Daily Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1854-1855, 1855-05-30
sp1ToalA1 coaassroxpzzcz.
( Steamer NoRrRRRXKR,
on the Ohio, May 10Th.

on the Ohio. may tSth.
As | left home for the purpos, Of recrea-
,ion--to relax ,ae mind as well as to refresh
the body, after a continuous labor almost
day and nigh, during the winter and spring.
feel too much relieved from the necessity
ofwriting to reaum, it agaia without some
persuasion. The happening Of divers little
incidents, the recital of which may while
away few moments Of time for my readers
a. we'll as relieve the tedium of an hour or
two Of detention, induces me again to betake
myself to what unrestrainsd, becomes
pas,ime, aecessitated, labor.
ief, home on the packet ]. Mckee and
from the hands Of Capt. Dodge received
| every attention which steamboat CaPtaia
has in his power to confer upon passengers,
and which Capt Dodge knows 50 well how
touse. The Mckee, though small, is equal
in her accommodations TO some OF the
larger packets have since had occasion to
travel upon.
| After dinner, the day after leaving Day-
export, we took hack at Montrose and
rode round the Rapids. OF our party was a
Missour;an, s,rons-minded, sensible nan,
who, like all s,rong-minded, sensible men.
was Justly incenssd at the part Atchnson
has taken in the affairs of that State, and
was highly indignant at the stain cast upon
Missouri BY the rensglies Of Platte county,
who left their county for their coun,y's
good, but unfortunately, after accomplish
ing all the evil they could in Kansas, re-
turned again to curse their county with
their dnwelcome presence. Our compan-
ion, the Missourian, alluded in appropriate
terms to the outrage committed upon the
property Of Col. Park, and said that the
same gang Of disciplined scoundrels threat
ensi to visit st. Louis and mob the Iate!!i-
eencsr and Democrat Offices. He spoke Of
the course pursued by the Republicans Of St.
Louis, and truthfuily remarked. that it was
fast losing that ascendency it had acquired
under the administration OF Col Chambers;
a fact which others present sustained by
their experience, observing that its com.
mercial feature was all that now sustained
that levia,han sheet, as its principles were
reflected by the smalies, number OF the cit
izens OF 81, Louis.
Iobserved that ve.etation was much more
seriously injured in this vicinity by frost
than with Us. The leaves of tn, hickory
and several other OF the earlier forest trees.
were blackened as though scorched BY FIRE.
Spring and fall wheat were yellow as tho
dead. and field OF peas presented the same
ominous appearance.
heokuk is importing very rapidly, and no
doub, is doing larger business in m erchun-
die than any city of Iowa on the river
In the address Of Mayor Kilbourne, now
before me, he says" am quite confident
that We number as many upon one mile
square, as can be found upon any single
mile square in Iowa. And upon this single
mile square hesitate not to say, is trans
acted a much larger amount OF business
than upon any other single mile square in
our State" The former assertion do no.
think correct, as Keokuk is not 50 densely
built up as either Burlington. Muscatine or
Davenport. The amount of business 10
greater, bat in manufactures, Davenport is
her superior.
All travellers by the packet line, if &C.
companied BY their families. have to pay
tribute TO Ksokuk. They are taken to the
Laclede House, kept by our old friend and
good Wing, Pressler, where they are bled
to the amount Of so cts. each. big and little,
babies and all. As the "Iouse' could not
furnish hack, had to walk to the boat
against driving rain storm, an umbrella
brsced with one arm and the other srasping
prat,er too little to walk through tbs mud
and too heavy to carry comfortably.
/ Was awakened at daylight the next
morning by the reques! to get up aud see
the FIRE. Arose quickly, donncd my clothes,
ran out upon the guards and saw the town
OF La Grange, at the levee OF which we
were moored, in flames. But few people
were stirring, soon, however, they began
TO increase in numbers, aud to rush to tho
river for water. The deliberate ones
cautiously approached the waters edge and
carefully dipped their pals full; the excita-
bic he'd knee-deep into the liquid ele-
i ment, hastily plunged their buckets into the
river and dashed up the bank spiling it as
they ran. We stayed until the flames were
subdued, commiserating les. the condition
! Of the houseless than we would have done
had not 50 many empty houses presented
themselves 10 view
Reached the city of the almighty dol.
lar" commercial, money-rnaking St Louis,
the next morning, after pas,aking of very
good breakfast on board the packet Die Yer
non. Passed the day very agrceably in the
society Of some friends in the suburbs Of
the city. Oyerhauled the vast rcolopicaI
/ collections Of DR.. shumard, who happe ned
to be at home from bis government survey