Year: 1877

SAN Francisco, April, 1877.
EDITOR SMYRNA TINES thinking that
it would be interesting to some of your
readers, | give you brief account of my
trip to San Francisco, via Panama.


We left New York on the Crescent Ctty,
Dec. l6, at l.30, Pm. Weconsisted of so pas,
sengers, equally divided between the cabin
and the stearage. The weather was severely
cold and we passengers could hardly stay
on deck to see the last of New York as we
steamed toward the ocean. For the first
few days there was the usual sea sickness
and the passengers occupied themselves in
heavlng sighs and something else little
more material. We entered the gulf stream
Oft Cape Hatteras and entering it we left all
cold weather behind. On the morning of
the 9th day we sighted the Bahamas and
in the evening passed between Cuba and
Hayti. Wewere within the tropics then and
were too warm to dO anything but lounge
around under the awning, so we amused our.
selves in the evening. Among other things
we had the usual mock trial at sea. We
entered Navy Bay on the night of the Sth
day and cruised around until daybreak.
On Christmas morning wewere at Aspinwall,
on coral reef in the island of Manzanille.
we were all glad to get ashore and soon
were strolllng aboutlts nnclean steeets. We
found Aspinwall to be dirty little town
whose life is its commerce. The inhabi.
tants consisted of a few Jews and Spaniards,
but were mostly Jamaica negroes, very dirty
and nearly all naked. 1t is not to be
wondered at that they have so much sick
ness, for In the streets we found heaDs of
NTH and stagnant pools. We left Aspin-
wall at 1890 and were soon enjoying the
most pleasant part of the trip (the ride
across the isthmus). We were on one the
most wonderful little railroads in the world.
1t Is said that almost as many workmen
died whilst making it as there are sleepers
under the rails. As soon as we had left
Aspinwall | was struck with the beauty
and novelty of the wonderful scenery
around us. | had heard of it, but words
cannot describe its wonders to a stranger.
everything so fresh and green and lovely
that we were almost speechless with adj.
mlratlon, whole forests of bananas, man.
groves and palms flourishing upon the sides
OF the lofty mountains. But it was too
soon over. At l.30 we arrived at Panama
and went directly aboard the C5iiaa. We
were much disappointed at not being able to
see the old city OF Panama, but it could not
be helped, so we contented ourselves with
viewing it from the beautiful bay and
reconciIing ourselves by thinking that dis.
tance lends enchantment. All the way up
the Pacific we had delightful weather, the
ocean was so smooth at times that it looked
like Vast mill pond. In the night of the
10th day we entered the land locked harbor
OF Acapulco and in the morning went
ashore to see that old Mexican town. We
found it well laid out in streets, the houses
being mostly one story high and built of
sun-dried bricks. We saw their market
place, which is an open square, the men
and women squatting upon the ground
selling meat, fish, bread, cakes, vegetables
and fruits. We had not long to stay and
5 o'clock found us again on the ocean.
The voyage from Acapulco to San Francisco
was of necessity very monotonous there
being no stoppings to make. Occasionally
we would see a whale, shoal of porpoise,
or sometimes a sail, but they were
great rarity. BY the 25th day we were
pretty well tired out-and glad to enter
the Golden Gate and set foot once more on
shore and to be in the far-famed Golden
City Of the West. &c. BEII.