Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-03-01


There are now lying at this wharf over
twenty boats all heavily laden for St. Louis.
We tried hard to induce one of them to un-
load and take us to New Orleans. The
.Robb" proposed to carry US for $50 each
but as II would require her day or two to
unload, and the money had to be paid halt IN
ADVANCE, the offer was declined. They
who call Cairo ..hsrd place" do not exagr
ccrate in the least, as it certainly exceeds
any town have ever visited in everything
that constitutes s'being hard" The Cairo
and Railroad Companies together have built
a fine levee around the city. extending far
up bath rivers. 1t was reported that lots
we're sold from $500 to $500 per foot, but !
have since learned that the Com 'any have
sold all but two or three of the front lots
lireetly back of the leyee and about TWEEN
w OF twenty five fee below it, for 500 per
foot. There are several stores with good
stocks OF merchandise under the levee and
nearly as many dwelling houses.
They have big rows among the wharf
rats occasionally. 1t was reported among
the passengers Friday, that the citizens in
tended hanging negro for scutthng a
wharf boat the night previousto our arrival;
this proved to be only story manufactured
BY some Of the passengers to give character
to Cairo. However, they did have big
tisht and scuttled hotel called travellers
Home" the night before our arrival
| presume you have had the particulars OF
the row that occurred here a mouth or two
since, where a negro tied the top OF stove
around his neck and escaped from his wharf
boat into the Mississippi, after the boat had
been fired and pushed into the stream. and
was drowned. This was all true. The me-
gro left about $40, 900, and the wreck of his
Hotel is still to be seen in the river.
OF course, we resorted to all sorts of ex-
pelients to beguile the time, and felt as
though we were "compa Mons in mis- fortune
aud that, if lots rere worth $500 foot, still
Cairo was the tail end of creation.
Friday noon our fiddler declared he could
fiddle down boat, so at it he went, and
every one that could dance hoe-down, jig,
or double-shufle, had to "put in" Present
Nv some one halloed out "boat coming" but
he couldn't deceive US that way, the joke
was too stale. Then the cry was raised,
1.-TWO boats coming down." and true enough
two boats close together appeaied in sight.
Then such hallooing, and cheering, and
screeching of the old violin. you would have
thought we had all gone mad. The land
lord with great foresight, no doubt acquired
from bitter experience, locked the doors till
he had collected his bills.
| Soon we were divided upon the two
boats and presume when the Captain saw
us at supper he thought he had made poor
speculation in taking us on board.
That night, Saturday, took off my clothes
for the first time since leaving Davenport
except the night stopped at Bloomington
| The river is SO low we have had to lay uE
of nights. We had TO stop several time:
Yesterday aud to-day to take on board hog
and cattle.
MEMPHIS, Feb. 18th.
arrived here Sunday evening and an
now stopping at the pleasant suburban res
Iidence OF our brother, the Professor" am
icxpect to leave with him in day or TIVE
for the goodly city of New Orleans, whence
YOU shall hear from me. ii. ). >.
/ CRAZY MERcHANT.--A French importe
! IN Nav York went daft last week, ant