memoirs of general william t. sherman-1-第24章

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his　fuel　had　made　more　than　usual　steam；　so　that　the　ship　must　have　glided　along　faster　than　reckoned。　　This　proved　to　be　the　actual　case；　for；　in　fact；　the　steamship　Lewis　was　wrecked　April　9；　1853；　on　〃Duckworth　Reef；〃　Baulinas　Bay；　about　eighteen　miles　above　the　entrance　to　San　Francisco。

The　captain　had　sent　ashore。　　the　purser　in　the　first　boat；　with　orders　to　work　his　way　to　the　city　as　soon　as　possible；　to　report　the　loss　of　his　vessel；　and　to　bring　back　help。　　I　remained　on　the　wreck　till　among　the　last　of　the　passengers；　managing　to　get　a　can　of　crackers　and　some　sardines　out　of　the　submerged　pantry；　a　thing　the　rest　of　the　passengers　did　not　have；　and　then　I　went　quietly　ashore　in　one　of　the　boats。　　The　passengers　were　all　on　the　beach；　under　a　steep　bluff；　had　built　fires　to　dry　their　clothes；　but　had　seen　no　human　being；　and　had　no　idea　where　they　were。　　Taking　along　with　me　a　fellow…passenger；　a　young　chap　about　eighteen　years　old；　I　scrambled　up　the　bluff；　and　walked　back　toward　the　hills；　in　hopes　to　get　a　good　view　of　some　known　object。　　It　was　then　the　month　of　April；　and　the　hills　were　covered　with　the　beautiful　grasses　and　flowers　of　that　season　of　the　year。　　We　soon　found　horse　paths　and　tracks；　and　following　them　we　came　upon　a　drove　of　horses　grazing　at　large；　some　of　which　had　saddle…marks。　　At　about　two　miles　from　the　beach　we　found　a　corral；　and　thence；　following　one　of　the　strongest…marked　paths；　in　about　a　mile　more　we　descended　into　a　valley；　and；　on　turning　a　sharp　point；　reached　a　board　shanty；　with　a　horse　picketed　near　by。　　Four　men　were　inside　eating　a　meal。　　I　inquired　if　any　of　the　Lewis's　people　had　been　there；　they　did　not　seem　to　understand　what　I　meant　when　I　explained　to　them　that　about　three　miles　from　them；　and　beyond　the　old　corral；　the　steamer　Lewis　was　wrecked；　and　her　passengers　were　on　the　beach。　　I　inquired　where　we　were；　and　they　answered；　〃At　Baulinas　Creek；〃　that　they　were　employed　at　a　saw…mill　just　above；　and　were　engaged　in　shipping　lumber　to　San　Francisco；　that　a　schooner　loaded　with　lumber　was　then　about　two　miles　down　the　creek；　waiting　for　the　tide　to　get　out；　and　doubtless　if　we　would　walk　down　they　would　take　us　on　board。

I　wrote　a　few　words　back　to　the　captain；　telling　him　where　he　was；　and　that　I　would　hurry　to　the　city　to　send　him　help。　　My　companion　and　I　their　went　on　down　the　creek；　and　soon　descried　the　schooner　anchored　out　in　the　stream。　　On　being　bailed；　a　small　boat　came　in　and　took　us　on　board。　　The　〃captain〃　willingly　agreed　for　a　small　sum　to　carry　us　down　to　San　Francisco；　and；　as　his　whole　crew　consisted　of　a　small　boy　about　twelve　years　old；　we　helped　him　to　get　up　his　anchor　and　pole　the　schooner　down　the　creek　and　out　over　the　bar　on　a　high　tide。　　This　must　have　been　about　2　P。M。　Once　over　the　bar；　the　sails　were　hoisted；　and　we　glided　along　rapidly　with　a　strong；　fair；　northwest　wind。　　The　fog　had　lifted；　so　we　could　see　the　shores　plainly；　and　the　entrance　to　the　bay。　　In　a　couple　of　hours　we　were　entering　tine　bay；　and　running　〃wing…and…wing。〃　Outside　the　wind　was　simply　the　usual　strong　breeze；　but；　as　it　passes　through　the　head　of　the　Golden　Gate；　it　increases；　and　there；　too；　we　met　a　strong　ebb…tide。

The　schooner　was　loaded　with　lumber；　much　of　which　was　on　deck；　lashed　down　to　ring　bolts　with　raw…hide　thongs。　　The　captain　was　steering；　and　I　was　reclining　on　the　lumber；　looking　at　the　familiar　shore；　as　we　approached　Fort　Point；　when　I　heard　a　sort　of　cry；　and　felt　the　schooner　going　over。　　As　we　got　into　the　throat　of　the　〃Heads；〃　the　force　of　the　wind；　meeting　a　strong　ebb…tide；　drove　the　nose　of　the　schooner　under　water；　she　dove　like　a　duck；　went　over　on　her　side；　and　began；　to　drift　out　with　the　tide。　　I　found　myself　in　the　water；　mixed　up　with　pieces　of　plank　and　ropes；　struck　out；　swam　round　to　the　stern；　got　on　the　keel；　and　clambered　up　on　the　side。　　Satisfied　that　she　could　not　sink；　by　reason　of　her　cargo；　I　was　not　in　the　least　alarmed；　but　thought　two　shipwrecks　in　one　day　not　a　good　beginning　for　a　new；　peaceful　career。　　Nobody　was　drowned；　however；　the　captain　and　crew　were　busy　in　securing　such　articles　as　were　liable　to　float　off；　and　I　looked　out　for　some　passing　boat　or　vessel　to　pick　us　up。　　We　were　drifting　steadily　out　to　sea；　while　I　was　signaling　to　a　boat　about　three　miles　off；　toward　Saucelito；　and　saw　her　tack　and　stand　toward　us。　　I　was　busy　watching　this　sail…boat；　when　I　heard　a　Yankee's　voice；　close　behind；　saying；　〃This　is　a　nice　mess　you've　got　yourselves　into；〃　and　looking　about　I　saw　a　man　in　a　small　boat；　who　had　seen　us　upset；　and　had　rowed　out　to　us　from　a　schooner　anchored　close　under　the　fort。　　Some　explanations　were　made；　and　when　the　sail…boat　coming　from　Saucelito　was　near　enough　to　be　spoken　to；　and　the　captain　had　engaged　her　to　help　his　schooner；　we　bade　him　good　by；　and　got　the　man　in　the　small　boat…to　carry　us　ashore；　and　land　us　at　the　foot　of　the　bluff；　just　below　the　fort。　　Once　there；　I　was　at　home；　and　we　footed　it　up　to　the　Presidio。　　Of　the　sentinel　I　inquired　who　was　in　command　of　the　post；　and　was　answered；　〃Major　Merchant。〃　　He　was　not　then　in；　but　his　adjutant；　Lieutenant　Gardner；　was。　　I　sent　my　card　to　him；　he　came　out；　and　was　much　surprised　to　find　me　covered　with　sand；　and　dripping　with　water；　a　good　specimen　of　a　shipwrecked　mariner。　　A　few　words　of　explanation　sufficed；　horses　were　provided；　and　we　rode　hastily　into　the　city；　reaching　the　office　of　the　Nicaragua　Steamship　Company　（C。　K。　Garrison；　agent）　about　dark；　just　as　the　purser　had　arrived；　by　a　totally　different　route。　　It　was　too　late　to　send　relief　that　night；　but　by　daylight　next　morning　two　steamers　were　en　route　for　and　reached　the　place　of　wreck　in　time　to　relieve　the　passengers　and　bring　them；　and　most　of　the　baggage。　I　lost　my　carpet…bag；　but　saved　my　trunk。　　The　Lewis　went　to　pieces　the　night　after　we　got　off；　and；　had　there　been　an　average　sea　during　the　night　of　our　shipwreck；　none　of　us　probably　would　have　escaped。　　That　evening　in　San　Francisco　I　hunted　up　Major　Turner；　whom　I　found　boarding；　in　company　with　General　E。　A。　Hitchcock；　at　a　Mrs。　Ross's；　on　Clay　Street；　near　Powell。　　I　took　quarters　with　them；　and　began　to　make　my　studies；　with　a　view　to　a　decision　whether　it　was　best　to　undertake　this　new　and　untried　scheme　of　banking；　or　to　return　to　New　Orleans　and　hold　on　to　what　I　then　had；　a　good　army　commission。

At　the　time　of　my　arrival；　San　Francisco　was　an　the　top　wave　of　speculation　and　prosperity。　　Major　Turner　had　rented　at　six　hundred　dollars　a　month　the　office　formerly　used　and　then　owned　by　Adams　&　Co。；　on　the　east　side　of　Montgomery　Street；　between　Sacramento　and　California　Streets。　　B。　R。　Nisbet　was　the　active　partner；　and　James　Reilly　the　teller。　　Already　the　bank　of　Lucas；　Turner　&　Co。　　was　established；　and　was　engaged　in　selling　bills　of　exchange；　receiving　deposits；　and　loaning　money　at　three　per　cent。　　a　month。

Page；　Bacon　&　Co。；　and　Adams　&　Co。；　were　in　full　blast　across　the　street；　in　Parrott's　new　granite　building；　and　other　bankers　were　doing　seemingly　a　prosperous　business；　among　them　Wells；　Fargo　&　Co。；　Drexel；　Sather　&　Church；　Burgoyne　&　Co。；　James　King　of　Win。；　Sanders　&　Brenham；　Davidson　&　Co。；　Palmer；　Cook　&　Co。；　and　others。　Turner　and　I　had　rooms　at　Mrs。　Ross's；　and　took　our　meals　at　restaurants　down…town；　mostly　at　a　Frenchman's　named　Martin；　on　the　southwest　corner　of　Montgomery　and　California　Streets。　　General　Hitchcock；　of　the　army；　commanding　the　Department　of　California；　usually　messed　with　us；　also　a　Captain　Mason；　and　Lieutenant　Whiting；　of　the　Engineer　Corps。　　We　soon　secured　a　small　share　of　business；　and　became　satisfied　there　was　room　for　profit。　Everybody　seemed　to　be　making　money　fast；　the　city　was　being　rapidly　extended　and　improved；　people　paid　their　three　per　cent。　a　month　interest　without　fail；　and　without　deeming　it　excessive。　Turner；　Nisbet；　and　I；　daily　discussed　the　prospects；　and　gradually　settled　down　to　the　conviction　that　with　two　hundred　thousand　dollars　capital；　and　a　credit　of　fifty　thousand　dollars　in　New　York；　we　could　build　up　a　business　that　would　help　the　St。　Louis　house；　and　at　the　same　time　pay　expenses　in　California；　with　a　reasonable　profit。　　Of　course；　Turner　never　designed　to　remain　long　in　California；　and　I　consented　to　go　back　to　St。　Louis；　confer　with　Mr。　Lucas　and　Captain　Simonds；　agree　upon　further　details；　and　then　return　permanently。

I　have　no　memoranda　by　me　now　by　which　to　determine　the　fact；　but　think　I　returned　to　New　York　in　July；　1853；　by　the　Nicaragua　route；　and　thence　to　St。　Louis　by　way　of　Lancaster；　Ohio；　where　my　family　still　was。　　Mr。　Lucas　promptly　agreed　to　the　terms　proposed；　and　further　consented；　on　the　expiration　of　the　lease　of　the　Adams　&　Co。　　office；　to　erect　a　new　banking…house　in　San　Francisco；　to　cost　fifty　thousand　dollars。　　I　then　returned　to　Lancaster；　explained　to　Mr。　Ewing　and　Mrs。　Sherman　all　the　details　of　our　agreement；　and；　meeting　their　approval；　I　sent　to　the　Adjutant…General　of　the　army　my　letter　of　resignation；　to　take　effect　at　the　end　of　the　six　months'　leave；　and　the　resignation　was　accepted；　to　take　effect　September　6；　1853。　　Being　then　a　citizen；　I　engaged　a　passage　out　to　California　by　the　Nicaragua　route；　in　the　steamer　leaving　New　York　September　20th；　for　myself　and　family；　and　accordingly　proceeded　to　New　York；　where　I　had　a　conference　with　Mr。　Meigs；　cashier　of　the　American　Exchange　Bank；　and　with　Messrs。　　Wadsworth　&　Sheldon；　bankers；　who　were　our　New　York　correspondents；　and　on　the　20th　embarked　for　San　Juan　del　Norte；　with　the　family；　composed　of　Mrs。　Sherman；　Lizzie；　then　less　than　a　year　old；　and　her　nurse；　Mary　Lynch。　　Our　passage　　down　was　uneventful；　and；　on　the　boats　up　the　Nicaragua　River；　pretty　much　the　same　as　before。　　On　reaching　Virgin　Bay；　I　engaged　a　native　with　three　mules　to　carry　us　across　to　the　Pacific；　and　as　usual　the　trip　partook　of　the　ludicrous　Mrs。　Sherman　mounted　on　a　donkey　about　as　large　as　a　Newfoundland　dog；　Mary　Lynch　on　another；　trying　to　carry　Lizzie　on　a　pillow　before　her；　but　her　mule　had　a　fashion　of　lying　down；　which　scared　her；　till　I　exchanged　mules；　and　my　California　spurs　kept　that　mule　on　his　legs。　　I　carried　Lizzie　some　time　till　she　was　fast　asleep；　when　I　got　our　native　man　to　carry　her　awhile。　　The　child　woke　up；　and；　finding　herself　in　the　hands　of　a　dark…visaged　man；　she　yelled　most　lustily　till　I　got　her　away。　　At　the　summit　of　the　pass；　there　was　a　clear…running　brook；　where　we　rested　an　hour；　and　bathed　Lizzie　in　its　sweet　waters。　　We　then　continued　to　the　end　of　our　journey；　and；　without　going　to　the　tavern　at　San　Juan　del　Sur；　we　passed　directly　to　the　vessel；　then　at　anchor　about　two　miles　out。　To　reach　her　we　engaged　a　native　boat；　which　had　to　be　kept　outside　the　surf。　　Mrs。　Sherman　was　first　taken　in　the　arms　of　two　stout　natives；　Mary　Lynch；　carrying　Lizzie；　was　carried　by　two　others；　and　I　followed；　mounted　on　the　back　of　a　strapping　fellow；　while　fifty　or　a　hundred　others　were　running　to　and　fro；　cackling　like　geese。

Mary　Lynch　got　scared　at　the　surf；　and　began　screaming　like　a　fool；　when　Lizzie　became　convulsed　with　fear；　and　one　of　the　natives　rushed　to　her；　caught　her　out　of　Mary's　arms；　and　carried　her　swiftly　to　Mrs。