Historical Clippings Book (HC-20) (169 pages)

Continued November 14, 1850 Packet Ship Mosconome 400 m. from San Francisco Dear George, As Iam on my passage home on this ship and there is cholera on board, there is a possibility that I may be attacked by it, and as I am in bad health: not having recovered from the attack of fever and chills of which I wrote you in my letter from San Francisco, I deem it a matter of prudence that I make a statement of my affairs in writing, seal it and direct it to you per Mr. Henry Noble, in whose care I shall leave what articles I have here, both of money and other articles. These articles are, however, not worth anything unless I should be able to see to them myself and be able to carry them home with me; that is, if circumstances should require me to leave anyone to attend to my affairs. Be assured, dear brother, that in these times when death and danger surround me, there is a consolation in the consciousness of having lived a mora) life and in having lived a life in which principle has been the rule of action, principle founded upon justice and morality. This is not what we were taught to believe Christianity to be, and probably many of our Christian friends would think it not worthy of being harbored as a reflection of consolation in such an hour as this. But to me the reflection of having lived morally even amid all the influences which have surrounded me during my absence and of having done justly by my fellow man is a consolation that I would not exchange for any.earthly benefit. Thus far on this journey, even ever since I left home, the protecting hand of a merciful God has been my shield. Dear brother, I have already said far more than I thought of saying when I commenced, but one word more. I have seen many hardships, dangers and privations, and made nothing by it, ie. accumulated no property; but if I arrive at home with my health, I shall ever be glad that I have taken this trip. Absence from my friends has given me a true valuation of them, and also it has taught me to appreciate the comforts and blessings of home. Above all, the if 1 { HISTORY] circumstances attendant upon the journey, combined with reflection, have impressed upon my mind a proper appreciation of the overruling hand of an all-wise and kind Being in the affairs of mankind. Brother William Swain December 23, 1850 At sea near Panama Dear Mother and Sabrina, Through the mercy of God I am here in safety and in good health, having had a pleasant passage from San Francisco from whence we sailed on the 10th of November about noon. A fine gentle land breeze wafted our noble ship from her moorings towards the entrance of the Bay, six miles distant. We were soon passing safely through the narrow and rockbound channel with the wind and tide in our favor, and standing out on the broad surface of the great Pacific. As we passed the entrance, we had a fine opportunity of observing the great capability of the Bay, its great security, and the absolute control a good fortification on either side would have of it. The entrance of the Bay is two miles wide from shore to shore. The channel is near the center, and the banks on In 1849, an artist viewed the traffic in San Francisco Bay. The semaphore tower atop Telegraph Hill signalled the arrival and departure of schooners and steamships. boths sides are high. The breezes of heaven favored our voyage, and we dashed on our trackless course in majestic style, passing on our outward course one brig bound in and two ships anchored off the Bay, while ten other ships which sailed from the Bay loaded with passengers for Panama in company with us kept us company, specking the bounding billow with their dark hulks and imparting life to the scene by their broad and glittering canvas. Off the Bay we had the pleasure of seeing a number of whales, some near and others far from us, spouting and throwing their huge backs above the surface of the water. Schools of blackfish — small whales — also were rolling about like so many cattle rolling in the deep; porpoise in great number, puffing and blowing, would occasionally pass our path. This was the first time I had looked forth upon ocean, and altogether it was far more gratifying than I had expected, and I considered myself greatly favored by having an opportunity to see so many of the beauties and wonders of the deep in so short a time. Our craft traversed her watery way for a distance of near 600 miles before our fine breeze failed and we traversed the rest of the journey with light winds, while many calms have wearied us out. Few of our number got seasick and indeed all were usually well, myself more so than I had anticipated from the feeble state of health when I embarked. But all was not well. A kind Providence saw fit to visit even our small company with affliction. That dire pestilence, cholera, was among us — and from its dreadful effects we consigned two of our number to a watery grave. Many others were sick, but with the blessings of heaven upon the means used, they were restored and the scourge removed from among us. Certainly when I reflect upon the gauntlet I have passed in this deadly disease, I am constrained to recognize the preserving care of a kind Providence. I take great pleasure in saying that we have a very roomy, clean and commoding ship, and a captain who is a gentleman and, I think, a Christian. We arrived at Realejo in twentyeight days from San Francisco, Here we stopped three days. The village is eight miles from the bay, and on the second day at daybreak I left the ship in company with a boat. The passengers for the village and the boatman plied the oars to the tune of Cheerly O! and we passed quickly across the small December 6, 1981/San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle 2 8.

Continued November 14, 1850 Packet Ship Mosconome 400 m. from San Francisco Dear George, As Iam on my passage home on this ship and there is cholera on board, there is a possibility that I may be attacked by it, and as I am in bad health: not having recovered from the attack of fever and chills of which I wrote you in my letter from San Francisco, I deem it a matter of prudence that I make a statement of my affairs in writing, seal it and direct it to you per Mr. Henry Noble, in whose care I shall leave what articles I have here, both of money and other articles. These articles are, however, not worth anything unless I should be able to see to them myself and be able to carry them home with me; that is, if circumstances should require me to leave anyone to attend to my affairs. Be assured, dear brother, that in these times when death and danger surround me, there is a consolation in the consciousness of having lived a mora) life and in having lived a life in which principle has been the rule of action, principle founded upon justice and morality. This is not what we were taught to believe Christianity to be, and probably many of our Christian friends would think it not worthy of being harbored as a reflection of consolation in such an hour as this. But to me the reflection of having lived morally even amid all the influences which have surrounded me during my absence and of having done justly by my fellow man is a consolation that I would not exchange for any.earthly benefit. Thus far on this journey, even ever since I left home, the protecting hand of a merciful God has been my shield. Dear brother, I have already said far more than I thought of saying when I commenced, but one word more. I have seen many hardships, dangers and privations, and made nothing by it, ie. accumulated no property; but if I arrive at home with my health, I shall ever be glad that I have taken this trip. Absence from my friends has given me a true valuation of them, and also it has taught me to appreciate the comforts and blessings of home. Above all, the if 1 { HISTORY] circumstances attendant upon the journey, combined with reflection, have impressed upon my mind a proper appreciation of the overruling hand of an all-wise and kind Being in the affairs of mankind.. Brother William Swain December 23, 1850 At sea near Panama Dear Mother and Sabrina, Through the mercy of God I am here in safety and in good health, having had a pleasant passage from San Francisco from whence we sailed on the 10th of November about noon. A fine gentle land breeze wafted our noble ship from her moorings towards the entrance of the Bay, six miles

distant. We were soon passing safely through the narrow and rockbound channel with the wind and tide in our favor, and standing out on the broad surface of the great Pacific. As we passed the entrance, we had a fine opportunity of observing the great capability of the Bay, its great security, and the absolute control a good fortification on either side would have of it. The entrance of the Bay is two miles wide from shore to shore. The channel is near the center, and the banks on In 1849, an artist viewed the traffic in San Francisco Bay. The semaphore tower atop Telegraph Hill signalled the arrival and departure of schooners and steamships. boths sides are high. The breezes of heaven favored our voyage, and we dashed on our trackless course in majestic style, passing on our outward course one brig bound in and two ships anchored off the Bay, while ten other ships which sailed from the Bay loaded with passengers for Panama in company with us kept us company, specking the bounding billow with their dark hulks and imparting life to the scene by their broad and glittering canvas. Off the Bay we had the pleasure of seeing a number of whales, some near and others far from us, spouting and throwing their huge backs above the surface of the water. Schools of blackfish — small whales — also were rolling about like so many cattle rolling in the deep; porpoise in great number, puffing and blowing, would occasionally pass our path. This was the first time I had looked forth upon ocean, and altogether it was far more gratifying than I had expected, and I considered myself greatly favored by having an opportunity to see so many of the beauties and wonders of the deep in so short a time. Our craft traversed her watery way for a distance of near 600 miles before our fine breeze failed and we traversed the rest of the journey with light winds, while many calms have wearied us out. Few of our number got seasick and indeed all were usually well, myself more so than I had anticipated from the feeble state of health when I embarked. But all was not well. A kind Providence saw fit to visit even our small company with affliction. That dire pestilence, cholera, was among us — and from its dreadful effects we consigned two of our number to a watery grave. Many others were sick, but with the blessings of heaven upon the means used, they were restored and the scourge removed from among us. Certainly when I reflect upon the gauntlet I have passed in this deadly disease, I am constrained to recognize the preserving care of a kind Providence. I take great pleasure in saying that we have a very roomy, clean and commoding ship, and a captain who is a gentleman and, I think, a Christian. We arrived at Realejo in twentyeight days from San Francisco, Here we stopped three days. The village is eight miles from the bay, and on the second day at daybreak I left the ship in company with a boat. The passengers for the village and the boatman plied the oars to the tune of Cheerly O! and we passed quickly across the small December 6, 1981/San Francisco Sunday Examiner & Chronicle 2 8.