The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1848-08-05
Trip to the Lake Shore.

took massage on that fine steamer the California
Capt Griffin, when learned, instead of her usual
trip to Biloxi, she would extend her route to PaSca
goula, land some troops, and go over to Fensacola
a trip as much desired as unexpected.
The cars started little before 10 A. NJ, when we
left this hot, drizzly, murky atmosphere for the
cheering breezes of the lakes. We soon left IN the
distance ST. Patrick's tower twould be steeple)
and the st. Charles dome, the last objects that
greet the eye on leaving and the first approach
ing this renowned Babal Crescent City of musque-
toes of rats, of mud and murk and pestilence, OF
rain, and rabid animals, and hydrophObia of the
human kind where every dog has his day-but alas!
where these dogdays sad days for the poor dogs
The tower reminds one of the meek and lOwly,
seeking, by their virtues and devotion, habation
among the angels, where strife and worldly cares
cease to trouble Whereas the dome brings to mind
worshippers of Heather deities, where the Baccha
nalians hold their orgies in song and mirth and gee
where also, the god of battles presdes-where the
sons of Mars receive the worldly honOrs from the
spontaneous offering of grateful people-for con-
quests slaughter and bloOdshed, and other innocent
sports As we lost sight of these last tokens OF
large metropolis, passing over cross streets oil mud
and ditch, and mire; and by the side of the still
! more miry road of POntchartrain, leaving the
| swampy landscape, as level as the sea, on either
| side covered with grass and shrubs, stumps and
stubs with occasional heards Ofcatte baskng under
! the shade of the live-oak, We emerged suddenly
| INTO thick chaparraI of shrubbery mingled with
| live and deadlock the former testOOned with gray
| MOSS like bpeds Just returned from foreign ser
vice. and soon arrived again where there were EVIL
dences of civilizatOn-the most CONSPICUOUS OF
| which is the Washington Hotel, on the left OF the
| Pontchartrain depot We passed on the railway
| over the margin of the lake, and took our passage
| on the magnificent steamer, the California, before
| named, bound to Pensacola, and, with good head
| of steam, we departed about II O'Clock, NJ, and
soon left our starting point in the distance A1ter
| passing over this portion Of lake POntchartran, we
| entered the straits called the RegOets, where we
| passed under the magnetic wires, and soon entered
lake Borgne and at O'Clock P NJ. landed the pas
sengers for the Bay of St Louis their destination.
After rounding the point, we landed the Pass Chris
tan passengers and those passengers for Mississippi
City had their turn, when we soon arrived at Biloxi,
where we made the different landings, and were
off about O'Clock, p. NJ for Pascagoula, where we
arrived about II o'clock, landed the troops and
were again under way at O'Clock A. NJ, for Pensa-
|
and after enjoying delightful sea-breeze for four
or five hours, out side arrived at the bay Of Pensa-
cola passed the g. S Navy yard. on the left, at s,
and at 9 M. reached our destination at this de-
lightfully located city of Pensacola. This is the
| county seat for Escambia county. 1t has court
house and jaiI-those evidences of civilization, and
numbers about two thousand inhabitants. The
churches are, Catholic, l Episcopalian, ! Presby
terian l Methodist, and Baptist. The main street
is continuation of the landing, at the commence
ment of which there is a market and public square;
this street is called PaaoX, after the Spanish Cen
eral who so bravely defended SaragOssa; it seems
to be the Broadway of the city, and divides the
town nearly in the centre. Those streets on the
right, running in the same parallel, are Taragona,
Akaniz, Florida, and CanalIas those on the left
are Baylen, Barcelona, and Reus; those which
cross these, are SaragOssa, Government, lntenden-
cia Roman, Garden, Chase, and Gregory. In the
rear of the city there several charming springs,
where the pure fresh water bubbles up through the
white sand, the very sight of which, under clear
sky and bright sun, enough to make one thirst,
in spite of safety on peaches and melons. What
a glorious sight for water-dOctors and temperance
lecturers! These springs run off by a lively little
stream called the Marsh Branch and discharge into
the bay, on the east of the city. On the west the
Aguada, or WasherwOman's branch, makes It's
debouche into the bay, on the west or southwest
border of the city. Pensacola was the name given
this bay by the natives.
1t was discovered by Narvaez in 1926, and was
first settled by the Spaniards in 1896 Its first Gov
ernor was Andrew Arvala. The French took it
in l7I9, and it was retaken by the Spaniards, and
| byrt III III no lott
retained it until l722 when it was restored to the
Spaniards.
On the 18th of November 1914, it was taken by
Gen. Jackson. The English, who were the allies
of the Spaniards here at the time, We're driven out
of the city and harbor and on their retreat, they
destroyed Fort Charles, Fort Barancas, and St. Ra
ca This city, presume, has retained its contour
and physognomy since its last conquest that one
cOnvesant with it then will recognize in it the same
Spanishrown, very little defaced by Improvements
or marred by diapidation.
At O'Clock, P. NJ, we took our departure down
the Bay, and arrived at Pascagoua at 9 O'Clock P
NJ, and Biloxi at early dawn. Here remained
during Saturday and Sunday, until the California
made her trip to the city and returned
Biloxi is exposed to the sea breezes from the south
and east, and for a distance of two miles or more
from the LlglI House 10 MAJ ETdQdL s, Inc cOaS
is lined with public and private boarding houses
with some few private dwellings in the rear. The
public houses are-Phpnix House, kept by Mr.
Smith; Magnolia House, by Capt Cos; Shady
Grove, by Vought d Tucker; New Ocean House
by Wetzel; Ocean House, by Mr.. Ruble Elme
House, by Elmer; franklin House, by Mr.. Me
rams; Biloxi Hotel, by Mr.. Nixon; Green Oak, by
Mad. Pradat These, as well as many private
boarding houses, have each their landings and batl
houses. Their landings consist of piles that sustain
plank, and run from one to two hundred yards int
the gulf or harbOr where the bath houses are cree
ted and the steamboats, land. These frail structure
are rckety affairs. 1t were pity that the citizens
would not far fraterni7e to make one substan
tal landing, and if need be, run it out TO the dee
channel where the boats ght land at all stages o
the water. The tides here seem to be governed b,
the sea and land breezes, there is but one tide il
the "a hours There is a greatneggence also man