The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-02-17
to California ir 1851.

mr. causing considerable discussion.
hit to California ir 1851.
aIig county Man VINO Made the Trip
the Nicaragua Route. Life in the
keraee and Incidents of the Voyage.
] THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: En-
ID you will find a description of a
made to the Pacific coast in the
days. AS reader of your paper
tqn read articles by those who cross
continent under present conditions
thought that perhaps an early day
krence might interest your readers.
are to be judge, however. Should
consider it worth publishing, you are
ona to do so; if not you can ind a
for it in your waste basket. Should
prove its destination | would be not
i surprised, as | am not much of a
er pvt very plain everyday sort of
5d d1tfer. who experienced much of
|took part in the many changes that
/ taken place since my arrival on the
JIG coast. | could relate many anus
! an stirring incidents of the days of
-52-53 in the mines, and many happy
that the little band from old Pros
! Experienced. Respectfully yours
H. MARDEN.
Pin street, San Francisco, Calf.
|TiHg observed in The Journal sew
articles descriptive of travel to the
Pic coast under the present luxurious
fon it occurred to me that an arti-
Fescrlptive of the conditions prevail
h tie time when the Argonauts made
H. 10 the then land of promise in
b. Jf the Golden Fleece might be of
g- Get. 3, 1851, the writer, then
Eastaen years of age, left Stockton
|Hs. then Prospect Harbor) with
/ o- fourteen others, all young men,
Wiz the exception of two less than
|I-Hye years of age, for California
6r Nicaragua route lnaugurated by
llrlilt short time previous, from
Flown, up the San Juan River and
Ns lake Nicaragua to Virgin Bay,
g1g The travellers to the point where
i've miles of land ton would
atAen to the Pacific ocean. On ar
Ig! IN New York we bought tickets
Storage passage at a cost of $3.50,
liHg berths and meals, river and
The steamer Prone
IS arrived in New York from Grey
nor, Sunday morning and at 3 .. m.
Monday following departed for Gray
J. There were over 700 passengers,
t,half the number in the steerage.
x on board we presented our tickets
e proper officer and were introduced
hes steerage and told to select
berths by number corresponding to
number on the tickets. The quar-
~ere in the lower hold and the berths
be standee pattern, ranged fore and
rowsethree high. They were %
IS wide and 6 feet long with canvass
IA inches intervening between
over berth, and "a inches space be-
n the.rows where we were supposed
axe our toilet. Ventilation for the
age quarters were by windsails, so
., reaching to the upper deck; no
Slonsi for sanitary purposes; no
lis usually provided. Picture the
lions prevailing when the larger
On of the occupants of the steer
we're. seasick. The toilets provided
he steerage passengers were on the
deck just forward of the wheels
were rot of the present day pattern.
D. thefold hooker would roll her lee
j. under bath was often provided
of scharge. The dining facilities
the main deck and consisted of
ng tables, and we partook of our
S standing. There was no menu for
choose from, as the regular fare
pork, beef, potatoes, bareback (sea
iU occasionally soft tack, but no
r, and as we all helped ourselves
the food was on the tables we
10 occasion to tip the waiter.
ter passage of eight days we ar
iat .Greytown at the mouth of the
Juan River; from that point we
to embark on two small steamers.
at the entrance prohibited our en-
ng on these steamers direct from
prometheus and we were lightered
s the bar and landed on an island.
e time the steamers picked US up.
ad our breakfast on the Prometheus,
'hen picked up about 2 p. m. were
what anxious to learn when and
we were to have some dinner. I
state that at this stage of the trip
were no distinctions as to our
ling. First cabin, second cabin and