Page:California Historical Society Quarterly vol 22.djvu/79



Wednesday 2 ist Morning dark and rainy found ourselves with a num- ber of other vessels near land, supposed in the neighborhood of San Francisco toward noon cleared up. ran for the Bay. wind light coming in puffs. in the evening dropped anchor (in the entrance of the harbour, very near the breakers upon which we were fast drifting) very soon up anchor and got a better offing and at eight o clock dropied anchor again among seven or eight other vessels — No prospect of getting up to the town to night

Thursday 22 nd Up anchor by sunrise and with a fair wind went dashing through the bay and into port, some seven hundred miles dropped anchor about nine O clock among some one or two hundred other vessels. The Mate says there are twice as many — Most of the passengers go ashore. Some get work at ten to thirteen dollars a day. ..

Friday 2 3D. Morning clear and cold after breakfast nearly all ashore I remain on board expecting some of the Company to come and make arrangements about the freight — ... in the afternoon went ashore found there was no prospect of my earning a living — twenty to thirty dollars a week for board washing six to eight dollars a dozen — went on board again more disheartened than I have ever been before. pased a most miserable night

Saturday 24th. Up early in the morning ... — went ashore and after a long search found [Robert] Layton, [Frederick] Hewes^^ and [Langdon A.] Havens^* hard at work tearing down an old building — then went to see Messrs Simmons Hutchison & Co Capt Simmons^^ wished me to call again- Some prospect that I shall not Starve in this City of gold — went on board the Brig in the afternoon and ate my pork and bread with a good appetite and better spirits than for some days past but God only knows what I shall do

Sunday 25th Went on shore in the morning saw my mess-mates bor- rowed five dollars of friend Bingham got a good dinner at the Irving House^^ for one dollar and a quarter the first I have had for many months in the afternoon stepped into the Coffee House^^ took a cup of coffee and piece of pie, for fifty cents but the kind hearted German waiter (who had encamped near our Company on the Rio Grande) refused to receive any money and presented me a cigar — met Mr. Caleb Lyons of Lyonsdale New York^^ who spoke very encouragingly and offered me his services in pro- curing employment, in the evening Doct Stone Mr Alden and myself got the Long Boat off from the beach and rowed on board the Brig

Monday 16 Called on Messrs Simmons & Hutchinson & Co — gave Capt. Crarey an order on the above firm for Seventy five dollars for two passages and freight from San Diego went on board the brig again — Carpenters employed breaking up the bunks so I had to move my blankets and sleep in the Cook's Galley

Tuesday 27. Hired a boat for four dollars took the freight ashore and