
They were soon out Of orr sight and we
didn't know that we would see either
again.
The dews that settle on the Ishmus at
night are almost like rain and keep the
ground we'll soaked.
With so much travel the mud was terri
BILE. It's no wonder men fell by the way.
We passed one man lying in the mud,
dead. The sight was sickening We could
do nothing, for it was all we could do to
take care OF ourselves.
no, a ,jo