178 
CALIFORNIA ILLUSTRATED. 
had been grossly deceived; that the above representations were false. Our 
provisions, many of them, were damaged, and, we were credibly informed, 
were purchased as such at San Francisco. Of some of the articles that are 
indispensable at sea, we were short, and immediately put upon allowance. 
Some of the passengers had made arrangements to work their passage, but 
upon first putting to sea were unable to do duty. The Captain called upon 
them in person, ordering them from their berths and on duty, threatening, 
in case of non-compliance, to put them ashore on the first island. Mr. Sami. 
B. Lewis, of Elmira, N. Y., who was working his passage as under-steward, 
was compelled to do duty when unable, and finally compelled to take to his 
berth, from which he never arose. Just previous to his death he manifested 
a wish to see the Captain, and said, “ If I die my blood will be upon the 
Captain’s head.” 
The invalids, being compelled to live on the coarse fare of the steerage, 
suffered for want of nourishing food, of which the ship was entirely destitute, 
there not being a particle of dried fruit, preserved meats, wines, or any one 
of the articles thought indispensably necessary on ship-board. 
The physician, (whose father and Captain Smith were the owners of the 
ship,) paid no other attention to the sick than dealing out medicines, which he 
did only at the most exorbitant charges. In some instances, passengers, after 
having been sick for days without nourishment, were obliged to buy flour of 
the Captain at exorbitant prices, and cook with their own hands something 
to sustain life. 
There have been five deaths on board, during the voyage. Wm. F. Capron, 
of Palmyra, N. Y., we do most solemnly believe died for want of proper 
nourishment; and in the case of Wm. B. Lewis, we believe he was brought 
to a premature death, by treatment received at the hands of the Captain, 
together with the want of proper nourishment after his prostration. 
Aside from the above unheard-of conduct, Capt. Smith went to sea with¬ 
out a single life or quarter-boat, consequently entirely unprepared to save life 
in case of accident, showing a recklessness of human life in the highest de¬ 
gree reprehensible, which should not be passed over in silence. 
We regret exceedingly that we are obliged to make the above charges 
against an American Captain, a class of men so justly celebrated for philan¬ 
thropy and kindness; but the circumstances under which we are placed 
leave no alternative; and we hereby most respectfully request that our 
Consul at Panama will immediately enforce the law in this case, believing 
that a few public examples will put an end to the abuse. 
At Sea, January 61h, 1850, lat. 6° A, Ion. 92° W., having sailed from San 
Francisco, 28th November, 1849. 
{Signed) 
Robt. N. Tate, First Mate of Ship Edward Everett. 
J. M. Letts, N. Y. W. Cook, Mo. J. J. Starky, 
N. N. Rapelye, “ Wm. Tanner, u R. H. Caldwell, 
“ J. K. Turk, 
J. R. Thorne, 
11 J. Scorbough, 
J. H. R. Fairchild, “ J. H. Hess, 
D. McCully, 
Iowa. 
Ohio. 
a 
Iowa. 
