The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1842-02-23
TO THE PASSAGE
OF THE GREAT NORTHERN MAIL

OF these distractions, their nature and ex-
tent, some notion may be formed by the follow
ing extract from the report of one Of the agents
of the Department, despatched by the Posmas
ter General to make reconnaissance of the
routes where delays have occurred.
Among the first reforms of the Postmaster
General, whose whole time is given, with IN
weared assduity to the duties of the Depart
ment, was to reduce the pay of the Agents from
$1,000 to $1,000 per annnum and, by that
means increase the number; and all these
agents have been put, and are kept in active and
unceasing discharge of their duties detecting
depredations, correcting Irregularities, and ex-
posing the delinquences of mail curriers' and
Postmasters, and in looking after and taking
care of the property Of the Department. That
these Special Agents enjoy no sinecure, is sufii-
GENTLY apparent.
C COLUMBUS, (GEo.) Feb. Ia, 1912.
sMy safe arrival at Columbus is matter of astonish
ment to me; for may almost say with truth the
horses were compelled to scm with the stages from
Madison to this point. 1t has now been raining con-
stanty for five days, and the whole of this country is
completely deuged The mails have failed in all this
country so far as | can ascertain In order to give
you some idea of the difficulties attending the trans
portation of the mails in this region at this particular
time, will give you brief history of my trip from
Madison to Columbus left Madison on the night of
the 10Th instant, with the great Southern mail, and
after travelling ten miles, came to Indian creek, the
bridge of which had been taken off early in January
by flood. The mail carrier had crossed it about
five hours previous to reaching it, with all ease
but the darkness of the night prevented seeing
the extent to which it was swollen and the awful dan
ger which we were to encounter; went, and
after going about fifty yards suddenly came to the
current, which suppose ten or fifteen feet deep,
as it nearly covered The top Of the stage it impossi
BILE to retrace our steps, and we were rapidly taken
down the stream by the current stage and horses all
swimming, and it was. with much difficulty that my
self and two other passengers succeeded in getting
through the windows of the stage, but fortunately
succeeded in gaining the top of it, moment lost all
would have persisted. After floating down some so or
60 yards the stage struck drift which prevented
the further progress of it; the driver then cut the
horses loose and they swan to the land, but were
compelled to remain in this condition. the top Of The
stage, some four or five hours, when the water fell
sufficiently to enable u.s. with the help of some persons
near at hand TO get the stage and mail out safethe
latter completely soaked with water. After getting
the horses we went on and cam four other creeks be-
fore reaching the Ocmulgee river, which stopped our
further progress and after remaining on the banks
about hours, succeeded in passing the mail to the
opposite bank in canoe finally, the stage coming
from the South reached us and took the mail passen-
gers, sc. We continued our journey for about Is
miles, until we reached Sand creek, which had swol
len so much since the stage crossed in passing
that it was impossible to ford it it was then dark
and the only thing we could do was to seek shelter
until morning. After getting to house, prevailed
on the owner of it to give me a separate room, il
which opened the letter mail bags, and dried thu
packages as well as could without opening them