The Baron had now entirely recovered his health, had grown quite fleshy, and was really a good looking man. He had a full wardrobe of military dresses. Sometimes he would appear on deck with a green coat handsomely trimmed with silver lace, two splendid gold epaulets, and a long string of medals of honor, which he had gained at different battles. Another time he would appear in a white uniform of the Austrian style, handsomely trimmed with gold lace, thus showing off in fine display. He now intimated his intention of crossing the Isthmus, and making a tour through the United States, and to accomplish this, it was necessary that he should have a good lot of money. Captain Downes cashed his draft on Kio Janeiro, for several thousand dollars.
The purser also advanced a large sum. Many of the officers solicited from him the favor of taking some valuable curiosities in charge, and to deliver them to their friends, to whom he was furnished with ample letters of introduction. He had about ten thousand dollars in money and valuables, and with any quantity of letters to all the great folks at home. He was to stay with the Governor of Panama a few days, until a suitable escort could be got ready for crossing the Isthmus. His luggage went on shore, and the Governor gave a ball on the occasion. I shall have something more to say about our Baron at another time. Our next move was to the Island of Puna, at the month of Guayaquil river.
On our arrival there, a boat was sent up to Guayaquil to apprize the Governor of the arrival of an American frigate in his waters. The boat was commanded by Midshipman W. T. Kogers, who was one of the most promising young officers in the Navy, and it is to be regreted that he has since left the United States naval service. The boat had no sooner reached the pier at Guayaquil, than she was seized by the soldiers, and the crew put in prison. Mr. Rogers was allowed to remain on parole within the limits of the city. In the mean time, two large gunboats were fitted out, and sent down to take possession of the frigate, for they were sure we were Chilians, as no American frigate would ever presume to go such a distance from home.
The gunboats anchored very near us, and rather seemed to hesitate about how they should go to work to take us. After waiting a whole day they pulled up their anchors and went up river again without the frigate; for we understood that they had positive orders to bring her up and moor her off the town, after securing the crew. Capt. Downes now thought it necessary to send another boat to ascertain what had become of the first. The second cutter was fitted out in charge of Mr. Percival, who went up to Guayaquil with an order from Capt. Downes for the immediate release of the first boat, with a suitable apology for imprisoning American seamen. The Governor being convinced of his mistake, not only released the men, but sent down a large quantity of fruit, with the required apology.
While laying at Puna, we witnessed a beautiful scene, which was an attack of a swordfish and thresher upon a whale. While these two allies were attacking their ponderous enemy, one upon his back and the other beneath, the poor fellow would throw himself entirely out of the water, with these two deathly foes still hanging on to him, when in less than an hour the monster gave up and lay quietly upon the surface. We weighed anchor, and sailed for San Bias, a Mexican port on the south side of the Gulf of California, and at the entrance of the Iliver Santiago. Our business here was to ascertain the particulars of the capture of an American brig at St.
Joseph, at the head of the Gulf of California, and ascertained that she had been previously liberated. On entering the harbor of San Bias, we were particularly struck by seeing a new and beautiful corvette pierced for twenty-two guns, lying aground, and so badly hogged that she was not worth getting off. The masts and spars were all standing, the guns had fallen to leeward, and there she lay, a lamentable monument of bigotry and superstition. The history of the affair was as follows, which we learned from a gentleman on shore. The ship was built up the Gulf and came down to San Bias, preparatory to proceeding on a cruise. On entering the harbor the pilot was mistaken about the tide, and ran on to the flat; and instead of immediately throwing over the guns, and letting the anchors go from the bows, these jackasses all got upon their knees and began to cry to some saint, and all this time the tide was ebbing, and she being quite sharp, heeled very rank, and being much strained, on the next tide water flowed freely into her, and she never righted again.