memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第23章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　moment　of　their　arrival；　also　came　from　St。　Louis　my　personal　friend　Major　Turner；　with　a　parcel　of　documents；　which；　on　examination；　proved　to　be　articles　of　copartnership　for　a　bank　in　California　under　the　title　of　〃Lucas；　Turner　&　Co。；〃　in　which　ms　name　was　embraced　as　a　partner。　　Major　Turner　was；　at　the　time；　actually　en　route　for　New　York；　to　embark　for　San　Francisco；　to　inaugurate　the　bank；　in　the　nature　of　a　branch　of　the　firm　already　existing　at　St。　Louis　under　the　name　of　〃Lucas　&　Symonds。〃　We　discussed　the　matter　very　fully；　and　he　left　with　me　the　papers　for　reflection；　and　went　on　to　New　York　and　California。

Shortly　after　arrived　James　H。　Lucas；　Esq。；　the　principal　of　the　banking…firm　in　St：　Louis；　a　most　honorable　and　wealthy　gentleman。　He　further　explained　the　full　programme　of　the　branch　in　California；　that　my　name　had　been　included　at　the　insistance　of　Major　Turner；　who　was　a　man　of　family　and　property　in　St。　Louis；　unwilling　to　remain　long　in　San　Francisco；　and　who　wanted　me　to　succeed　him　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　allowed　to　go　on　shore　except　bags　or　parcels　carried　in　the　hands　of　passengers。　　At　times　the　fog　lifted　so　that　we　could　see　from　the　wreck　the　tops　of　the　hills；　and　the　outline　of　the　shore；　and　I　remember　sitting　on；　the　upper　or　hurricane　deck　with　the　captain；　who　had　his　maps　and　compass　before　him；　and　was　trying　to　make　out　where　the　ship　was。　　I　thought　I　recognized　the　outline　of　the　hills　below　the　mission　of　Dolores；　and　so　stated　to　him；　but　he　called　my　attention　to　the　fact　that　the　general　line　of　hills　bore　northwest；　whereas　the　coast　south　of　San　Francisco　bears　due　north　and　south。　　He　therefore　concluded　that　the　ship　had　overrun　her　reckoning；　and　was　then　to　the　north　of　San　Francisco。　　He　also　explained　that；　the　passage　up　being　longer　than　usual；　viz。；　eighteen　days；　the　coal　was　short；　that　at　the　time　the　firemen　were　using　some　cut…up　spars　along　with　the　slack　of　coal；　and　that　this　fuel　had　made　more　than　usual　steam；　so　that　the　ship　must　have　glided　along　faster　than　reckone