The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-06-29
THE DAILY DISPATCH.
Richmsnd. Jane 20. 1883.
Correspondsnce Of tho Dispas ch.

s'sstppi Scenery-Nep Madrid and Us
Earthquakes- Cairo and its Roads-San1
Bars sgain-Fare Of Westers Boats
Louisville, Cincinnati and Western
Towns. M
CINCINNATI, June 18th. Il
The theme OF this letter was intended to have
been embraced in my last, but in view Of the
prospective connection Of Richmond with
Memphis by railroad at an early day, con.
cluded to devote that letter to some account Of
Memphis. Ii was indeed from the necessarily
brief nature oi the sketch, very imperfect.
forgot 10 mention one very important feature,
and that is the fine naval depot established
there BY the Federal Government. With it is
connected a rope walk, said to be the most
extensive in the Union. The whole establish.
ment is remarkable for the beauty and solidity
Of its plan and architecture. ~ y
From Memphis we retraced our course along
the Mississippi, in the superb steamer, the
Robert J. Ward. Captain Miller. The river
was covered with drift wood, which we under.
stood came from the Missouri, which was
flooded. There was little in our route to no
tIce that have not already described in the &C.
count of lour downward voyage. did not
mention those lovely inclined planes of living
green that are often seen on the shores of the
Mississippi. They occur where the river is
forming new ground opposite those shores it
is wearing away. Immediately new ground is
formed, the prolific cotton wood springs up and
grows with a sort Of Jacks bean stalk rapid
ty. AS the shore gradually extends, new
wood forms, and in time the beautiful inclined
plane appears-the cotton wood trees farthest
off waving in their pride of maturity at 60 feet
high, and near the waters edge the young
plant, thick set and green, is just above the
earth, while the intervening space is covered
with dense forest of the same growth rising
with regularity that astonishes the beholder.
The traveller is interested in the locality OF
New Madrid, Missouri, 166 miles above Mem
phis. 1t was once place of note; but now
has only about 500 inhabitants. In 1911 and
1912 it was visited by dreadful earthquakes
which sunk thousands of acres and formed
multitudes of lakes in and around it. The vii
lage church yard and its sleeping tenants were
precipitated into the river. Few people per.
ished; but the convuIsions of the earth were
of the most terrible character. The deep ba-
sins and lakes which were then formed are
still to be seen. The place has gloomy ap.
pearance.
Cairo, at the junction of the Mississippi and
Ohio rivers, became famous some years since
for its grand schemes and its being afterwards
submerged by a great food in the Ohio-its
inhabitants being taken away in boats to save
their lives. They would not stay drowned out
however; but returned to their muddy town
when the Ohio retired. That incident ofciviliza.
ton and commerce, bank ofcrculation and
deposi,e, even, sprung up there and broke and
the people lost heavily and deeply damned all
connected with it. Still there must have been
some smart people in Cairo, who used with ef-
feet on others the advantages OF its locality, at
the junction of the two great rivers, thousand
miles from Pittsburg and a thousand from
New Orleans on the one hand and the Falls of
st. Anthony on the other. They contrived to
interest even the Rothschilds in it, and leyee
Of considerable elevation, at a cost ofa million
of dollars, was constructed to keep out the wa.
ter. Still the place fingers in insignifcance.-
1t is to be the terminus of the great Illinois
Central Railroad, which they were at work
upon as we passed. The Mobile and Ohio
Railroad, too, will strike the Ohio Immediately
opposite Cairo. If these two improvements
cannot lift her out Of the mud, they had better
bury Cairo at once and be done with her.
Our route was uninterrupted to the neigh.
borhood of Shawneetown, where again the
lead sounded 81 and feet, and there we
ran hard on. After some time backed of, ran
ashore and tied up for the night. In the morn.
ing found the boat going down stream-the
captain having concluded to put his passengers
on the frst boat and go back to New Orleans.
We met first little stern wheel boat called the
"Tiber," with room for twenty passengers, on
which it was proposed 10 put us all-exceed.
ing two hundred in number! We declined -
Went little farther and met the "Empire,"-
large enough for one.fourth of our number
but all of US crowded on board and put of for
Loui 'ville. At night we lay packed like her.
rings on the floor of the saloon. Ii took three
tables to accommodate us all at meals, and
we who were SO unfortunate as not TO have
beds, were rallied by those who had, as "se
ceud class passengers.,' 1t was sad change
from the Robert j. Ward 10 the Empire. as
you may the more fxlly understand when YOU
know that added to the room and comfort of
the Ward, were such bills of fare as follows:
BILL OF FARE FOR DINNER.
SoUP-Gumbo.
FIsH-Red Snapper, crumbed Sleeps Head, boil.
"a ese sauce broiied Pompano.
BolLEpc-Ham, Turkey, Mutton, capen saucs;
..ENT.EEs--E.caloped Chicken, Port Wine sauce
Knuckle Of Veal, Harvey sauce Pigs Head Tomato
sauce; Fr1casseed Calves. Rect Lemon ssuce; Tur.
key wings, Celery sauce; Breast of Veal Parsley
sauce; Maccarone 10 NHpolsaine; Breast Of Iarnk
with mushrooms; Smothered Heart Port Wine
sauce; CslfG Head, Lemon sauce.
koAsr-Beef, Mutton, Veal, Saddle of I,amb -.
pers sauce; Pork, Turkey, Ducks. Pig, Chicken.
VEGETABLES of the season. =
PASTRY AND DEssERT-Lemon Pies Cocoannt Pies
Plum P1ss Currant Pies. Cranberry Plea Peach Pies
Gooseberry Tart, Damson Tart Rsspberrv fnffs
Blackberry Pufia Pound Pudding, Tspiocs fuddins'
Lemon Jeiey, Calves Foot Jelley. Orange Cream
Cream Eobin.0n, Sponge Cake, Fruit Cake, Rose
FRuITsE70ranees Bansnnas, Prunes, Raisins, Fiss,
Almonds, Filberts, Engtsh Walnuts -
WTNEs-Claret and Sauterne i
COFFEE.
This win do for any body-even an Alder.
man! Wines and Liquors were also 10 be had |
at the bar. ! quote this bill % curiosity for |
our Eastern people. and 40 sample Of steam. |
boat living on the Western waters.
The only variety % the monotony Of IN un.