Return of my son from California,— Comply with his request,— Arrives ' safe— Unjust tariff,— Falls into the hands of villains,— Discovery of gold —Become interested in California speculation,— Determine to go to California,— Prevented by sickness,— Recovery,— Embark on board Empire State,— Description of the passage,— Arrive at Chagres,— My companion,— Engage a boat,— Detention,— Start,— Strong current against me,— Stopping place for the night —Difficulty in procuring shelter,— Sleep in a pigsty,— Description of my lodging,— Unceremonious leave of my fellow lodger,— Meet my companion in the morning, —Get underway,— Chagres river,— Next stopping place,— Description of our entertainment, — Our hostess, — Another day dawns,— Off again, Arrive at Cruces, — Amusing scene, — Sickness and death,— Miserable fare,— Difficulty in obtaining mules,— Engage them at high rates,— Pass a miserable night,— Morning dawns,— Poor breakfast,— Start for Panama,— Dreadful road,— Exciting scenes,— Suffer from hunger,— Leave my mule.— My condition,— Exhausted,— Animated by Gods promises, — Arrive at Panama, — Description of the country, — Sick man, —Effect of kindness,— Remarks on dying,— Story,— Remarks on Panama,— Much sickness, — Embark on board the steamer Unicorn,— Description of the Passengers,— Incidents,— Card playing on the Sabbath, —It is stopped,— Villanous character of the passengers,— Arrive at Acapulco,— Difficulty.— Origin of the trouble,— Arrival at San Francisco,—Appearance on entering, — General character of the population, — Enquiring for my son, — Found the scoundrel who cheated him,— Miserable accommodations,— Cases of sudden transition from prosperity to beggary, — Secure a passage to Sacramento, — Perilous adventure, — Gale,— Arrival at Sacramento,— Result of companies,— Auction sales, — My business apparently all right.
In 1849, my eldest son returned from San Francisco, having gone there from the Sandwich Islands. It will be observed that this was some time before the gold discovery.^ California had just been taken possession of by the United States, but not yet received into the Union. My son gave such a nattering account of San Francisco, I was induced to comply with the request, which was the object of his return. He wished an assortment of goods, and a small, fast-sailing vessel, which he felt sure would turn to a good account. I furnished him with the vessel and goods; he sailed, and arrived safe at San Francisco. But notwithstanding the United States had possession of Upper California, the old Mexican tariff was still in force, which on some articles was very high, and considerably reduced the profits; hut the goods, taken altogether, paid a fair profit; and after the discovery of gold, the vessel was sold for a good price.
The young man would have done well, had he not subsequently fallen into the hands of a consummate villain. When the California fever began to rage, and had become absolutely an epidemic of a most contagious character, I became connected with others, in parts of voyages, which we supposed would do well, for we had no reason to think otherwise. I felt much anxiety about the result of my son's business, and had determined to go to California, calculating to arrive there in season to meet the vessels in which I was concerned; but was detained in consequence of an attack of cholera, which confined me to the house about six weeks. After my recovery, however, the determination to go not having abated, I obtained a passage to Chagres, in the steamer Empire State, Capt.
Wilson. On board this steamer there were about three hundred cabin and steerage passengers, among whom were about forty regular New Orleans gamblers, together with several ladies, of doubtful reputation. There were also some who had run away from their families, and some who were fleeing from their creditors. It usually happens, that men, or rogues, who possess cunning enough to evade justice, most generally bring themselves out by boasting of their success; and so it was with these men, who seemed to take a pride in telling how they dodged the constable. One of these worthies was two days and nights stowed away in the coal bunker of the steamer, while two constables were in search of him; one of whom took a station on the steamer's deck, the other at the head of the wharf.