USA > California > History of California, Volume VI > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87
( 126 )
127
THE ARGONAUTS.
Calypso grottos and sirens, may be added to the list without filling it.
" The wise man knows nothing worth worshipping except wealth," said the Cyclops to Ulysses, while preparing to eat him, and it appears that as many hold the same faith now as in Homeric times. At night our Argonauts dream of gold; the morning sun rises golden-hued to saffron all nature. Gold floats in their bacon breakfast and bean dinner-which is the kind of fare their gods generally provide for them; and throughout the bedraggled remnant of their years they go about like men demented, walking the carth as if bitten by gold-bugs and their blood thereby in- fected by the poison; fingering, kicking, and biting everything that by any possibility may prove to be gold. They are no less victims of their infatuation than was Hylas, or Ethan Brand, who sacrificed his humanity to seek the unpardonable sin. Each has his castle in Spain, and the way to it lies through the Golden Gate, into the Valley of California.
The migration was greatly facilitated by the estab- lishment of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company just before the gold discovery, encouraged by the anticipation of new interests on the Pacific coast ter- ritory.1 Congress fully appreciated the importance
1 One J. M. Shively, postmaster at Astoria, Oregon, while on a visit to Washington in 1845, is said to have been the first to call the attention of the U. S. govt to the advisability of establishing a line of mail-steamers between Panamá and Astoria. His suggestion does not seem to have had much weight, however. Later in the same year the threatening attitude of Great Britain in the north-west caused President Polk to lay before congress a plan for rapidly increasing the population of Oregon by emigration via the Isthmus, using sailing vessels. J. M. Woodward, a shipping merchant of New York, assisted in preparing details for the plan. His investigations led him to believe that a line of mail-steamers might profitably be established between Panamá and Oregon, and a number of merchants and capitalists were readily induced to join in forming a private company. The most complete history of the Pac. Mail S. S. Co. during the first five years of its existence is contained in the following government document: Mails, Reports of the Secretary of the Nary and the Postmaster-general, Communicating, in Compliance with a Reso- lution of the Senate, Information in Relation to the Contracts for the Trans- portation of the Mails by Steamships between New York and California, March 23, 1852, 32d cong. Ist sess., Sen. Ex. Doc. 50. An excellent chapter on the formation of the company is also to be found in First Steamship Pioneers, 17-33; see also Larkin's Doc., MIS., vi. 173.
-
128
THE VOYAGE BY OCEAN.
of rapid communication with that section, and by virtue of an act passed on the 3d of March, 1847, the secretary of the navy advertised for bids to carry the United States mails by one line of steamers between New York and Chagres, and by another line between Panamá and Astoria. The contract for the Atlantic side called for five steamships of 1,500 tons burden each, all strongly constructed and easily convertible into war steamers, for which purpose the government might at any time purchase them by appraisement. Their route was to be "from New York to New Or- leans twice a month and back, touching at Charles- ton, if practicable, Savannah, and Habana; and from Habana to Chagres and back twice a month." For the Pacific line only three vessels were required, on similar terms, and these of a smaller size, two of not less than 1,000, and the other of 600, tons burden. These were to carry the mail " from Panamá to As- toria, or to such other port as the secretary of the navy may select, in the territory of Oregon, once a month each way, so as to connect with the mail from Habana to Chagres across the Isthmus."
The contract for the Atlantic side was awarded on the 20th of April, 1847, to Albert G. Sloo, who on the 17th of August transferred it to George Law, M. O. Roberts, and B. R. McIlvaine of New York. The annual compensation allowed by the government was $290,000; the first two ships were to be completed by the first of October, 1848. The contract for the Pacific side was given to a speculator named Arnold Harris, and by him assigned to William H. Aspin- wall, the annual subsidy for ten years being $199,000.2
2 Woodward bid $300,000, with side-wheel steamers, and one of his asso- ciates proposed to do the work for half that sum with propellers. The last offer was accepted, but the bidder withdrew, and Harris received the award, after arranging to assign it to Woodward, it is claimed. He looked round for a better bargain, however, and on Nov. 19, 1847, the contract was trans- ferred to Aspinwall, despite the protests of Woodward, who 'was beaten in a long and expensive series of litigations.' First Steamship Pioneers, 26. The same authority states that Aspinwall was induced to take the contract by Armstrong, a relative of Harris, and U. S. consul at Liverpool,
129
PACIFIC MAIL STEAMSHIP COMPANY.
Owing to the greater prominence meanwhile acquired by California, the terminus for this line was placed at San Francisco, whence Oregon mails were to be trans- mitted by sailing vessels.3
Through Aspinwall's exertions, the Pacific Mail Steamship Company was incorporated on the 12th of April, 1848, with a capital stock of $500,000.4 The three side-wheel steamers called for by the contract were built with despatch, but at the same time with care and of the best materials, as was shown by their long service.
On October 6, 1848, the first of these vessels, the California, sailed from New York, and was followed in the two succeeding months by the Oregon and the Panamá.5 When the California left New York the discovery of gold was known in the States only by un- confirmed rumors, which had attracted little attention, so that she carried no passengers for California.6 On
3 ' To the mouth of the Kalumet river, in lieu of Astoria, with the reserved right of the navy department to require the steamers to go to Astoria, the straits of Fuca, or any other point to be selected on the coast of Oregon. In consideration of which the steamers are to touch, free of charge, at the three points occupied by the U. S. squadron, or at such ports on the west coast, south of Oregon, as may be required by the navy dept.' Modification of June 10, 1848. In 1850 steam connection was required with Oregon. U. N. Gov. Doc., ubi sup., p. 5-6, 36; see also Hist. Oregon, i., this series.
4 Gardiner Howland, Henry Chauncey, and William H. Aspinwall were the incorporators, and the last mentioned was elected the first president. In 1850 the capital stock was raised to $2,000,000, in 1853 to $4,000,000, in 1865 to $10,000,000, in 1866 to $20,000,000, and in 1872 it was reduced to $10,- 000,000.
5 Their measurements were 1,050, 1,099, and 1,087 tons respectively. The Panamá should have been second, but was delayed. The Atlantic company proved less prompt. For several years they provided only three accepted steamers, Georgia, Ohio, and Illinois, and the inferior and temporary Falcon, besides other aid; yet full subsidy was allowed. The captains were to be U. S. naval officers, not below the grade of lieut, each assisted by four passed midshipmen. U. S. Gov. Doc., ubi sup.
6 And only four or five for way-ports. Rio de Janeiro was reached Nov. 2d, and the straits of Magellan were safely threaded between Dec. 7th and 12th. The California was the third steamship to pass through them, the pre- vious ones being, in 1840, the Peru and the Chili, each of 700 tons, built by an English company for trade between the west coast of South America and England. Under the command of William Wheelwright they made the passage of the straits in thirty hours sailing time. According to the journal kept by A. B. Stout, the California's sailing time in the straits was 41} hours, and the time lost in anchoring during fogs and high winds 108 hours. First Steamship Pioneers, 111-12. This journal is, I believe, the only account ex- tant of the California's voyage as far as Panama. A stoppage of 50 hours HIST. CAL., VOL. VI. 9
130
THE VOYAGE BY OCEAN.
reaching Callao, December 29th, the gold fever was encountered, and great was the rush for berths, al- though but fifty could be provided with state-rooms, owing to the understanding at New York that the steamer should take no passengers before reaching Panamá.7 It was well for the Isthmus of Panamá, which fairly swarmed with gold-seekers, some 1,500 in number, all clamorous for, and many of them en- titled to, a passage on the California.8
This mass of humanity had been emptied from the fleet of sailing and steam vessels despatched during the nine preceding weeks for the mouth of the Chagres River, which was then the north-side harbor for the Isthmus. Hence the people proceeded up the river to Cruces in bongos, or dug-outs, poled by naked ne- groes, as lazy and vicious as they were stalwart.9 Owing to the heavy rains which added to the discom- fort and danger, the eagerness to proceed was great, and the means of conveyance proved wholly inadequate to the sudden and enormous influx, the natives being, moreover, alarmed at first by the invasion. The in-
was made at Valparaíso, and on the illness of the commander, Cleaveland Forbes, John Marshall, then commanding a ship en route for China, was in- duced to act as first officer in lieu of Duryee, who was appointed to the com- mand of Marshall's ship. Id., 29-30, 118. A few days later Forbes resigned.
First Steamship Pioneers, Edited by a Committee of the Association, is the title of a quarto of 393 pages, printed in San Francisco for the 25th anni- versary of the association in 1874. From the profuse puffery with which the volume opens, the reader is led to suspect that the printing, picture, and wine bills of the society were not large that year. Following this is a chapter entitled 'Steam Navigation in the Pacific,' conspicuous only for the absence of information or ideas. Chapter II. on the P. M. S. S. Co. is better, and the occurrences of the voyage by the passengers on the first steamship to Cal., of which the main part of the book is composed, no less than the biographical notices toward the end, are interesting and valuable.
7 At Payta, accordingly, where equal excitement prevailed, no more pas- sengers appear to have been taken.
8 Six sailing vessels and two steamers are mentioned among recent arrivals with passengers from the U. S. See Panama Star, Feb. 24, 1849; Pioneer Arch., 5, 21-4; Robinson's Stat., MS., 23-4.
"The boats were usually from 15 to 25 feet long, dug from a single mahog- any log, provided with palm-leaf awning, and poled by 4 or 6 men at the average rate of a mile an hour. Often the only shred of clothing worn by the captain was a straw hat. Warren's Dust and Foam, 153-6; Henshaw's Events, MS., 1; Gregory's Guide, 1-9. A small steamer, Orus, had been placed on the river, but could proceed only a short distance, and the expense of transit, estimated at $10 or $15, rose to $50 and more. Protests in Panamá Star, Feb. 24, 1849; Dunbar's Romance, 55-89.
131
THE ISTHMUS TRANSIT.
experience and imprudent indulgences of the new- comers gave full scope to the malarial germs in the swamps around. Cholera broke out in a malignant form, following the hurrying crowds up the river, and striking down victims by the score. Such was the death-rate at Cruces, the head of navigation, that the second current of emigrants stopped at Gorgona in
Parallon Sucio·
8
Manzanilla Pt.
SEA
Pt. Salmedina
N. de Dios
Porto Bello
A
CARIBBE
Port Gordo
R. Guanche
Minas Bay
R · Grande
O San Alejo
o Sucio
Ensenada
Chagres
O La Soledad
Juan Lana
Pueblo O
Chiriti
~5 El Almendra
o San Juan
Gatu
River
Catun
ON
Ato des Chagres
Hermano
Bunjio Solado
Chagres
Cruces
Palenquille
Gorgona
Burbacoas
Malachir
San Pablo
A
o Aquabuena
Guavavala
51
Old Panama
Caimito
Larrason
PANAMA
Bernardino
Batele Pi.
River
Vique
Chorrera o
OF
Vique Bay
BAY
Tobagaf
ISTHMUS ROUTE.
affright, thence to hasten away from the smitten river course. 10 Again they were checked by the scarcity of pack-animals, by which the overland transit was
10 References to the suffering victims, and causes, in Roach's Stat., MS., 1; First Steamship Pioneers, S4-5; Fremont's Amer. Travel, 66-8; Sutton's Early Exper., MS., 1; Hawley's Stat., MS., 2-3; Neall's Stat., MS., 22-4; Advent. Captain's Wife, 18.
Kiver Pequent
Tiger Hildos
-
Trinidad R.
RAILWAY
PANAMA
R. Grande
CANAL
PANAMA
Vacamonte Bay
Tobago'
Manzanilla Bay
ASPINWALL
Tbra Phf Limon Bay
Gatun
132
THE VOYAGE BY OCEAN
accomplished. Numbers abandoned their luggage and merchandise, or left them to the care of agents to be irretrievably lost in the confusion, and hurried to Panamá on foot. From Cruces led an ancient paved trail, now dilapidated and rendered dangerous along many of the step-cut descents and hill-side shelves. From Gorgona the passenger had to make his way as best he could.11
Panamá was a place of special attraction to these wayfarers, as the oldest European city on the Ameri- can continent,12 and for centuries the great entrepôt for Spanish trade with Pacific South America and the Orient, a position which also drew upon it much misery in the form of piratic onslaughts with sword and toreli. With the decline of Iberian supremacy it fell into lethargy, to be roused to fresh activity by the new current of transit. It lies conspicuous, before sea or mountain approach, upon its tiny peninsula which juts into the calm bay dotted with leafy isles. The houses rise as a rule to the dignity of two stories of stone or adobe, with long lines of balconies and sheltering ve- randas, dingy and sleepy of aspect, and topped here and there by tile-roofed towers, guarding within spa :- modic bells, marked without by time-encroaching mosses and creepers. Along the shady streets lounge a bizarre mixture of every conceivable race: Africans shining in unconstrained simplicity of nature; bronzed aborigines in tangled hair and gaudy shreds; women of the people in red and yellow; women of the upper class in dazzling white or sombre black; caballeros in broad-rimmed Panamá hats and white pantaloons, and now and then the broad Spanish cloak beside the veil- ing mantilla; while foreigners of the blond type in slouched hats and rough garb stalk everywhere, ogling and peering.
11 Later rose frequent bamboo stations and villages, with Funks and ham- mocks, and vile liquors. An earlier account of the route is given in Moltien's Travel», 409-13. Little, Stat., MS., 1-4 had brought supplies for two years. 12 The oldest standing city, if we count from the time of its foundation cn an adjoining site.
133
AT PANAMÁ.
The number and strength of the emigrants, armed and resolute, placed the town practically in their hands; but good order prevailed, the few unruly spirits roused by the cup being generally controlled by their com- rades.13 Compelled by lack of vessels to wait, they settled down into communities, which quickly imparted a bustling air to the place, as gay as deferred hope, dawning misery, and lurking epidemics permitted; with American hotels, flaring business signs, drinking- saloons alive with discordant song and revelling,1 and with the characteristic newspaper, the Panamá Star, then founded and still surviving as the most impor- tant journal of Central America. 15
The suspense of the Argonauts was relieved on the 30th of January, 1849, by the arrival of the Califor- nia,16 to be as quickly renewed, since with acconimo- dation for little over 100 persons, the steamer could not properly provide even for those to whom through- tickets had been sold, much less for the crowd strug- gling to embark. After much trouble with the exas- perated and now frantic men, over 400 were received
13 The attempt of local authorities at arrest was generally frustrated by armed though harmless bluster, as Hawley, Observ., MS., 2-3, relates. Nearly half the population was foreign by February 1849, two thirds of this being American. The number rose as high as 3,000 during the year.
1+ As described in the Eldorado, i. 26-7, of Taylor, who was himself an Argonaut; in Massett's humorous Experiences, MS., 1-10; Ryan's Judges and C'rim., 78-9; Little's Stat., MS., 1-3; Roach's Facts, MS., 1. Washington's birthday was celebrated with procession, volleys, and concert. Panamá Star, Feb. 24, 1849.
15 It was started by J. B. Bidleman & Co. on Feb. 24, 1849, as a weekly, at one real per copy; advertisements $2 per square, and contained notices of arrivals, protest, local incidents, etc .; printers, Henarie & Bochman. The later Herald was incorporated and added to the title. Additional details on Panamá occurrences in Rovere's Keel and Saddle, 151-4; Willey's Pers. Mem., MS., 58-62; Sherwood's Cal., MS., 27; Connor's Early Cal., MS., 1-2; Low's Cbserv., MS., 1. See also Hist. Cent. Am., iii., this series.
16 She had been three weeks longer on the trip than was expected, owing to fogs, etc. The first steamer of the Atlantic line, the provisional Falcon, had left New York on Dee. Ist, before the real excitement began, with the president's message of Dec. 5th, so that she carried comparatively few passen- gers from there, among them four clergymen and some army men. An account of the voyage is given in First Steamer Pioneers, 43 et seq. See also Willey's Pers. Mem., MS., 1-36; Williams' Early Days, MS., 2-3, both written by pas- sengers. At New Orleans, however, Dec. 12th-18th, she encountered the gold fever and was quickly crowded with over 200 persons, Gen. Persifer F. Smith, the successor of Gov. Mason, embarking with his staff. Chagres was reached on Dec. 26th. U. S. Gov. Doc., 32d cong. Ist sess., Sen. Doe. 50.
134
THE VOYAGE BY OCEAN.
on board to find room as best they could. Many a one, glad to make his bed in a coil of rope, paid a higher fare than the state-room holder; for steerage tickets rose to very high prices, even, it is said, to $1,000 or more.17
Even worse was the scene greeting the second steamer, the Oregon, which arrived toward the middle of March,18 for by that time the crowd had doubled. Again a struggle for tickets at any price and under any condition. About 500 were received, all chafing with anxiety lest they should arrive too late for the gold scramble, and prepared to sleep in the rigging rather than miss the passage.19 And so with the Panamá, which followed.20
17 Little's Stat., MS., 1-4; Henshaw, Stat., MS., 1, says the agents fixed steerage tickets at $1,000. A certain number were sold by lot, with much trickery. They also attempted to exclude tickets sold at New York after a certain date, but were awed into compliance. Low's Stat., MS .; Deane's MS., 1; Roach's Stut., MS., 2. Holders of tickets were offered heavy sums for them. Moore's Recol., MS., 2. For arrangements on board, see Vanderbilt, Miscel. Stat., MS., 32-3. Authorities differ somewhat as to the number of passengers. About 400, say the Panamá Stur, Feb. 24, 1849; Alta Cal., Feb. 29, 1872; Bulletin, Feb. 28, 1865; Oakland Transcript, March 1, 1873; the Oakland Alameda County Gazette, March 8, 1873, says 440; Crosby, Stat., MS., 10-14, has about 450; while Stout, in his journal, says nearly 500. In First Steamship Pioneers, 201-360, a brief biographical sketch is given to each of the following passengers of the California on her first trip, many of whom have subsequently been more or less identified with the interests of the state: H. Whittell, born in Ireland in 1812; L. Brooke, Maryland, 1819; A. M. Van Nostrand, N. Y., 1816; De Witt C. Thompson, Mass., 1826; S. Haley, N. Y., 1816; John Kelley, Scotland, 1818; S. Woodbridge, Conn., 1813; P. Ord, Maryland, 1816; J. McDongall; A. A. Porter, N. Y., 1824; B. F. Butterfield, N. H., 1817; P. Carter, Scotland, ISOS; M. Fallon, Ireland, 1815; W. G. Davis, Va, 1804; C. M. Radcliff, Scotland, IS18; R. W. Heath, Md, 1823; Wm Van Vorhees, Tenn., 1820; W. P. Waters, Wash., D. C., 1S26; R. B. Ord, Wash., 1827; S. H. Willey, N. H., 1821; S. F. Blasdell, N. Y., 1824; H. F. Williams, Va, 1828; O. C. Wheeler, N. Y., 1816; E. L. Morgan, Pa, 1824; R. M. Price, N. Y., ISIS.
18A delay caused by the temporary disabling of the Panamá, which should have been the second steamer. The Oregon had left New York in the latter part of Dec. and made a quick trip without halting in Magellan Straits, though touching at Valparaíso, Callao, and Payta. R. H. Pearson commanded. Sutton, Exper., MS., 1, criticises his ability; he nearly wrecked the vessel. Little's Stat., MS., 3, agrees.
19 She stayed at Panamá March 13th-17th. Among the passengers sur- viving in California in 1863 were John H. Redington, Dr McMillan, A. J. McCabe, Mrs Petit and daughter, Thomas E. Lindenberger, John McComb, Ed- ward Connor, S. H. Brodie, William Carey Jones, Smyth Clark, M. S. Martin, John M. Birdsall, Stephen Franklin, Major Daniels, F. Vassault, G. K. Fitch, William Cummings, Mme. Swift, Mr Tuttle, Judge Aldrich, James Tobin, Fielding Brown, James Johnson, Dr Martin. Some of these had come by the second steamer of the Atlantic mail line, the Isthmus, which arrived at Chagres Jan. 16th.
20 Which arrived at Panama in the early part of May, leaving on the 1Sth.
135
VESSELS IN DEMAND.
As one chance after another slipped away, there were for those remaining an abundance of time and food for reflection over the frauds perpetrated upon them by villanous ship-owners and agents, to say nothing of their own folly. The long delay sufficed to melt the scanty means of a large number, prevent- ing them from taking advantages of subsequent op- portunities; and so to many this isthmian bar to the Indies proved a barrier as insurmountable as to the early searchers for the strait. Fortunately for the mass a few sailing vessels had casually arrived at Panamá, and a few more were called from adjoining points; but these were quickly bought by parties or filled with miscellaneous passengers,21 and still there was no lessening of the crowd. In their hunger for gold, and
There had been a reprehensible sale of tickets in excess of what these steamers could carry; 700 according to Connor, Stat., MS., 1. Lots were drawn for steer- age places by the holders of tickets on paying $100 extra. D. D. Porter, sub- sequently rear admiral, commanded, succeeded by Bailey. Low's Stat., MS., 2; S. F. Bulletin, June 4, 1869; Alta Cal., June 4, 1867; Burnett's Recol., MS., ii. 40-2; Deane's Stat., MS., 1-2; Barnes' Or. and Cal., MS., 26; Merrill's Stat., MS., 1. Among the passengers of the Panamá who subsequently attained distinetion in California and elsewhere, I find mention of Gwin and Weller, both subsequently U. S. senators from Cal., and the latter also gov. of the state; D. D. Porter, afterward admiral; generals Emory, Hooker, and Mc- Kinstry-to use their later titles; T. Butler King, Walter Colton, Jewett, subsequently mayor of Marysville, and Roland, postmaster of Sacramento; Hall McAllister, Lieut Derby, humorist under the nom de plume of 'Phoenix;' Treanor, Brinsmade, Kerr, Frey, John V. Plume, Harris, P. A. Morse, John Brinsley, Lafayette Maynard, H. B. Livingstone, Alfred De Witt, S. C. Gray, A. Collins, and H. Beach. There were five or six women, among them Mrs Robert Allen, wife quart .- gen., Mrs Alfred De Witt, Mrs S. C. Gray of Benicia, and Mrs Hobson from Valparaíso.
21 One small schooner of 70 tons was offered for sale in 2S shares at $300 a share; another worthless old hulk of 50 tons was offered for $6,000. False representations had been made by agents and captains that there was a Brit- ish steam line from Panamá, and equally false assurances of numerous sailing vessels; but the passengers by the Crescent City found only one brig at Panama, and she was filled. Hawley, Stat., MS., 2-3, charges the captain of this steamer with drunkenness and abuse; he had brought a stock of faney goods, which he managed to get forwarded by dividing among passengers who had less luggage than the steamer rules allowed. Among vessels leaving after the California, the brig Belfast of 190 tons took 76 passengers at $100 each in the middle of Feb. Panama Star, Feb. 24, 1849. The Niantic, of subse- quent lodging-house fame, came soon after from Payta, spent three weeks in fitting out, and took about 250 persons at $150. McCollum's Cal. 17, 25-6. The Alex. von Humboldt took more than 300 in May. Sac. Bee, Aug. 27, 1874. The Phoenix carried 60, and took 115 days to reach S. F .; the Two Friends, with 164 persons, occupied over five months. Sac. Rec., Sept. 10, 1874. A pro- portion of gold-hunters had taken the route by Nicaragua; see record of voyage in Hitchcock's Stat., MS., 1-7; Doolittle's Stat., MS., 1-21.
136
THE VOYAGE BY OCEAN.
anxiety to escape fevers and expenses on the Isth- mus, several parties thrust themselves with foolhardy thoughtlessness into log canoes, to follow the coast to the promised land, only to perish or be driven back after a futile struggle with winds and currents.22 Yet they were not more unfortunate than several who had trusted themselves to the rotten hulks that presented themselves. 23
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.