I have said in another place, that there were many incidents relating to my business matters, which would not be at all interesting to any one, but I wish to be indulged in naming one, which goes to show a principle, or spirit which I shall leave for the reader to name. After the great fire, as I was passing by the ruins of a store, I noticed five or six men trvino* to haul a stick of rimber out of the water. I saw that they were unacquainted with that business, so I went where they were at work, showed them how to proceed, and assisted in getting one piece up; was going away, when a gentleman hailed me and enquired if I would assist in building the store, the wages, I think, were twelve dollars per day, and as I had nothing to occupy my time, told him yes.
We built the store, and my wages for that and another job, amounted to three hundred dollars. The morning after the fire, before I commenced on the store, I was walking among a collection of half-burnt goods, and saw a man with whom I had been previously acquainted, sitting and mourning over a little pile of stuff', that was hardly recognizable. " Halloo," said I, " what are you doing here?" " Oh, I have lost everything that I had in the world, and this pile of rubbish is all I possess, my money is lost, and here I am a bco-gar." " Nonsense, man, don 't sit here, you see every body all around you going ahead again, come, I will lend you a hand." So I went on board the ship, changed my dress, brought some tools ashore; we both went to work among the smoking timber, and soon cleared away enough for a small shanty, which we raised, and boarded with scorched blankets!
I bought some coarse cloth, and covered the roof, and gave him a Jwt-coffee machine, with which he went ahead, and in a few months had two thousand dollars. During this time, there was a Boston gentleman who was continually running round, telling how strange it was that a man in my position should lower himself by working as a common journeyman. He addressed himself in this manner to an old ship-master, who was my particular friend. The latter turned towards him with an indignant look. Said he: " You good-for-nothing scoundrel, that man has been robbed by just such fellows as you are; and now, because he is trying to retrieve himself by working like an honest man, you are running round, trying to injure his reputation.
Fix up my account; I want no more business with you." My friend was kind enough to call and apprize me of this conversation, and early next morning, I met the fellow on Long wharf; he held out his hand for a shake; I gave him a look which I think he remembered till he died, which was very soon after. Of all the characters in the world, I think a hypocrite is the most detestable. Therefore I wish to have it known, that, however much I lament it, and my earnest prayer is that I may overcome it, I am vindictive, and will only repeat upon those who have injured me, the language of Jeremiah, Lamentations, 2>d Chapter, and the last three verses, and of David, 109th Psalm, 1st to the 16th verses, and there 1 leave them.
Having nothing more to do in San Francisco, Uook passage for home in the steamer Independence, for San-Juanr del-Slid, which was the Nicaragua route, it having been cracked up as the most expeditious. She was an old, rickety thing; notwithstanding which, three hundred passengers were willing to risk their lives on board of her. We had a fair passage to San Juan, but on the day of our arrival, (Sunday) it blew a smart breeze, attended with much rain. There is no harbor, the whole bay lying exposed to the open sea. The surf was rolling in furiously, and it continued to rain hard all day. The word was passed throughout the steamer for all passengers to get their baggage ready for going on shore; and as all were anxious to get across the country, the rain was not considered an obstacle.
But landing in the surf was the trouble; the boats could not approach the shore within twice their length; the negroes waded off, and took the passengers upon their shoulders, which was little better than swimming ashore, for all were drenched through as soon as they left the boat. The trunks and bags were also taken from the boats on the heads of the negroes, many of whom were drunk, and there they were, negroes and trunks rolling over in the surf; some of them were knocked open, and scarcely one was landed without damage. The principle place to receive the passengers was a long shed, with only the roof covered; and this wTas a regular, stinking rum hole.