Files
Download Full Text (43.7 MB)
Transcription Volunteer
Transcription credited to Eilene Lyon
Transcription
Departure – from No of days Arrivals
Kinsman – Feb 7th from 3 at 2 NY Feb 10th
NY – do 12th -- 13 -- 10 Panama 25th
Panama – March 7th -- 82 -- 2 Mansinilio May 28th
Mansanilo May 30th -- 10 -- 13 San Blass June 9th
San Blas June 22nd -- 12 -- 2 San Jose July 4th
Stn Joseph July 6th -- 27 -- 3 San Pedro Aug 3rd
San Pedro Aug 6th -- = 13 -- ½ Santa Cruz “ 19th
Santa Cruz – 11 – 19 8 30 San Francisco “ 22nd
9 163 10
16 20
Pacific sailing time = 147
Time in port = 20
167
Feb 7th 1852
Started for Californ Stoped in Meadvill [Penn.] first night
Feb 8th
Ship wreck on Slab Town goose _ind arrived in Erie at dark
Feb 9th
Left in the cars for NY rode all night
10th
Arived in NY at half past 12 Stopd at the Sailors home was her unto the 12[th] Raking about from plase to place
Feb 12/52
Secured our tickets and set sail in the Sierra Nevada at 3 o’clock
13th
Sick all day waves verry high in the gulf stream tonight
Saild 216 [miles]
14th
We are most all sick and some of us wishing to be at home high seas all day Some bette at night
Sail 224 M
Sunday 15th
All on deck except Knox left the gulf stream John & Henry wishes themselves at home Sail 122
Monday 16th
Up in the morning breakfast at 9 tickets give for the table Sail 216 M
Tuesday 17th
first mate discharged Saw an english steamer weather warm all hands on deck Sail 210
Wednesday 18th Feb
Passed the Marriynana [sic] Islands Sail 238
Thursday 19th
in sight of St domingo on the east Sail 240
Friday 20th
Sail 240
Saturday 21st
Chicken pie for dinner and a glass of champagne to drink the Capt health Sail 135
Sunday 22nd
Landed [ ] passengers at navy Bay
Feb 22
We landed at Chegress [sic] at noon Started up the river in little steamer at one & a half oclock went half way and Lay up for the night
Monday 23rd
went on our way in small boats poled up by the natives lay a few miles below Gorgonia [sic]
Tuesday 24th
Arrived in gorgonia at 9 engaged our mules and set off on
our way to panama at 11 Stayed at the half way house 13 mls and lay with our heads uder the fence
Wednesday 25th
Set off for P arrived there at ten oclock and purcased our tickets on the Emily at 150 Dollars each Stoped at the California house
Thursda 26th
hired a room and board our selves
Feb
Friday 24
A man found dead in the market place
Saturday 28
up in the morn got our Breakfast and went out 2 mi to the creek to wash and done it up [Brown]
Sunday 29th
Kept the Sabbath as in the States
Monday March 1
Some wrote and some went a fishing eat dinner at the tavern
March
Tuesday 2nd
had a fire 25 to 30 huts burnt Hobart & Hunters Company arrived
Wednesday 3rd
Great excitement concerning the independent tickets they have attached the agents purs & intend to make a dividend among the passengers having such tickets
March
Thursday 4th
The Josephine run away las night the agents taken to the calaboose A Steamer sent on persuit the runaway
Friday 6th
Hiram sick
Henry “
Saturday 6th
Wrote to E C Davis Rufus sick I had the headache in the eve better at night
March
Sunday 7th
Made arrangements to sail went aboard at noon Sailed to Taboga for water lay up for night
Monday 8th
Lay at Taboga all day Saw a black whale orange umbras run all day
Tuesday 9th
All ready to sail at 10 oclock but calm all day breeze at sundown weighd anchor and set sail for Sanfrancisco had a breeze all night
Wednesday 10
In the Bay yet light breeze by day but stronger at night Saw two whales yams & rice for Din Read a novel of E Allen
Thursday 11th
In Sight of land yet Saw a shark Calm yet Knox sick
Friday 12th
Calm yet & in the Bay not well all day quite Sick at night duff for Dinner [plum duff: a pudding cooked in a cloth bag and considered a treat for sailors]
March
Saturday 13
Calm yet health better Breeze in afternoon land in sight
Sunday 14
Preaching in forenoon by a georgian Prayer in PM by Deacon Dryden Saw a drove of porpois or hogfish in sight of land yet
Monday 15
Hiram Knox Henry and I feel rather feeble A young man from Georgia died at 11 o’clock PM Disease was fever and supposed to be injured by taking lobelia Aged 17 years heavy rain
Tuesday 16th
Funeral attended at six in AM heavy rain and wind this morn Some six or 8 sick
Wednesday 17
Two more young men of Georgia died last night and cast overboard this morning one of a fever one of dysentery Some mor are very sick
March
Thursday 18
We sailed all day and all night for the first time without a calm
Friday 19
Commenced reading my Bible through rain in PM
Saturday 20
Our company all able for our allowance A man by the name of Alfred Drake of Millville Grant Co. Wisconsin Died at 1 o’clock leaving at home a wife and one child Aged 27 he had a fever
Sunday 21
Preaching in AM an address by the Doctor in PM Our Co all well but Hiram A young man died of fever in the Steerage at 8 PM he was from New Orleans [700th] drawed
Monday 22
Buried the Dead Appointed a commite to consult the Capt concerning provision 5 lbs flour pr day allowed to each mess hereafter
Thursday 23
rather calm Rufus Hiram & I done our washing
March
Wednesday 24
Sailing westarly yet Calm most the day H & I made a Craking Duff three or four lying with fever yet
Thursday 25
In sight of Cocoa Island [Cocos Island, Costa Rica] between 6 & 7 degrees North Lat
[Note: this indicates the ship has only traveled about 550 miles due west from Panama]
Friday 26
Messes overhauled and defisient ones filled up
Saturday 27
Dyed last night with measles a man by the name of Reed of Georgia Calm all Last night & today butchered our hog Shot one fish and caught a great many with a hooks Old Maid fish
Sunday 28
Very clam all day Preaching in AM Thermometer stands above one hundred fish in abundance on all sides of the ship in plain sight
March
Monday 29
Very calm yet and warm all day we had a little fight before Breakfast by the cook & a Georgian
Tuesday 30
A good breeze last N rain storms today Wind very unsteady
Wednesday 31
Wind very unsteady resolutions formed concerning lousy passengers combs presented & clean shirts recomended and in one case presented
Thursday April 1st
A shark followed this ship some time repeated firing of rifles at him without effect a slight rain & breeze The Cook caught stealing wine from the Capt.
Friday Apr 2nd
A good breeze all day & night John sick Bread stolen from the oven Our duff bag bursted in the pot A sail vessel in sight ahead
Saturday 3rd
A diamond fish following in the morning some 5 or 6 feet square with two white companions
Apr
Sunday 4th
Calm all might moderate breeze today up all last night with John we had preaching in AM an address by the Deacon in PM A Dolphin 3 feet long harpooned off the bow
Monday 5th
Passengers names residences occupation & age registered
The passengers all loafing on deck at dark
When a cloud in the south threatened our Barq
The sailors orders soon were given
And passengers from their lounges driven
Takle blocks flying in every direction
Meet passengers heads with bold reception
On the quarter deck sat amid the throng
A noble young man from the B-eye State
Listning to the Seamons Song
Unconcious of his future fate
As the mizzen sail was about to be furled
A takle block was swiftly hurled
Which caused the youngster a very black eye
And his beaver in the ocean forever must lie
[It isn’t clear which of his Buckeye friends sustained the black eye and lost his hat. David loses his hat later in the journey.]
Tuesday 6th
Died a young man from NY named White disease measles & phthisic
Wednesday 7
Waiting on John up to 3 oclock at night
Apr
Wednesday 7
Waiting on John up to 3 oclock in the morn
Thursday 8
Henry watched to 12 OC & Fergerson & I the remainder John some better Calm most the time vessel in sight
Friday 9th
Knox & Hiram watch Heavy rain
Saturday 10th
Struck the trade winds turned our coarse north I watched all night with J
Apr
Sunday 11th
Preaching AM exortation PM by the Dea Black fish all around us 10 or 12 feet long
Monday 12th
Wet and cool for this climate good breeze John is better a [conosi] heard in the night
Tuesday 13
Buried at ten oclock the 8th shipmate A man by the name of Myers of Georgia first mate a little tight at night wind steady all night
Wednesday 14
General overhauling of bunks & washing floor good breeze all day heavy storm at night
Thursday 15
Had abundance of duff and rice wind very unsteady current strong
Friday 16th
Good breeze by day calm at night up at night to 11 oclock Storm latter part the night
Saturday 17
Good breeze pan Cakes for breakf a rain storm at night 4 PM Porpoiss jumping without number to the heighth of 10 or 15 feet
Sunday 18th
Old Stewart detected in breaking the rules of the steerage before day A heavy storm commenced at Six which broke the main yard arm tearing the sail very bad the mizen gaff was broke also A new yard made and up before night a good breeze all day Great times at our house
Apr
Monday 19th
Two cases of nuisance to be tried at nine OC AM crimes commited in the steerage Died at ten PM Mr Stone of Georgia being the 9th shipmate we have buried 5 from Georgia one NY one Wisconsin one New O one Boston
Tuesday 20
Provisions examined 35 days P on board Lat & Lon given Lat 8-30 Lon 98 W contradicted [Lat] 14-30 by the sailors Calm today
[Note: this gives a huge discrepancy in the north-south location of the ship of about 400 miles. Either they were still west of Costa Rica, or they were about 100 miles from the Mexican coast.]
Apr
Wednesda 21
Rain and wind we raised the new gaff on mizen mast
Thursday 22
Buried at 2 OC AM Mr Norton of Georgia the Sarremiento [Sacramento] passed us this morning bound for Cal
F 23
heavy rain caught 400 galons water Old Johnson met with a sad accident on fore castle
Saturday 24
Heavy wind frequent accidents such as spilling beans & duff and bumping heads & etc
Apr
Sunday 25
Heavy wind for the last 48 hours Knox sick two or 3 days. Wind ceased & so much ahead we had to turn south Slowly all night or rather an Island ahead that turned us
Monday 26
Back on our north w course today quite calm all day our last cat over board today [poor kitty!]
Tuesday 27
rather calm today A splendid water spout in the SW
April
Wednesday 28
A whale came up on our starbard within a few rods and spouted a few times and returned Several Boobies lodge with us tonight
Thursday 29
A Slight breeze all day John sick Lat 12 = Lon 103
[Note: this puts the ship about 1120 miles west of Nicaragua and 440 miles south of Mexico]
Fryday 30
Great excitement concerning water stealing which ended in a fight Streter summoned to appear on the fore castle and there tried for making an indecent use
of the dishes of another mess they have a rehearing before a jury tomorrow. A tremenduous rain in the eve we washed our shirts in the flood of water that flowed on the deck we had but little wind 1500 gallons of water saved from the awning &C
Saturday May 1st
Court was called at 9 OC Mr S appeared but the evidence of the most important charge being circumstancial the prisoner was acquitted
May 1st
Died, and cast over [board] at 9 PM a man by the name of Roberts of Indiana being the 11th died on board
Sunday 2nd
Good breeze by day & better at night preaching at 10:OC A ship to our larboard bound east John unable to go on deck up with him most of the night
Monday 3rd
Good breez all day John quite discouraged
Tuesday 4th
Very calm all day and night John no better yet
Wednesday May 5th
Another 24 hours calm and very warm yet 1800 m from Sanfrancis the Capt consults the passengers concerning the course to pursue whither to go on our present route or run into port they allow him to act his pleasure he thinks we will run nearer shore and try it without running in we have yet 29 days Pr Boston rowdies had a spree at night kept it up until midnigh
Thursday May 6th
Calm yet all day and most the night a great shark by the ship in eve John no better today but rests well at night
Friday 7th
A moderate breeze moveing us on our north course
Saturday 8th
John some better Breeze rather light Buried the 12th pasenger between sunset & dark A man by the name of Sheldon of NY
May
Sunday 9th
Public worship at the usual hour by the rev Breeze rather light
Monday 10th
Passed a timber resembling a mast, while at dinner. great quantities of sharks and other fish near this place
Tuesday 11th
The Capt concluded to run into port (Mazatlan) calm yet clear and warm
Wednesday 12th
Died with dysentery and buried at 11 OC Mr Bernham of NY Taken with the mumps myself
May
Thursday 13th
Died and put oveboard at 2 OC Mr Vanduson with Diarrhea The three last days fall back each one day with my diary book good breeze Died with consumption and old man from Indianna
Friday 14th
unable to chew any thing all day. Making towards port with a tolerable [breeze 570 M from Mazatland [ 300 [M from] the nearest land]
Saturday May 15th
570 M from Mazatlan 295 [M from] nearest land Moderate breeze
Sunday 16th
A discoarse from the Dea able for my Duff at noon mumps some better prayer in afternoon lay on deck and caught cold quite unwell at night
Lat 14-24 N Lon 106-41W 490 from Mazatland 410 from San Blass 285 = Guatlan 420 from Acapulco
May
Monday 17th
Quite unwell all day the sailors scrubing old Em up and preparing to see land go into port
Tuesday 18th
Rather calm saw a Whale I feel rather weak with the mumps and cold
Wednesday 19th
Progress slow our rations reduced to ¼ of bread ¼ lb flour all the rice we want – 1 pt water
Thursday 20
No more tea and coffe without making ourselves but 3 pts water great doings grinding rice
May
Friday 21st
Every man for himself today. our rations are 3 pts water 2 lbs crackers to the mess we make our own tea & coffe rice cakes &C good breeze this evening quite cool A condencer set in operation yesterdy by Mr Dod is doing business day and night
Saturday 22nd
Up in the morn feeling quite well of the mumps I pounded coffe for John and I in the corner of the dish rag and with some dificulty made my way through the crowd and got my coffe on the stove to boil. The old coffe mill and mortar are going day & night grinding rice the condencer torn down on account of partiality practiced by the mangers [managers]
Sunday 23rd
Public worship as usual a little unwell took a dose of blue mass and salts Lat 17˚Lon 105˚31W Since last Sunday made V 23˚E 170 miles Mazatlan 350M St Blass 255 Guatlan 120
May
Monday 24th
Calm most of the time yesterdy and today passengers very much discouraged a great many sick water selling at from 25 cts to 1.50 it is truly a trying time it tries the fortitude of every man Rufus Henry M & I unwell I am well of the mump but have a cold John is not well yet Hiram better rice grinding the main business of the day 3 drunk men at night
Tuesday 25th
A good breeze today and a new condencer built which encourages the passengers very much
Wednesday 26
Eighty days since we set a foot upon land many an anxious look today for the Mexican land which we were so lately at war with but which we are now dependent upon those who personaly fought against them are now looking to them for life on account of the unsteady
May 26
breeze we have had in adition to our rations beans for dinner
Thursday 27th
Our Boys all better but John Land in sight this morning At 12OC the whole coast in sight A day of rejoicing at our house. Hiram Henry Rufus John & I threw in our [unites] of water, 3 gils out of a 3 pt ration, to cook some rice and had a good dinner rice is the only plentiful article we have on board but no water to cook it
May
Friday 28th
Mr James Anderson Died and buried at day break arived at the mouth of a little bay at 8 OC Sent out a small boat on search of water they sucseeded in finding it at a little Town of 40 or 50 huts called Mansinilio [Manzanillo] on the Mexican coast We ran in and cast anchor about noon went ashore and five of us bought a hen and had it cooked which revived us very much. returned at dark
Mansinilio May 29th
rose in the morning cooked a dish of tomato for breakfast went ashore again. A complaint entered to the Capt of the port that we had not provision sufficient to go to sea it was then his duty to order our Capt to not leave without it we had great excitement for a while on account of having to wait several days for bread or flour we concluded to take on water sugar and such things as we could get and live upon rice beans peas meat &C and go on to San Blass 180 M where we could get a suply 25 of our passengers took pasage in a little Spanish Brig for San Blass our Doctor was going to leave for one it was objected to by our Capt and the Capt of the port ordered him back to his own vessel as far as San Blass that there was higher officers at that place that would do him justice he cained [claimed]
that making so long a voyage that it had broken his contract. We learn here that the Arrzo Smith ran in at Acapulco in distress and her Capt absconded leaving ship and all on other little schooner is lying here deserted in the same manner we found vegeables such as melons plums bananas Tomatoes onions green corn Pineapples
May
Sunday 30th
Caught cold and quite unwell all day we weighed anchor at 9:OC and set sail out of the Bay in a few hours broken messes fitted up and arrangements made cooking again we have rice sugar & meat for Breakfast and coffe Beans or Peas & Meat for dinner Meat sugar rice & Tea for supper evenings some cooler warmer
Monday May 31st
And Tuesday June 1st
Better of my cold and feeling quite well John and Henry unwell Making good progress wind strong but a little too much ahead I am well satisfied with my fare although some make great complaint A Brig in sight We tack ship once in 12 hours on account of head winds run to the land in day time to sea at night
June
Wednesday 2nd
Complaints by the passengers concerning the cooking and ditributing to the messes the cooks had holodays so long they forgot their duty we run in near a most beautiful coast this evening Saw cattle on shore level along the shor and mountains back
Thursday 3rd
The northwest winds continues to blow tacked to the larboard this morning
June 3rd
Saw a man on shore return to shore in the eve run to sea all night
Friday 4th
returned on land tack after noon today passed a point of land which enables us to run a more direct caurse John no better Henry complaining yet we have plenty of rice Beans meat &C
Saturday 5th
Lay becalmed all night last night breeze sprung up at noon but we were very much disapointed by thinking we were running between an Island and the main land we merely run into a Bay and have to tack and run on our back track to get out as the wind is today. Had a splendid dinner today Roof and I fried Onions and meat and rice A Breeze in the afternoon run back to the south side the bay and lay becalmed all night near where we entered the Bay her I viewed the setting sun in was 2 ½ mi sinking in the water
June
Sunday 6th
In the Bay of No Biscuit yet a breeze at noon gave us some encouragement but we failed in trying to get out the breeze went down before dark and we drifted bak into the bay Saw a Diamond fish and sword fish we can see fire and smoke in different places on the mountains there is land in sight that has the appearance of being productive
June
Monday 7th
In the Bay of Crandes or No Biscuit as we call it yet Making 65 hours we have lain here. a favorable breeze sprang up at 10 OC carried us out in an hour and we feel once more at liberty 40 miles yet to St Blass wind fell before night
Tuesday 8th
A shower of rain last night and very little wind in sight of cape yet a breeze sprang up at 9 OC which carried us out of sight of land and left us at evening
June
Wednesday 9th
A good breeze sprang up that run us up to San Blas about 4 OC the officers of the portcame out and exmined the sick they allow the passengers to go ashore the Capt thought to get rid of paying port chargarges on account being in distress but they told him he could not go into two ports so near the same time in distress vegetation quite green here the rany season about commencing
Thursday 10th
Commenced a letter Hiram John & Rufus went ashore
Friday 11th
and Saturday 12th
On board all the time
Sunday 13th
Went ashore and saw the city
Monday 14
Tuesday 15
Wendesday [sic] 16
Thursday 17
and Friday 18
Still lying a San Blass taking on provisions went ashore and sold Pistol
June
Saturday 19th
Rufus sick
Rufus Hiram & I making arrangements to go aboard the Brig Condor Capt Harvy returned from Ta Pique with discourageing news concerning provisions he can get no money and no provision without unloading his coal
Sunday 20th
rather dull times for the Emily passegers very much in the dark as to their future progress
June
Monday 21st
Went ashore with our bagage the brig not quite ready to receive us the Condor was towed out and anchored we went aboard in the evening Capt Harvy goes to Te Peak this evening it is said for assistance Mr Buckler tells me he will never return and that the Emily is doomed to lie here for a long time We learn that the Race Houn that [left] NY the same day we did arived in Sanf in May making it in 84 days [note: around the Horn]
June
Tuesday 22nd
Taking on provision all day the Capt came aboard in the evening with his Wife we saw the funeral prossession of Mr Stark leave the Emily at sun down a breze that was scarcely peceivable sprang up at 9 OC which moved us off before we were aware of it very light wind through the night
Wednsday 23rd
A good breeze through the day made 50 miles lying near the Canary Islands [Islas Marias] all night without much wind we have chosen our berths formed into messes and all fareing well
Thursday 24th
A breeze today again caries us out of sight of the Islands but the current and head winds carried us back 20 miles
Friday 25th
head winds yet making little headway Rufus unwell yet the Capt has taken the sick into the cabin to doctor them
June
Saturday 26th
Calm most of the time passengers not allowed to go on the quarter deck any more great excitemen about it some loud talk on both sides
Sunday 27th
Very little respect paid to the sabath moderate wind but quite a breeze among the cooks plenty to eat
Monday 28th
good breeze in PM being oposite Mazatlan Made 120 M killed our last beef Rufus getting better
June
Tuesday 29th
A good breeze entered the gulf stream but in sight of the main land all day
Wednesday 30th
Very strong wind we are in sight of Cape St Lucas in the eve great excitement a piece of bread thrown over board the Capt in a passion about it threw his compass on the deck and down into the cabin for his sword Plank very much alarmed jumped the hatch and made his escape
July
Thursday 1st
Sardines for breakfast little sccess today the cape in sight I was unwell at night R better
Friday 2nd
Preperations made for runing into port wind unfavorable had to run to sea all night
Saturday 3rd
Runing in towards the cape all day came in sight in the eve failed to make the port on account of head wind and stood out to sea again
Sunday July 4th
the 77th aniversary of the American independence We enjoy ourselves very well but our Capt not taking any interest in the celebration of the day we get no more rarities to eat and drink than at other times After beating against head winds for several days we arrived at a little town on Cape St Lucas by the name of St Joseph or Jose and ancored at 6:OC PM the Capt went ashore and stayed over night (Spanish name San Jose)
July
Monday 5th
Spent the day on board hands busy bringing aboard provisions such as cattle jerk beef sweet potatoes sugar onions squash water &C we moved our position and anchored in speaking distance of an American Barque with passengers 54 days from Panama their fare $65 steamer fare 1,10
Tuesday 6th
Finished bringing on provisions and set sail at noon with a good breeze the mountains at this place are quite barren inhabitance uncivilized in a maner
Wednesday 7
Sailing northwest with a good breeze weather cool and dry. drew our extras
Thursday 8th
A good breeze all day very heavy sea swells the current in our favor one mile an hour making 4 ½ miles per hour
Friday 9th
Making big licks all last night and most the day sea swells very high 350 M from St Joseph 1000 from San Francisco weather dry and cool the old Condor rocks us most beautifuly
July
Saturday 10th
Rather dull hay weather cool and cloudy with a little mist flying heavy swells Sailed 120 M the last 24 hours
Sunday 11th
Buchered a beef before Breakfast perforformed [sic] by Dea D heavy breeze last night but calm all day the Capt and two french sailors rode out in the small boat and caught a Turtle a great drove of Porpois now in sight
Monday 12th
Heavy fog for some nights and rain this morn a moderate breeze made 5 M the last 24 hs
July
Tuesday 13th
Heavy fog and head winds this morning cool and cloudy all day over coats quite comfortable to wear
Wednesday 14th
400 Ms from land light breeze today. buchered our last St Joseph beef today Studying some scientific inventions and sucseeded in making some discoveries Drew wine instead of brandy
Thursday 15th
A perfect calm most of the time Terible disasters here last night which diminished the vulgarity in the steerage greatly
Friday July 16th
Turtle buchered last night a fight between John the cook & the second mate a good breeze all day and allmost cold enough for frost 300 M from Yankee Town San Diago 600 M from San Francisco
Saturday July 17th
A vote taken by the passengers whither to go on half rations of bread or run into port at San Diago the decision is to have full ration and make port high wind clear and cold
Sunday July 18th
high and head winds runing towards the land came in sight at noon a large whale shows himself close by supposed to be 60 or 70 ft in length as we came up to shore we passed three whales close together throwing their fins into the air 10 or 12 ft. it is imposible to number the spouts that is to be seen in all directions. at a distance they resemble the smoke of steamers at eve a lot of whales appeared which alarmed the porpois tribe very much
Monday July 19th
Sailing west with a north west wind cold
Tuesday 20th
Passed the Gaudalaupe Ile last night on the south side Strong wind runing west by nw. A school of sperm whales 12 or 14 in number in sight
Wednesday 21st
Drew our vinegar and wine Sailing west by NW yet with a good breeze. Cold enough so as to require an over coat, to be comfortable on deck, jerk beef plenty
Thursday July 22nd
Rationed to one biscuit yestarday. Sailing north west with a cold beam wind our Lon made and 50 ms over 500 M from land wind unfavourable for runing in Tackd ship at 8:OC PM to sail towards land lost my beaver over board last night
Friday July 23rd
Sailing in a northerly direction with a strong breeze our meat exibeted this morning on quarter deck and our rations raised by the means Rufus lost his beaver by being run over by the NY Stomper
Saturday July 24th
The wind and course continues the same cold & cloudy the Portuguese sailor sick by being booted from the quarter deck by the Capt 350 M from San Francisco 220 [M from] land our provisions as to meat rice beans &C raised and bread reduced. Calm this eve killed a Pig
Sunday 25th
Made nothing last night the wide swells with their silvered surface rock us most beautifully Forbiden by the Capt to read Bibles on deck
Monday July 26th
Moderate breeze last night calm today plenty of rice meat and beans & one cake pr day As I was arrangeing my little notions in the steerage I was started by the rustling of feet on deck I ran to the hatch and found John & the cook and Charly the Steward engaged in a combat they were soon parted by the first mate exchanging locks of hair to the memory thereoff
Tuesday 27th
Clear and Calm. by means of the quarrel Charly gets the distributing of the victuals to the messes hereafter
Wednesday July 28
The first sight this morn was a whale the next was Mr Nichols and I on a log eating jerk Beef and rice and drinking coffe in a 12 qt tin pan with free excess to a tub of sour beans and the last crumbs of the biscuit Jack we thus make a breakfast for diner pork beans & rice drew our wine new baked bread pork beans and coffe for supper
Thursday 29th
A light breeze and no bread sweet Potatoes by the [smalls] for dinner. Beans and Coffe for supper
Friday July 30th
Good breeze last night calm this morn rice and coffe and beef for breakfast Beans and coffe for supper 180 M from San Diego
Saturday 31st
Good breeze last night Pork rice and beans for Din Fresh Bread beans and coffe for supper I traded my bread for 2 rations rice and one beans good breeze in evening
Sunday
the breeze increased at night causing merry times in the steerage
Sunday Aug 1st
Caught 2 sea fowls good wind. Sailing 7 Ms per hour part of the time our provisions continues the same as to daily rations
Monday 2nd
The second of the week and month, and 42 days from San Blass we here be becalmed between two Islands by some called the twin sisters 80 Ms from the main land A Sea Lion layed round us some time with his head and body pacialy out of the water he resembles a lion very much. Black Duck [ ]
Tuesday Aug 3rd
A breeze last night carried us from the Island to the main land the Isl
Location
Barque Emily; Brigantine Condor; California
Date Original
2-7-1852
Source
MSS 100 Gillis Family Papers, 1809-1888
Owning Institution
University of the Pacific Library Holt-Atherton Special Collections.
Copyright Statement
To view additional information on copyright and related rights of this item beyond that of educational use - such as to purchase copies of images and/or obtain permission to publish them, click here to view the Holt-Atherton Special Collections policies.
Upload File
wf_yes
html
Recommended Citation
Gillis, David T., "David T. Gillis Diary, 1852-1854" (1852). Gold Rush Life. 40.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/grcc/40
Comments
In early February 1852, David Thomas Gillis and four companions – Hiram, Rufus, Henry and John – left Kinsman, Ohio. Traveling most likely by stage for the first two days, they made 30 miles the first day to Meadville, Pennsylvania, and 40 miles the second day to Erie. In Erie, they boarded a train to New York where they embarked on a ship to the isthmus at Chagres.
After crossing the isthmus to Panama and spending ten days in the city, they boarded a British sailing ship, the barque Emily. The Emily had originated her journey in London, England, and sailed to Sidney, Australia, where Captain J. Harvey purchased a 500-ton load of coal before crossing the Pacific to Panama. In addition to being an old ship, Capt. Harvey had never made the voyage from Panama to San Francisco. Experienced sailors would head directly to the Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) then head north and then east, using favorable winds and currents to arrive in San Francisco in 40 to 60 days.
Capt. Harvey, however, stayed too close to the continent and the ship suffered from lack of wind, headwinds, and generally southern-trending currents, all of which stymied his progress northward. After 82 days at sea, he finally put into port at Manzanillo, Mexico. Not finding sufficient supplies there, he headed out for another 10 days to reach San Blas. The port authorities had no sympathy, saying the ship could not claim distress twice in such a short period of time. Captain Harvey was loath to sell his cargo of coal at a bargain price in San Blas, so it appeared that the Emily would be stranded in port for an indeterminate period. By selling his pistol, David made enough money to procure passage fairly quickly on a Mexican brigantine, the Condor. Three of his companions, Rufus, John and Hiram, joined him. Some of the other Emily passengers boarded other ships soon after, but many were stranded in San Blas as long as six weeks. The Emily never did reach San Francisco. After abandoning the passengers in San Blas, Harvey went to Acapulco to sell his coal to the steamship operators.
David’s trip on the Condor was, if anything, as bad or worse than the voyage on the Emily. Another incompetent captain failed to head west to Hawaii and fought the currents and headwinds instead. It was common for gold-seekers (landlubbers nearly one and all) to complain about the abilities of the sailors, but surprisingly, the passengers on the Emily seemed to get along with Capt. Harvey and give him the benefit of the doubt. Not so on the Condor. There were ill feelings all around between the Captain and the passengers. In all, David’s journey from Panama to San Francisco took 167 days at a time when steamships were making regularly scheduled trips, in 21 days on average, and for lower fares than what David and his friends had paid. By comparison, David’s trip on a steamer, the Sierra Nevada, from New York to Chagres took only 13 days. For the Emily passengers, the trip must have been extremely frustrating, boring, terrifying at times, and generally unpleasant. Sadly, 17 passengers died of disease between Panama and San Blas.
David arrived in San Francisco on 22 August 1852. He proceeded to Stockton and began working as a laborer to make enough money to buy supplies to head to the mines. Over the next 18 months or so, he traveled throughout the mining region, working at various diggings. He eventually purchased a team of horses and started transporting supplies. In early 1854, David began farming in San Joaquin County and the diary ends somewhat abruptly in February that year.