A VISIT TO EUROPE 331 



Saturday, May 23d, '68. 



I have procured passage to Europe on board of the SS. 

 "Bavaria," Capt. Meyer, at the cost of one hundred and 

 thirty-nine dollars, paper money (or one hundred dollars 

 in gold). Last Tuesday I went to Hoboken to see the 

 Hamburg American Liner "Cimbria" leave the port; she 

 is undoubtedly one of the finest steamers afloat and pow- 

 erfully strong in build.* 



The remaining time was spent in visiting and writing 

 letters to California friends. My departure from New 

 York was accompanied by another heavy storm. The 

 weather continued more or less unfavorable. 



Hamburg, June the 7th, 1868. 

 The trip across the ocean has been anything but pleas- 

 ant, owing to the inclemency of the weather, though ac- 

 commodations and treatment leave nothing to wish for. 

 The passage from New York to Southampton occupied 

 twelve days and fourteen hours. How I enjoyed the last 

 few minutes as we passed Blankenese, Ottensen, Altona 

 and then rapidly approached the dear old Hamburg once 

 more! I made Zingg's Hotel, opposite the big "Ex- 

 change," my headquarters; it is one of the most reliable 

 and consequently is the best patronized place, where 

 principally merchants congregate. This afternoon I took 

 a long walk around town and found many improvements 

 since my visit of seventeen years ago. 



Wednesday, June 12th, 1868. 

 My sojourn rested me, and would probably have been 

 extended had I not just received a telegram which an- 



*And it was just this strong steamer which, a few years later, 

 while leaving Hamburg during a very foggy night with over 

 four-hundred passengers on board, collided with a small British 

 coal-vessel, the "Vulcan," whose drunken captain, Cole by name, 

 had previously caused great damage to the "Marguerite Fran- 

 chetti." Strangely enough, the "Cimbria," sank instantly, while 

 only twenty-three lives were saved. Among those drowned were 

 seventeen American Indians and most members of the grand 

 American circus "Salamonski," together witl* a magnificent col- 

 lection of trained animals. — Translator, 



