California Bound by sfgenealogy.com

NEW YORK HERALD
New York City, New York
December 14, 1849

The Sailing of the Steamships Ohio, Chero-
kee
, Crescent City and Great Western.

Yesterday, at 3 o’clock, the three first named of these gallant steamships sailed from this port, with passengers for California. It was a singular sight to behold three such vessels all steaming away together for the same destination. The Crescent City and Cherokee are bound direct for Chagres. The Ohio touches at Charleston, Savannah and Havana, where she meets the Falcon, which takes the mails to New Orleans, and the Ohio then proceeds to Chagres. The passengers were not so numerous as on former occasions; nor was the same amount of interest evinced by the public. The spectators were not so numerous, which may be partly accounted for by the coldness of the day, and also by the fact that the vessels sailed from different parts of the city, and at the same time, which had the effect of dividing the numbers. It is now the winter season, too, when fewer passengers are going out; and besides, like everything else, the excitement of novelty wears away by repetition.

Still, however, the docks and shipping around were well covered with spectators, for the most part of the male sex, for the fact of three steamships sailing together for Chagres, as a kind of race, was in itself an attraction. On board of the ship, for some time previous to their departure, might be seen a large number of female friends of the passengers, promenading the decks, viewing the cabins, sitting around the stoves, or taking a last fond farewell, with a merry, ringing laugh, or with streaming eyes, according to the disposition of each. In sooth, the number of the latter was comparatively small, for going to California has ceased to be regarded as the formidable undertaking it once was. Among the passengers were some of the fairest flowers of the land, and seldom have we seen such a collection of beauty together. The general appearance of the voyagers, of both sexes, was indicative of the highest respectability; and on looking at them, we could not but feel sensible of the powerful attraction of the shining metal, which drew men from their comfortable homes and friends and kindred, to battle with the waves and winds, and risk all the perils of land and sea, to seek a fortune and a home on the shores of the Pacific! As on all such occasions, there was running to and fro in hot haste, tossing about the luggage, jostling of carriages and wagons, and hurried adieus

None of these ships took out any cargo, although they were all pretty well laden down with coal, and the extra baggage of passengers. They were in excellent sailing trim.

The Cherokee had the start, by two or three minutes. She sailed to the minute, at three o’clock, her appointed time, from Pier No. 4, North river, and made as beautiful a turn as we ever saw around the corner of the wharf. She went off at full speed from the start, amidst the most vehement cheering of the spectators, and waiving of handkerchiefs, both from the pier and the deck of the ship. A discharge from a piece of ordnance, announced that she was away, and as she sped her course down the river, she was much admired by all who saw her. The following is a list of her passengers:--

IN THE STEAMSHIP CHEROKEE.

Alden, S.B.
Atkinson, L.A.
Birch, Bushrod
Borland, John W.
Butler, Thos.
Canada (Cavada ?), F.
Carlyale, Lt.
Christian, A.
Christian, B.
Cleernan, Mr.
Davis, David
Dearborn, B.
Deffner, Geo.
Delbins,W.W.
DeWitt, John, and serv’s
Dickinson, G.D.
Durham, J.
Gillingham, Henry
Gills, James
Gluyes, Geo. K.
Green, John
Guerin, M.
Halliday, John R.
Helman, Dr. F.A.
Henriques (Henriquez ?), Francis
Holbrook, Amory
Jackson, J.B.
Jenkins, George
Johns, Thos. D.
Johnson, James
Kellogg, N.W.
Kelly, Dan W.
Kelly, J.H.
Kelly, John
Kent, A.J.
Keyes, Wm.E.
Lansing, L.I.
Marcy, Mrs.
Masner, M.
McChessney, Chas. B.
Morris, C.T.
Myrtetus (Myrietus ?), Chas.
O’Donnell, Danl.
Parker, J.
Patterson, P., and servant
Payson (Payton ?), H.M.
Peck (Peek ?), George
Pike, J.T.
Purinton (Purlnton ?), W.
Reed, W.H.
Regan, Wm.
Richardson, V.M.
Robb, John S., and lady
Rowly, A.B.
Sexsmith, George
Sload, A.C.
Smith, Richard
Sturtevant, H.
Taylor, J.B.
Taylor, Mr., jr. (listed twice)
Thompson, James
Trontowine, John C.
Waldecker, W.
Watson, J.A.
Webster, Chas.
Welkeman, C.F.N.
Williams, Jas. M.


In about two or three minutes after, the Crescent City let go her hawser, from Pier number two, North river; and followed her competitor, amiss the buzzes of the crowd; she lost some ground by going to the Jersey side of the river, and did not get away so rapidly as the Cherokee, neither did she gain upon her as long as they were in view; on the contrary, the distance seemed to widen. There was about a mile between them. The Crescent City appeared lighter in the water, and looked larger than the Cherokee. Though their names are not given in the list of passengers, we understand Captain Aires, Cornelius and Jacob Vanderbilt, with David L. White, and Dr. Livingston, our consul at Leon, sailed in the Crescent City for Chagres, where they will take the steamer Orus to the river San Juan, and ascend that river to Lake Nicaragua, and thence to Lake Leon, in order to ascertain if it can be navigated by small steamboats such as the Orus, and if so, to establish a railroad, or carriage road, or canal communication, to a river that runs within a few miles of the Pacific. The following is the furnished list of passengers:--

IN THE STEAMSHIP CRESCENT CITY.

Bourne, J.
Briggs, B.W.
Brownell, C.
Coffin, J.M.
Colyell (Colvell ?), J.
Constant, Capt. W.
Cox, O.P.
Curtis, W.
Davis, E.
Davis, F.
De F Lenny, M. (best guess)
De la Pomere, M. (best guess)
Dennisson, L.F.
Dollaff, A.
Dollaff, R.
Eagleston, J.H.
Eaton, F.
Hawes, W.
Hendricks, J.
Hutchinson, C.P.
Johnson, J.K.
Kellogg, E.
Kendall, W.
Lander, J.B.
Leland, W.W.
Lemon, J.M.
Livingston, J.W.
Maria, H.J.
Masters, Mrs.
McManus, F.
McNeil, D.
Melius (sic), H.
Mellius, George, and lady
Miller, A.B.
Nichols, H.M.
Noyes, B.
Packard, A.B.
Rawdon, L.
Seaver, C.M.
Smith, F.E.
Smith, J.
Smith, J.H.
Stebbins, W.P.C.
Stoddard, M.W.
Wedilus, M. (??)
Whipple, E.W.
Wilson, E.
Wolcott, Mr.
Zachrison, E.


The Ohio started from her dock at the foot Warren street, North river, at the very same moment as the Crescent City, but was much slower getting off, owing to her great size. When she got on her full steam, the Cherokee was about three miles ahead, and the Crescent City two; but then this leviathan moved at a tremendous rate when she got fairly into then channel. Every spectator expressed his admiration of this noble work of American art, as it moved in lifelike majesty to the great deep, and seemingly rejoicing like a giant to run a race. The following is a list of the passengers:--

IN THE STEAMSHIP OHIO.

Aaron, S.L.
Ambrose, J.W.
Anderson, John
Armenteros, J.R.
Atkinson, J.L.
Baker, C.S.
Baker, H.C.B.
Baldwin, H.E.
Baldwin, R.N.
Ball, W.D.
Bartlett, J.
Bartlett, W.
Bayley, James
Bell, Miss Mary
Bell, Mr. J.
Bell, Mrs. J.
Benison (Bentson ?), Charles H., “bearer of dispatches and special agent of the Hon. Secretary of State”
Bennett, A.P.
Berrier, Mrs.
Bigelow, Mrs.
Bowell, C.
Brougrine, Mr.
Bunker, A.
Burke, Mr.
Burnett, J.
Cairus, Wm.
Cap, _.
Capitaine, H.
Carble, Mrs.
Carpenter, Miss
Chapman, Maj. W.W., lady and son
Charlick, O.
Clarke, Miss
Connor, F.C.
Conroy, J.
Cooke, A.
Cooper, W.
Cows, J.C.
Cresay, R.
Crosby, G.
Cummings, P.
Cummings, P.
Cunningham, Mr.
Custer, J.
Daniel, J.
Davis, W.
de Del Ryo, J. (sic)
Dickinson, G.D.
Doane, E.
Dodge, C.F.
Dowaney (Downey ?), G.M.
Driscoll, D.D.
Duster, J.
Eadie (Kadie ?), Mr.
Eastman, C.
Esquirel, Mr.
Esquirol, Mr.
Farrar, Col.
Fisher, M.
Folom, S.
Foster, Mr., and friend
Fox, E. (L. ?)
Frich, Mrs. S.
Frytes (sic), Jas.
Garcia, J.P., and son
Gidderg, Miss S.
Giddings, D.L.
Gifford, W.D.
Goodwin, S.
Gunn, A.N.
Guptell (Gaptell ?), L.
Haddon, D.H.
Hammond, C.W.
Harral, Miss Mary
Hasler, Miss
Hathaway, C.W.
Hawks, Wright
Heiser, F.R.
Henriques, D.M.
Herald, A.
Hernandez, M.
Hitchcock, Miss
Humphrey, Mr.
Humphrey, Mr., and lady
Jarvis, S.M.
Jenkins, W.
Keene, J.
Kelauche, F.
Kenlock, C.
Kirby, H.
Klebs, _.
Knowlton, S.
Lafebure, Julio
Lanburgh, _.
Lawrence, Mr.
Leavitt, _.
Lendman, D.
Leonard, O., jr.
Lerey, Mrs.
Lobach, Mr.
Long, J.H.B.
Lord, T.H.
Lot, Hernandez
Lyden, Mr.
Marsh, O.
Marshall, Mr.
Marshall, Mr.
McGoffey, J.
Megarge, Mr.
Monette, J.
Morris M.
Morris, _.
Morris, Miss Kate V.
Morris, Mrs.
Morse, J.
Morse, S.
Mudge, E.R.
Murdock, James
Nickols, W.C.
Norris, Ed. S., and lady
Olive, G.
Olive, T.F.
Orange, G.W.
Osborne, J.A.
Parmlee, Mr.
Parmlee, Mr.
Patton, Miss
Pecarier, J.M.
Perry, _.
Perry, J.H.
Pradee, J.
Prader, J.
Prescott, _.
Reed, J.
Rice, Mrs., daughter and two sons
Rice, W.
Riely, W.
Roberts, E.
Rogers, F.D.
Rogers, J.F.
Ross, C.
Roundy, G.
Ryan, _.
Ryan, J.
Sanderson, _.
Sawwerkrop (sic), Mr.
Sawyer, T.H.
Schauman, _.
Seabury, Miss
Sears, J.H.
Seicks (sic), _.
Shanks, H.
Stars (Starz ?), Mrs.
Stone, H.L.
Taylor, J.J.
Taylor, Mr.
Thompson, F.K.
Thompson, Mr.
Thompson, Mr. C.C.
Tourlow, P.
Tracy, Mr.
Tucker, _.
Van Benschoten, H.
Vosburg, A.J.
Vosburg, W.
Wardell, W.G.
We_mere, C.F.
Wearer, J., and lady
West, Mr.
West, Wm.
Whelpley, T.
Wilkins, C.M.
Wilkinson, J.
Williams, E.
Wilson, J.M.
Worth, W.H.
Young, P.
Young, Phillip

“…and 22 in the steerage.”


We have elsewhere given the number of letters and newspapers carried by the Ohio, from which some idea may be formed of the bulk of her mail bags. More than half of the newspapers borne over the waters by her and the Cherokee, are copies of the New York Herald.

It is a singular coincidence – one unprecedented in the history of this port – that three ocean first class steamers should sail together from the North river; but what enhances the interest is the circumstance that they are all for the same destination.

How would Watt and Fulton have exulted if they now lived, to see such a triumph of their own glorious science over the elements of nature!

This, however, is not all – a fourth ocean steamer departed yesterday from our harbor – the Great Western sailed for Bermuda at 12 o’clock.

It is a day long to be remembered in the annals of our shipping. It marks a new era, which is but the beginning of the end, the prelude to the great destiny that awaits the Empire city of the Empire State.



Return to California Bound main page
Return to SFgenealogy

© Copyright 2008 SFgenealogy. All rights reserved.