The Argonauts of California: being the reminiscenses of scenes and incidents that occurred in California in the early mining days

by Charles Warren Haskins

Arrival in Callao—The Relics of the Earthquake—The Frolic with the English Officers—Target Shooting—The Calm—Water Spouts—The Shark.

THE ship’s course was now directed towards the port of Callao, Peru, where we arrived about the 10th of August. We remained in this port about eight days, visiting in the meantime the beautiful city of Lima located at the foot of the mountains, a few miles inland, and a portion of the earth where a rain-storm is unknown.

We found that the chief and principal amusements here at this time consisted in cock and bull fighting; the grand arena, with its gorgeous trappings, being situated adjacent to and under the shadow of the principal cathedral of the city.

In the town of Callao we saw the ruins of the old city which was partially submerged by an earthquake in 1765, at which time a ship being at anchor in the harbor was carried by the returning tidal wave about five miles inland, where the old hull was deposited and could be plainly seen. At ebb tide, the tiled roofs of many old buildings can yet be seen upon the sandy beach; but the greater portion, however, of the submerged town lies in deep water, above which vessels in the harbor ride at anchor.

A little incident which occurred here in the city of Lima upon the day previous to our arrival, as we heard related is perhaps worth recording. Upon our arrival in the port of Callao, we found lying at anchor there, the U. S. sloop of war “St. Mary,” as well as the English man-of-war “Asia,” and an English sloop of war, the name of which I have forgotten. There was also in port a ship from Norfolk, Va., having on board as passengers about forty young men from Richmond and other Southern cities on their way to California. There was a feeling of jealousy existing among the English officers and these young Southern bloods in the city of Lima, from the fact that the latter seemed to attract more attention

from the ladies of Castilian blood. The English officers were determined to revenge themselves, and they endeavored to do it, and to further show their contempt for Americans generally in a despicable manner. The latter, upon one occasion, concluded to have a regular champagne dinner, and engaged for the purpose the large dining-room of the only American hotel in the city, which they arranged to occupy at 2 P.M. of the day appointed. The English officers, to the number of thirty, having been informed of the intention of the Americans, found now their opportunity for revenge by taking possession of the dining-room at the appointed time, and locking the doors, thus interfering with the arrangements. Unfortunately for them, however, they had never fully understood the real nature of American pluck, as one of the English officers was afterwards ready and willing to admit.

At the appointed time the Americans met at the hotel, but only to find the doors to the dining-room locked and the room occupied by the English officers. After a short consultation, a tall, fine-looking specimen of one of the F. F. V’s knocked upon the door, demanding instant admission, but, of course, was refused. Two minutes was then allowed, and in case of refusal they were informed that the door would be broken in. “Do so, at your peril,” came from the inside; and almost instantly the door went in with a crash, and the tall Virginian, stepping inside to the head of the table, seized a bottle of wine and threw it with full force, striking the center of the table beyond, and bounding to the wall upon the opposite end of the room. At the same time, thirty or forty Americans, well prepared, filed in and took their stations behind the English officers, who leaped to their feet, and with their short swords flourishing above their heads demanded instant satisfaction for the insult. They were informed by the leader of the opposite party that it was the latter who demanded satisfaction, and that the former must instantly leave the room, or the Americans would enforce the demand. After some loud talking and threats from the leaders of both sides had been indulged in, a more quiet and subdued tone was used; mutual explanations followed; suitable apologies were given, and a general hand-shaking followed. Swords were sheathed, and fortunately the danger of a conflict was averted; seats, as well as an additional supply of champagne and other refreshments, were ordered. The Americans were very cordially invited to partake of the festivities, which invitation they accepted, and peace and harmony prevailed.

One effect of this incident, was a greater respect for the American people, or at least that portion of them who were at present in the harbor of Callao; for, upon the day following the incident, the passengers of the American ships were very cordially invited on board of H. M. ship of war the “Asia,” and were received in the most hospitable manner. Furthermore, through the influence of her commander, a few passengers of one of the American ships who were detected in the act of smuggling on shore a quantity of tobacco, were released upon promising to do so no more.

Going on shore one day, we found on the sandy beach three or four English officers who were practicing target-shooting. The target was a board twelve or fourteen inches square, and placed at a distance of one-hundred yards. They were practicing with the English sporting rifles, some of them being fixed up in a beautiful style and ornamented with silver. These rifles were fired from a rest, and with this advantage even, the target was hit but twice out of five shots. One of our boys remarked to them that he had an old U. S. musket on board of the ship, and offered to wager that he could put four balls out of five into the target, off hand. One of the Englishmen asserted that that was a huge joke “ye know”; but requested our passenger to bring it on shore and prove his assertion, which he proceeded to do. There was much merriment among them when he returned, bringing with him an old style Springfield rifle, or Jæger, as they were usually called; but when this youth, off-hand, put four balls out of five into the target, their merriment subsided, and in fact they were astonished. They asked many questions, and when informed that the U. S. army was armed with this sort of thing they marveled greatly, and desired permission to take it on board of H. M. ship of war for inspection, which they did, remarking upon its return that it was an ugly looking thing; but “by Jove, the way it shoots is simply marvelous, ye know!”