memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第28节
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im there。 He offered me a very tempting income； with an interest that would accumulate and grow。 He also disclosed to me that； in establishing a branch in California； he was influenced by the apparent prosperity of Page； Bacon & Co。； and further that he had received the principal data； on which he had founded the scheme； from B。 R。 Nisbet； who was then a teller in the firm of Page； Bacon & Co。； of San Francisco； that he also was to be taken in as a partner； and was fully competent to manage all the details of the business； but； as Nisbet was comparatively young； Mr。 Lucas wanted me to reside in San Francisco permanently； as the head of the firm。 All these matters were fully discussed； and I agreed to apply for a six months' leave of absence； go to San Francisco； see for myself； and be governed by appearances there。 I accordingly； with General Twiggs's approval； applied to the adjutant…general for a six months' leave； which was granted； and Captain John F。 Reynolds was named to perform my duties during my absence。
During the stay of my family in New Orleans； we enjoyed the society of the families of General Twiggs； Colonel Myers； and Colonel Bliss； as also of many citizens； among whom was the wife of Mr。 Day； sister to my brother…in…law； Judge Bartley。 General Twiggs was then one of the oldest officers of the army。 His history extended back to the War of 1812； and he had served in early days with General Jackson in Florida and in the Creek campaigns。 He had fine powers of description； and often entertained us； at his office； with accounts of his experiences in the earlier settlements of the Southwest。 Colonel Bliss had been General Taylor's adjutant in the Mexican War； and was universally regarded as one of the most finished and accomplished scholars in the army； and his wife was a most agreeable and accomplished lady。
Late in February； I dispatched my family up to Ohio in the steamboat Tecumseh （Captain Pearce）； disposed of my house and furniture； turned over to Major Reynolds the funds； property； and records of the office； and took passage in a small steamer for Nicaragua；； en route for California。 We embarked early in March； and in seven days reached Greytown； where we united with the passengers from New York； and proceeded； by the Nicaragua River and Lake； for the Pacific Ocean。 The river was low； and the little steam canal…boats； four in number； grounded often； so that the passengers had to get into the water； to help them over the bare。 In all there were about six hundred passengers； of whom about sixty were women and children。 In four days we reached Castillo； where there is a decided fall； passed by a short railway； and above this fall we were transferred to a larger boat； which carried us up the rest of the river； and across the beautiful lake Nicaragua； studded with volcanic islands。 Landing at Virgin Bay； we rode on mules across to San Juan del Sur； where lay at anchor the propeller S。 S。 Lewis （Captain Partridge； I think）。 Passengers were carried through the surf by natives to small boats； and rowed off to the Lewis。 The weather was very hot； and quite a scramble followed for state…rooms； especially for those on deck。 I succeeded in reaching the purser's office； got my ticket for a berth in one of the best state…rooms on deck； and； just as I was turning from the window； a lady who was a fellow…passenger from New Orleans； a Mrs。 D…； called to me to secure her and her lady friend berths on deck； saying that those below were unendurable。 I spoke to the purser； who； at the moment perplexed by the crowd and clamor； answered： 〃I must put their names down for the other two berths of your state…room； but； as soon as the confusion is over； I will make some change whereby you shall not suffer。〃 As soon as these two women were assigned to a state…room； they took possession； and I was left out。 Their names were recorded as 〃Captain Sherman and ladies。〃 As soon as things were quieted down I remonstrated with the purser； who at last gave me a lower berth in another and larger state…room on deck； with five others； so that my two ladies had the state…room all to themselves。 At every meal the steward would come to me； and say； 〃Captain Sherman； will you bring your ladies to the table？〃 and we had the best seats in the ship。
This continued throughout the voyage； and I assert that 〃my ladies〃 were of the most modest and best…behaved in the ship； but some time after we had reached San Francisco one of our fellow…passengers came to me and inquired if I personally knew Mrs。 D…； with flaxen tresses； who sang so sweetly for us； and who had come out under my especial escort。 I replied I did not； more than the chance acquaintance of the voyage； and what she herself had told me； viz。； that she expected to meet her husband； who lived about Mokelumne Hill。 He then informed me that she was a woman of the town。 Society in California was then decidedly mixed。 In due season the steamship Lewis got under weigh。 She was a wooden ship； long and narrow； bark…rigged； and a propeller； very slow； moving not over eight miles an hour。 We stopped at Acapulco； and； in eighteen days； passed in sight of Point Pinoa at Monterey； and at the speed we were traveling expected to reach San Francisco at 4 A。 M。 the next day。 The cabin passengers； as was usual； bought of the steward some champagne and cigars； and we had a sort of ovation for the captain； purser； and surgeon of the ship； who were all very clever fellows； though they had a slow and poor ship。 Late at night all the passengers went to bed； expecting to enter the port at daylight。 I did not undress； as I thought the captain could and would run in at night； and I lay down with my clothes on。 About 4 A。 M。 I was awakened by a bump and sort of grating of the vessel； which I thought was our arrival at the wharf in San Francisco； but instantly the ship struck heavily； the engines stopped； and the running to and fro on deck showed that something was wrong。 In a moment I was out of my state…room； at the bulwark； holding fast to a stanchion； and looking over the side at the white and seething water caused by her sudden and violent stoppage。 The sea was comparatively smooth； the night pitch…dark； and the fog deep and impenetrable； the ship would rise with the swell； and come down with a bump and quiver that was decidedly unpleasant。 Soon the passengers were out of their rooms； undressed； calling for help； and praying as though the ship were going to sink immediately。 Of course she could not sink； being already on the bottom； and the only question was as to the strengh of hull to stand the bumping and straining。 Great confusion for a time prevailed； but soon I realized that the captain had taken all proper precautions to secure his boats； of which there were six at the davits。 These are the first things that steerage…passengers make for in case of shipwreck； and right over my head I heard the captain's voice say in a low tone； but quite decided： 〃Let go that falls； or； damn you； I'll blow your head off！〃 This seemingly harsh language gave me great comfort at the time； and on saying so to the captain afterward； he explained that it was addressed to a passenger who attempted to lower one of the boats。 Guards； composed of the crew； were soon posted to prevent any interference with the boats； and the officers circulated among the passengers the report that there was no immediate danger； that； fortunately； the sea was smooth； that we were simply aground； and must quietly await daylight。
They advised the passengers to keep quiet； and the ladies and children to dress and sit at the doors of their state…rooms； there to await the advice and action of the officers of the ship； who were perfectly cool and self…possessed。 Meantime the ship was working over a reef…for a time I feared she would break in two； but； as the water gradually rose inside to a level with the sea outside； the ship swung broadside to the swell； and all her keel seemed to rest on the rock or sand。 At no time did the sea break over the deckbut the water below drove all the people up to the main…deck and to the promenade…deck； and thus we remained for about three hours； when daylight came； but there was a fog so thick that nothing but water could be seen。 The captain caused a boat to be carefully lowered； put in her a trustworthy officer with a boat…compass； and we saw her depart into the fog。 During her absence the ship's bell was kept tolling。 Then the fires were all out； the ship full of water； and gradually breaking up； wriggling with every swell like a willow basketthe sea all round us full of the floating fragments of her sheeting； twisted and torn into a spongy condition。 In less than an hour the boat returned； saying that the beach was quite near； not more than a mile away； and had a good place for landing。 All the boats were then carefully lowered； and manned by crews belonging to the ship； a piece of the gangway； on the leeward side； was cut away； and all the women； and a few of the worst…scared men； were lowered into the boats； which pulled for shore。 In a comparatively short time the boats returned； took new loads； and the debarkation was afterward carried on quietly and systematically。 No baggage was a
