The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1839-02-06
fortunate as to meet with such disaster.

lie CUES, Towns, nuu viIiages are al
ways great objects Of attention, and Great
a general rush for the guards and uppe
deck. But the greatest rush is at meal
times, on board crowded boat. This i
often really disgraceful. There are fire.
quen,ly three times as many passengers q
can sit down at one time, aud none of then
have any disposition to wait for the secon,
table, especially in the morning. Tn,
moment the table is ready, the gentlemen
present rush forward, and place theil
hands on the backs of the chairs, signify
ing that they have claimed the seats. A
few chairs are left vacant at the head o
the table, for the ladies', not out Of polite
ness, but because gentlemen are well awar.
that II more chairs are needed AT that enc
ot the table they may be crowded out
The captain, or some gentleman who has a
lady under his care now walks into the Ia.
dies cabin and announces that the table i,
ready. As soon as the ladies are all seated
the steward rings the table bell, and the
shareholders spring into their seats and
commence operations. IL there be any
particular dish on board, better than the
rest, every experienced traveller seizes it,
US soon MS possible, helps himself mosi
plenteuusly, and passes it to his neigl,bor-
understanding perfectly well that the most
precious morsels never come within n per-
sons reach but once.-HdviHg made sever.
al elfectual snllies across the table, and Sc
cured a good quantity Of edibles, the trav-
eller next begins to kick the stray legs that
encumher his premises, and at length clears
comfortable resting place for his feet
halts moment 10 get breath, and then
commences the grand attack.
have somewhere read of a man so ex.
ceedingy modest, that he would resign his
seat at steamboat table to any man that
looked him hard IN the face, and If per-
, son trod on his toes, he would beg the gen
ilemnn's pardon. Some unfortunate char
acters of this description I have noticed on
hoard tho Western steamboats,. | have
seen one of them stand and gaze AT az
empty chair until the table bell struck, with
out daring to place a stout hand upon it
rs others do, and just ms he was about I,
sit down, another person would step up
and seize the chair, aud coolly crowd thi
pink Of modes;y from the tablc-and h,
would retire, chagrined and mortified, bu
us quiet and as meek as whipped spaniel
| The same unpleasant scramble for place.
prevails to u grea: extent al oil the publ,
! houses at the West. The boarders collec
/ in ,he entry, aud about tho door of the di
ming hall, aud watch the motions Of the
landlord, until the table bell strikes and
then comes the grand rush La twink
! ling, the fresh eggs, and early peas, and
/ nice meats, disappear from the board, and
| the void thu, created is rarely tiled with
more.
! II rs said TINT q poor fellow once fell
down in the doorway ofhs Hotel st Quin-
cy, Illinois, and the whole train Of board
ers, aud travellers, walked over his body
! into the dining hall before he was able 10
rise. Angry disputes frequently occur at
these promiscuous tables, and warm words
and hot potatoes are hurled from one to n
uo,her with great violence. have witness
sed some scenes Of this description Of the
most dishonorablc character.
] The Western Steamboats, do not run in
regular lines, starting from particular cities
at stated periods, and they have no estnb-
lished rates Of fare. They hang out sign
announcing :he place of destination-and
start when they have obtained sufficient
number Of passengers, or y sufficient A.
mount Of freight. Go on board, and ask
/ the clerk when the boat will stnr,, and b,
will tell you, perhaps, that evening, or III,
next morning, and vet it may be two ol
three days, before shs will leave port. The
time Of starring will be changed two or
three times every day, and the hnuds vii
be ordered to fire up," to raise the steam,
and produce smoke, TO induce people tc
heliev. that the boat is nearly ready to start
This is often very ycxstious to travellers.
Ask the clerk of Western s,enmboa
the price Of passage from Pittsburg Il
Saint Louis, and he will tell you sIs. G.,
to another boat, equally good, and they vii
carry you for Sl5-and ifthere are mum
bsr of boats in port nj the time, and III,
water is high, you may secure n passag,
down the whole course of the Ohio, inca
one thousand miles, and the bes, Of boarc
and attention during the time, for the smal
sum of ten or twelve dollars, or ebout one
cent per mile.
I The time which may be consumed 10 the
psssage from one place to another, 10 quite
as uncertain a. the time Of starting. The
boats stop at every river town Of nny note
to receive and discharge freight, and some
times remain = day or two Mt one place
aud so gs on, jobtiog from place TO place
rs chance Of business may determine
SOMETIMES boat goes only half as far n
she sdveriised-shirs her freight AND psssen
gers into another bost-fiIls up again will
other freight, aud returns.
Nearly all iha, have ever heard or rear
concerning the fertility Of the Western soil
and the beauty Of the county, I found it,
orally and Substantially true. Speskin.
generally, the Valley Of the Upper Mi"is
sippi is one vas, rolling prairie, divided int,
rich hsnxilx Iinnher red hnifnrn Innds oak o.