M. The weather was rather cold and rainy. I went down to the landing with a heavy pea-jacket on, and a very heavy pair of boots, for which I had paid fifty dollars. When I came to the beach, the last boat had gone off; but as there were four others beside myself who were passengers, the agents hired a boat with two men to take us on board. The boat was soon piled with trunks, so that there was scarcely room to stand, and a very poor chance for the men to row. The steamer lay more than a mile from us; it blowed furiously, beside a heavy tide setting against us. When we got out into the strength of the wind and tide, our case appeared almost hopeless.
Both boatmen were intoxicated, their thole-pins broken, and here we were fast drifting out to sea. I felt so provoked with the drunken scamps, that I wanted to beat them over the head with the oar. And in addition to our comfort, we were drifting broadside across the chain of a large English ship; which, had we struck it, our fate would have been sure death. But providentially, when within a few feet of the chain, we saw a whale boat coming round the bow, in which were two Chinamen and a Swede, besides a man with a steering oar. They were pulling with all their might to get ahead; the boat was half full of water, and they dare not stop to bail her.
I suno; out to them to come towards us; we were at the same time, working with all our might to keep our boat off the chain; and when the whale boat o*ot near enouo-h to ven7 CD CD ture it, I made a spring, and reached her, but soon saw that my condition was very little better than before. The whale boat was fast sinking:; the man that was steering her, deCD ' CD * clared that it was impossible to get anywhere, and we must drift out to sea. " O, I think not," said I. " Pull away, boys." I turned to with my hat, bailed away, and very soon found I was gaining on the water.
About a hundred yards from us, I saw a small shore boat pulling along under the lee of a ship. I hailed her at the top of my voice; finally, the fellow edged off towards us, and when she was near enough, I made a leap into her. " Now," said I, " my dear fellow, I want to get on board that steamer." I sat down, backed his oars, and by pulling up under the lee of the vessels with incessant labor for more than an hour, we got near enough to catch a rope from the steamer, and was soon safe on her deck, and I assure you, I was thankful. The boat I left first, I believe was saved, but do not know the fate of the whale boat.
It blew so hard, that the steamer could not get underway until next morning. We made a short stop at Benecia, and arrived at Sacramento on the following night. There were quite a number of vessels there, but many of them were valueless, as it was impossible to make any repairs, or obtain a crew, even to get to San Francisco. These vessels had been owned by companies, who had, in almost every case, exploded, sold out everything for a song, and cleared for the mines. I was much amused, one day, on hearing the crier, who goes round on horseback, advertising the fixtures and furniture of a barque, for sale at auction. He cried out in a long, drawling voice: " To be sold this day, at the levee, the cabin furniture, beds, bedding, and a lot of stuff belonging to the brig Jane.
The company have all burst up, and gone to the devil." I believe there was not one out of the numerous companies that were formed in the Atlantic States, that arrived in California with the unanimity with which they started. Many of them having previously drawn up the most rigid police and moral regulations, making it penal to use any kind of profane language, or to engage in any sort of gaming. Then, previous to sailing, they must all go to some public place of worship, and a farewell sermon preached to them; subject, Qold Diggings. But, alas! these very exemplary young men soon found how evanescent is that happiness, where gold is at the bottom. Many of them, before they got up with Cape Horn, were in open rebellion against all discipline; and as soon as the vessel reached her anchorage at California, the whole concern was dissolved.
The brig that I went up to see, was all right; they were selling her cargo, and everything was ' then apparently doing well. D D