William Penn Abrams, 1866

The Abrams House, Sanbornton, New Hampshire
   

New Orleans, 1851

    EXTRAORDINARY BALLOON EXCURSION.--Yesterday afternoon a great crowd of people assembled near the corner of Poydras and St. Charles streets to witness the feats of M. Victor Verdalle, who had announced that he would ascend with his balloon at 4 o'clock not, as is customary, in a car, but attached to the balloon by a rope, his "feet to heaven, head to earth," and, so ascending, would perform some most wonderful aerial feats. Faith, and he did. We did not see his exhibition previous to and immediately after starting, but we saw him when at his greatest height, and witnessed his extraordinary declension. The afternoon was exceedingly favorable for the daring aeronaut, but an accident occurred as he started which placed him in great danger, as the event showed. It seems that when all was ready for the ascent and the word was given to let go, a rent of some four feet was made in the balloon by getting foul of a post. The gas, of course, commenced escaping, the balloon at the same time rising majestically, and Verdalle going through his novel performances, to the great delight of the assembled multitude. The balloon did not rise to a very great height, but went off steadily in a northern direction, the gas all the time making its escape. As it passed over Canal Street, we had a fine view, and continued watching the progress of the aerial voyager until the grand catastrophe occurred.
    The first thing we noticed preparatory to the sudden "decline and fall" of Verdalle and his balloon was the canting over of the latter. Before this, however, it seems that Verdalle was aware of his danger, and had prepared to meet it. The next thing we saw (immediately after the canting) was a great explosion of its swelling outline, and its instantaneous fall from a height of several hundred feet. We expected to hear nothing else than that M. Victor Verdalle was "among the things that were," that in descending from his high position he was dashed to pieces. Such appeared to be the opinion of everyone--such was the prevailing report last evening. But the opinion and the report were both incorrect. M. Victor Verdalle, who must have been born under a lucky planet, still lives, and, we understand, showed himself in some of our public places last evening, to convince the skeptical. It seems that on being precipitated to the earth, he landed in a garden on Moreau Street, Third Municipality, and, wonderful to relate, escaped without sustaining the slightest injury. The only way to account for this miraculous escape is by the supposition that as the wind was pretty strong, the balloon was in a measure kept up so as to break the fall. Loud cheers from the assembled crowd greeted the daring man when it was ascertained that notwithstanding the fearful rapidity of his fall, he was "sound, wind, limb and eyesight." M. Verdalle yesterday gave the most wonderful proof of his proficiency in "grand and lofty tumbling" we ever witnessed. Neither Stone & McCollum, Stickney, Nunn, Lipman & Co., nor any other circus company, can boast of such a wonderful performer as M. Verdalle.
New Orleans Crescent, March 12, 1849, page 5

FOR CALIFORNIA.

    To sail 15th, by Engagement, without fail.
    FOR CALIFORNIA, via CHAGRES.--The fine, fast-sailing, coppered and copper-fastened brig PEDRAZA, Captain Terry. Plan of the Cabins and accommodations at the office of the subscribers. Persons desirous of dispatch will do well to engage their berths in time, as the Pedraza will sail positively on that day, and will be the first vessel from this port. For terms and engagement apply to the Captain, on board, at Post 9, Second Municipality, or to

JOHN W. ANDREWS, 91 Common st.

New Orleans Crescent, March 12, 1849, page 5

    FIRST ATTEMPT TO NAVIGATE ACROSS THE ISTHMUS.--Capt. L. B. Terry, of the brig Pedraza, has furnished us the journal of his trip from Chagres to Panama and back. We give it in part, to show how the difficulties of the trip have been exaggerated, but principally because it records the first practical attempt to take a boat across the Isthmus--this dreadful Isthmus--at the horrors of which the people shuddered a few weeks ago.

----

    Left Chagres Saturday evening, April 7, at 7 o'clock, in a canoe navigated by two native boys. At 9 o'clock stopped at Rincona, a small village containing about fifty small huts of bamboo, thatched with palmetto leaves. Obtained here some poor coffee. Early Sunday morning, at 8, proceeded up the river; stopped at Dos Hermanos and took breakfast. This is the head of steam navigation at the present low stage of water. It is called twenty miles from here to Chagres. At 9 o'clock proceeded up the river. At 10½ came to the first rapids. The water was quite shoal and the current about four and a half miles the hour in the strength of the rapid. Through the day passed several rapids not quite so bad as the first. Stopped by the bank in the night and slept soundly in the canoe. On Monday, the 9th, proceeded early up the river, against a current about two and a half miles per hour, save in the shallows, and then about four miles. At 3 p.m. arrived at Gorgona, and met a very warm reception at the tent of the Cincinnati Mining and Manufacturing Company. Stayed with them all night. Tuesday morning left for Panama on a pony, in company with Major Motz, of Cincinnati. Had a fine ride, in the shade most of the time, with a very fair road and beautiful scenery. All the way there were tents every six or eight miles, where you can obtain refreshments. At the Half Way House, kept by a genuine Yankee, you can get as good a plate of pork and beans as Boston can produce--or even Beverly. At 3 p.m. arrived at Panama, and put up at the American Hotel.
    On Friday, the 13th, at 9½ a.m. left for Chagres. Passed on the road in the mountains three ladies on horseback. They appeared to be in good spirits and perfectly at home on their surefooted little ponies. At noon stopped at the Half Way House and dined on pork and beans; there met Mr. and Mrs. Angier and their three little children--one but sixteen months old, which she carried in her lap as her pony wended his way through the mountain passes.
    At 2 p.m. fell in with the American boat Panama Express, Ryan, master, with a crew of 35 men, two days out from Gorgona, bound to Panama. He wished to be reported with all his crew. It was a curious sight, that of a small boat in the mountains, seven miles from the nearest water, manned by a crew of thirty-five Americans, cutting down trees and pulling their boat (of nine tons burthen) over hill and dale. She had been two days on her voyage when Capt. T. passed her, and calculated--if not interrupted by many gales, or thrown by some mountain billow on the rocks--to arrive at Panama in six days.
The Daily Picayune, New Orleans, May 2, 1849, page 2

LATE FROM THE ISTHMUS.

    We are indebted to Capt. L. B. Terry, of the brig Pedraza, which arrived yesterday from Chagres, for some interesting items concerning the state of affairs on the Isthmus. The Pedraza sailed from Chagres on the 25th ult., in company with the brig Le Vert, bound to New York. Capt. Terry crossed over to Panama, but unfortunately lost all his Panama [news]papers when returning. He reports the following vessels in port bound for the gold regions: American whaling ship Niantic, to leave 20th April--her charge for passengers was $200 for cabin and $150 for steerages; the English brig Brothers, to sail on 20th--chartered for $35,000; Peruvian brig Josephine, to sail 22nd--price of passage $200; two small Chilean brigs, to sail soon--price of passage $150 and $200; four Chilean schooners, to sail as soon as they could be fitted out, which would be by the 23rd. A large brig and a topsail schooner were coming in as Capt. Terry left Panama, on the 14th. He understood the brig was chartered, before she anchored, for $10,000 to go to California. The American Consul informed Capt. Terry that two large whale ships were expected every moment; also the American steamer California and a British steamer, and it was thought that they would take away nearly all the passengers on the Isthmus. Capt. Terry thinks there will be plenty of vessels at Panama in a few days to take off all the passengers who have means to get away, and at low rates of fare. It is perfectly healthy on the Isthmus, and the traveling good across the mountains.
    The Pedraza left at Chagres the brig Dr. Hitchcock, to sail in two days for Galveston; the schr. Galena, for a northern port, next day; and the steamer Maria Burt, for New Orleans, same day.--New Orleans Commercial Bulletin.
Weekly Commercial, Wilmington, North Carolina, May 11, 1849, page 3