Title:
Travel diary: New York to San Francisco and the Panama Railroad accident of May 6, 1856, 1856 Apr. 12-May 25
Abstract:
Small leather bound dated diary (12 x 8 cm) of an unidentified man describing a trip from New York City to San Francisco via
the steamship George Law and Panama Railroad. After leaving Aspinwall [i.e. Colon], Panama by train he describes the occurence
of a deadly train accident on May 6th, 1856 with numerous fatalities and injuries that left "50 dead" and "two hundred badly
wounded." He describes the oppressive heat and humidity the passengers endured while waiting for help and that on their return
to Aspinwall they are escorted by soldiers and he finds an 18 month old child alone at the hotel. He arrives in San Francisco
on May 22 and writes, "I am perfectly delighted with the climate." The last dated entry, May 25th, is simply noted as Sabbath
morning with no other details. Other details include three complete recipes for soda bread, soft sponge cake, and soft ginger
cake.
Date:
1856 (issued)
Subject:
n-us-ca -- n-us-ny -- ncpn---
Voyages to the Pacific coast -- Personal narratives
Railroad accidents -- Panama
Voyages vers la côte du Pacifique -- Récits personnels
Chemins de fer -- Accidents -- Panamá
Railroad accidents
Travel
Voyages to the Pacific coast
Colón (Panama) -- Description and travel
Panama
Panama -- Colón
Panama Railroad Co.
George Law (Steamship)
Panama Railroad Co.
Note:
Transferred from the Harmon Bell papers (BANC MSS C-B 897).
Gift; Harmon Bell estate via Mrs. Jean Wolfe ; 19930430.
"By the authentic accounts of the Panama Railroad accident, it appears that the loss of life was almost entirely among the
steerage passengers by the George Law. It happened this way. Three trains left Aspinwall for Panama, with the passengers of
the George Law, some nine hundred in number; the first containing the baggage, the second the cabin passengers, and the third
the steerage passengers. After the freight train got off the tracks, it was deemed advisable to return with the other two
trains to Aspinwall. Accordingly the passenger trains were united, and the two locomotives turned round on the turntable,
and attached to the rear of the combined train, thus bringing the steerage passengers to the fore part of the train, as it
returned toward Aspinwall. The nine cars therefore which were smashed, were filled with the steerage passengers of the George
Law which left New York on the 21st of April last." -- New York Daily Times (1851-1857), May 17, 1856., p. 1.
In English.
Preferred citation: Travel diary : New York to San Francisco and the Panama Railroad accident of May 6, 1856, 1856 Apr. 12-May
25., BANC MSS 2008/257, The Bancroft Library, University of California, Berkeley.
Type:
Cookbook
recipes.
cookbooks.
Recipes
Personal narratives
Recipes.
Cookbooks.
Diaries.
Recettes.
Livres de cuisine.
Physical Description:
print
1 v.
Language:
English
Origin:
California