Weekly national intelligencer., 1854-11-25


And this anson to good papers reminds Of circum
stance connected with good book viz. Horseshoe Ro
binson, by Mr. kennedy. Within hours ride Of Tus
caoosa and in lonely forest is the grave Of the hero
that novel He came from South Carolina into Alabams
at early day and died here about years ago. Many
people now living remember 10 have heard him recount
manifold adventures he had experienced in the
palgns and his name is mentioned with respect
affection. His real Galbraith, but from the
fact that he had been blacksmith he obtained the SOU
brque OF Horse-Shoe Robinson; and informed that
TO the description of his person by Mr. Kennedy ought
added the peculary of remarkably high cheek bones
and deeply sunken eyes, both stkngy indicative Of his
true character He has grandson living in Tuscaloosa
| q. the present time.
The character of the Black Warrior or Tuscaloosa river
is precisely similar TO that of the Tombigbee and as
came down it in steamer that overloaded with cot
ton and cattle, win pass to what have say Of
EDemDpols. This town lies the eastern bank Of the
Tomhgbee and differs from its neghhors in being flank
ed by rich prairie coanty 1t settled by colony
Of French families at tbs conclusion of the Napoleon wars
ana among them were several of his officers. On. Of
them, named Raoul, who genuine colonel in the
French army to ths country with letter of ntso-
ducon from Lafayette to Madison Dasing his sojousn
at pemopehs be obtained his living by keeping seOw
r but subsequently returned to France reinstat-
ed in the army and died general A few Of the OLD
French residents still left in Demopelis and are a.
most interesting portion of the community where all are
Intelligent, hospitable, and polite.
One thing that heard Of bat unfortunately did not
see In the vicinity Of Demopos, manuscrips Bible
OF great antiquity 1t is the property of DR.. John
Wetherspoon who believes it, the testimony of trad
ton and the title page to have been written abous the
year o0o 1t has been described to rs being eight
inches long, six inches broad aad Eve inches thick and
is written on parchment richly illuminated and bound
in oak The fortunate proprietor is n resident believe
OF the village Of Greensboro, in titis State.
My voyage from Demopois to this place was attended
oy no remarkable incidents but by many that cha
racterisc OF the river We stopped at Of panta
tons now taking boord hundred and then only five
bales of cotcn at place few horses and mules and
ct another lot OF CATTLE which the rolicsome negroes
forced on board the biting and twisting their tails
AT nearly all the landing places noticed the negroes
at work in tho fields and the had trick Of drop
ping their hoes and running to the steamboat receive
from the boatmen presents of tobacco which always
distributed with great liberality The only dwellings
that we saw were rude cabins, and it difficult Of
tentimes to distinguish the panters residence from the
domcis Of his slaves; and, while coton-gn wasinya
rlaby attached to each plantation there occasion
ally to be oTlorn and deserted cabins whichremnd
ed me of man walking stts high the blocks
or trunks OF trees which they stood The owners Of
the plantations where stopped seldom never
seen but the always All the parties that met
each other seemed to be personally acquanted and
free and easy the " down-troddsn" negroes that
have frequently them 60 up the captain of the
boat or to the overseer and ask him for bit of tobacco
cigar As in the works Of Nature in this Southern
land there is free luxurance among the people is
there freedom Of intercourse which gives the lie to
nearly all the assertions Of the political fanatics Of the
North.
And for sedisjonted chat about St. Stephens |
which is decidedly to my mind, Of the interest
ing places in Alabama, because not only of its history
and its PATRIARCH but account of the model plantation
with which and with whose proprietor have become
quanted. But I,must particularze. The modern town
Of ST. Stephens consists only Of picturesque bluff
looking the Tombigbee post office andand Office hidden
IN the piney woods some two three mileg from the
river foar five rude cabins within rifle shot Of each
other also in the woods, and large plantation,
tending from the river north Of the bluff mentioned the
public Offices The ancient town of st. Stephens, it
might be called however, and which stood upon the bluff
very different affair for, about fifty years ago. it
was the largest town and principal post in the Alabama
valley, rs well as the centre of extensive Indan coun
try 1t numbered several thousand inhabitants, pro-
tecedby Spanish fortress, under which q natural
cave which is still worth visiting. 1t transacted quite
large commercial business, and contained theatre,
bank, and academy AL the better buildings in the
town OF stone and, it is sad altogether presented
a handsome appearance. But nature and forsne were
against the place. and rapidly than did it
degenerate nto hamlet of Importance, when the few
remaining Inhabitants posted off almost in body to Mo-
bile and il is singular circumstances that some two
hundred of the most picturesque eices be found
in that city once lowered in beauty the bluff of ST.
Stephens.
But the glory of this old town is forever departed
the Georgia Cracker spake truly when he said Of it that
it reminded him Of what he had read in the BibeBdb6y
Lion. Rank weeds have taken sole possession of the
abandoned cellars while here and there may be the
unmarked graves of whose fortunes identified
with and who ended their days this spot One that
remember deserves to be mentioned with particular
gard. His name was j. nj. Thompson, and he was the
first who took cargo Of provisions from the
Ohio river the Alabama valley, and this be accomplish
ed by of barge of thirtyfv tons, propelled by
fifteen oars and manned by many Kentuckians, who
all " half horse and halfaligator" fellows They
had an easy time of it floating down the Mississippi ra
her dangerous in coastng the Gulf of Mexico and
when they in sight Of the then Spanish fort Of Mo-
bile they hosted the American flag and passed directly
up the river without condescending to ask perms
son daring and high handed act, and the guns
at the fort got ready to fire upon the respassers
when the commandan concluded that the men must be
mad positively crazy they escaped unharmed Thomp
made money by his venture, became citizen Of ST.
Stephens, but died few months after his arrival The
that accompanied him from the Ohio took to evil
ways and the majority of them either killed in pr
fights executed by the Spanish authorities for
breaking the laws.
Another formerly identified with st. Stephens
McGrew. He led the life of hunter and man
of-awor and had cabin in the pine woods just with
the limits Of the town He hated the Spanish auho
rites with his whole heart and the compliment re-
ciprocated Difficulties constantly occurring be-
tween the parties, and his Rob Royish exploits were
frequent and desperate But the great Of his life
was in substance the following An belonging to Nc
Grew chanced to wander into the vicinity of the Spanish
fort and, being in good condition and having the hunters
brand upon him. shot down and ordered to be dress
ed for the commandans arder The hunter of
very angry and scruped not to express his opinion of
the outrage and its perpetrators He then arrested
Imprisoned for month and sentenced to be publicly
whipped at the flag staff within the fort. The unhappy
hour arrived and he the spot but before lash
was given be boted suddenly out Of the clutches of the
turnkeys and running to wall that eight feet high,
scrambled, over it, and, though twenty-five guns were
fred at him. he made his escape reward OF one hum
dred dollars offered for his body, dead alive and
four Spanish soldiers went upon hunt for the hunter
They got his trail caught sight Of him and his