From New Orleans to San Fransisco in '49 [pp. 189-205]

Froim New Orletans to Sane Francisco in'4l9.
The baggage-train arrived about noon
the next day, and having changed all our
clothes, mother and brother started out
to see what chance there was of securing a passage to San Francisco. They
learned that there were two vessels preparing to start in a few days, but that
they were already overcrowded, and that
hundreds of Americans were waiting,
unable to get a berth, though they offered enormous prices.
We were all very much disheartened
at the unfavorable prospect, but the following day met with better success, as
mother saw the captains of the two vessels. One of the vessels was the old
ship Humboldt, and the other an old
Peruvian whaling bark, named the
Callao. Captain Stevens was the owner
of the bark, and Captain Pardee was
master. Captain Stevens said that although his vessel was not a floating palace, and was already engaged to carry
more than she ought, yet on account of
our helpless condition he would agree to
take us.
The time intervening between our arrival at Panama and our departure on the
Callao was spent in observing the curious manners and customs of the inhabitants of this tropical city. There was
much sickness in the city at this time,
the measles having broken out among
the native children in a very malignant
form. There was much sickness and
suffering among the emigrants who were
detained in this unsanitary place, while
waiting for an opportunity to leave for
San Francisco. The hardships connected with our trip across the Isthmus had
so reduced our strength that we were
now unable to resist the attacks of disease. My elder brother, who up to this
time had been of so much service to
mother, was now barely able to walk to
the landing.
The vessels were anchored a long distance out in the bay, and all freight
and passengers had to be carried opt
to them in small boats. When on the
Ioth of May, the day for the sailing
of the Callao, we walked to the landing, we found that we should have to
wait two hours for a boat to carry us
to the bark. I shall never forget
what a long two hours that was. We
were too exhausted to go back to the
town, so we stayed on the beach. I
stood as long as I could, and then lay
down on the ground. I did not know
when I was carried aboard the vessel
nor, indeed, was I conscious of anything for a week, with the exception
that at intervals I experienced a sensation as of burning, and a dreadful thirst.
I then got better, and was able to see
where I was, and found that my brothers
and sisters were very sick.
As the Callao was a whaler, there
was only cabin-room for the officers
and four or five passengers; and the
space between decks that had been
used for storing oil-casks was now fitted
out to carry passengers. There were
two rows of rough berths all around the
sides, and another row in the middle.
There were also some hammocks hung
in different places. There was no place
for the entrance of light or air except.
through the hatchway. I do not know
how many passengers there were on
board, but I do know that every berth
and hammock was filled, and that some
had beds on the floor. It was a filthylooking place, and the atmosphere was
almost stifling. Everthing was swarming with cockcroaches; they were in
our beds and in our food. There was
no dining table, and the passengers were
divided into companies, or messes, as
they were called. At meal time the
steward would call the roll, and one person from each mess would receive the
rations for his company. They would
then form into groups anywhere they
chose, and eat the food if they could.
But the food was not of the best quality,
and those in poor health suffered for
want of proper nourishment. The
water was bad also.
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