[Illustration: NONANTUM.]
INCIDENTS ON LAND AND WATER,
OR
Four Years on the Pacific Coast.
BEING A NARRATIVE OF THE
BURNING OF THE SHIPS NONANTUM, HUMAYOON AND FANCHON,
TOGETHER WITH MANY STARTLING AND INTERESTING
ADVENTURES ON SEA AND LAND.
BY
MRS. D. B. BATES.
EIGHTH EDITION.
BOSTON.
PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR.
1860.
Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1857, by
MRS. D. B. BATES,
in the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts
TO MY MOTHER,
WHOSE CHERISHED MEMORY,
WHILE WANDERING FAR FROM YOUTHFUL SCENES
HAS OFTEN PROVED A TALISMAN IN THE HOUR OF NEED;
THE RECOLLECTION OF WHOSE DISINTERESTED LOVE,
HAS GIVEN ME COURAGE TO MEET AND BRAVE SEVEREST TRIALS;
THIS VOLUME IS AFFECTIONATELY DEDICATED
BY THE AUTHOR.
INTRODUCTION.
Kind Reader! This simple unembellished history of portions of my life’s
experience requires no preface. Its deficiencies, I trust, will save it
from unjust criticisms; if justly deserved, may they be in all lenity
bestowed, modified by sympathy, and kindness for the humble historian.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. Page.
My Childhood’s Home, 11
CHAPTER II.
The Departure, 12
CHAPTER III.
Fire on board Ship Nonantum at Sea, 17
CHAPTER IV.
The Falkland Islands, 23
CHAPTER V.
A South Sea Rookery, 39
CHAPTER VI.
Departure from the Falklands, and second fire off Cape Horn, 45
CHAPTER VII.
Third fire at sea. Burning of the Ship Fanchon on the Coast of
Peru, 57
CHAPTER VIII.
The Desolate Beach, 68
CHAPTER IX.
Arrival and Residence at Payta, 73
CHAPTER X.
Arrival at Panama and visit Taboga, 82
CHAPTER XI.
Arrival at San Francisco. Extensive Conflagration. Its Consequences,
etc., etc., 96
CHAPTER XII.
Leave San Francisco for Marysville, 111
CHAPTER XIII.
Situation and Climate of Marysville. Peep at the Country, Inhabitants,
etc., 125
CHAPTER XIV.
Hotel Keeping and Life in a Canvas Shanty, 137
CHAPTER XV.
Description of an Indian Rancheria and its Occupants, 149
CHAPTER XVI.
A Conflagration. Hotel Keeping resumed. Marysville Inundated, 156
CHAPTER XVII.
A Journey up the Sacramento Valley. Descriptions of things
seen and heard, 163
CHAPTER XVIII.
Trip to French Corral. Mountain Scenery. Mountain Ball, etc., 169
CHAPTER XIX.
Journey to Park’s Bar. Experience in Mining. Fatal results
of Gambling, 192
CHAPTER XX.
Visit to Gen. Sutter’s residence. Description of the grounds.
The Pleasant Surprise, or the Musical Miner. Good Fortune
of a Lady in California. Emigrant Wagons. Belles of the
Plain. Interesting and Ludicrous Incident. The English
Gold Diggers. Loss of Life, 205
CHAPTER XXI.
The Orphan Child. Delights of Stage-Coaching in California.
The Hen that laid the Golden Eggs, 222
CHAPTER XXII.
Execution of a man in Marysville. The petty theft the results
of bad Influence. Accident at the Mines. “Obstinate as a
Mule.” Mysterious Disappearance of Dunbar. Cold Blooded
Murder. Disinterested Benevolence, 232
CHAPTER XXIII.
Hardships of the Mountain Settlers during the winter of 1852.
A Brother’s Experience, 254
CHAPTER XXIV.
Peculiarities of John Chinaman. Conflagration in Marysville, 263
CHAPTER XXV.
Farewell to Marysville. Departure. Arrival at San Francisco.
Leave San Francisco for Home, 271
CHAPTER XXVI.
Incidents of the passage. Burial at Sea, 275
CHAPTER XXVII.
Arrival at Panama. Description of Hotels. Walks about the
city. The Battlement, 283
CHAPTER XXVIII.
Crossing the Isthmus. Grave by the road-side. The beautiful
Valley of Obispo. Take the cars for Aspinwall, 291
CHAPTER XXIX.
Embark for Home, on board the North Star. A distressed family, 307
CHAPTER XXX.
Arrival at New York, 314
CHAPTER XXXI.
Incidents illustrative of Morals in California, 315
CHAPTER XXXII.
Conclusion, 334
INCIDENTS ON LAND AND WATER.
CHAPTER I.
In the town of Kingston, in the State of Massachusetts, not many miles
distant from that ancient and time-honored bay whose waters years ago
kissed the prow of the “May Flower” as she approached a sterile and
inhospitable shore, is situated the home of my childhood.
The dear old homestead, the scene of so many fond recollections, had
descended from father to son for generations. The storms of many winters
had beaten upon its roof; time had left its impress without, in the
shape of moss-covered shingles; but within, all was youthful joy and
gladness. Not a link in that family circle had been severed. In love and
affection were we nurtured.
Although years have intervened since those sunny days of childhood, how
often, while sojourning in distant lands, would memory recall with
undimmed freshness the gladsome spring-time of youth. Happy days! too
speedily do they fly, leaving, often, nought but the recollection of
them to cheer us in our toilsome march. Early in life, I was united to
one whose home was on the deep. Then came the sad partings from loved
friends, to follow for many consecutive years the fortunes of my husband
by sea and land. There were sad departures and joyful returns.