The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-06-12
lc9resposds.s. Of u. Daily s.s. ci.y.l

Icrrcspondsass Of The Daily Gsss City.] .
SrxAnrR ALnAnsaA, june 9th.
Mrssss. EDS: l left Ksokuk on Saturday
Mat last, in the sssansr - oAAl1ell. \
- quite dark VI Llsfs, - l So ssssh
~ room and sndeAvdipd to 1btain elpsp ass
rest. In that VITA 6lstsy 6bappd Dasa nm
Ill near morning, the night bsins hot and my
location quite near the boilers. The inces-
SAINT kissing Of the steam, and tbs roar OF
the FIRE and Ssenen's s'6re aps" rendered ~
position intolerable, and va about fesiEn-
ing myself to . fry or : boil ~ finally fell
OF into uneasy slumbsr, near great con-
Migration. The flames and smoke would 90
casionaily reach near the heavens. Finally
they began to die away; but the heat grew
greater and greater, until the whole mass
was reduced to schils heat, sending forth
its flames Of liquid IRE, which finally caused
terrific explosion, the shock Of which
was 80 great that it threw me entirely out
OF nv berth. As soon a. could manage to
gather up ON hands and knees, ] sndeavorsd
to open the door into the cabin and ASCERTAIN
the amount Of the disaster, but my fright
was 30 great that had not strength at first
to turn the latch. ! finally succeeded in
opening it, and found cahin boy standing
against my door beating one Of those infer
nal Chinese Gongs for breakfast.
Upon making inquiry Of our whereabouts,
soon learned that No had but recently left
Burlington; that the boat had laid At that
place several hours, engaged in taking on
board circus company. Shortly after
breakfast We made landing At the city Of
Now Buffalo. Taking away her desert Of
sand banks, there 10 bat little left for one to
see or admire. On the opposite or Iowa side
OF the rivsr, and about one mile further up
the Mississippi, We made landing 1t that
new but far-rsnowned city Of Burris, which
10 but short distance above the mouth Of
the Iowa River. Ito location 10 low, Fat and
uninviting, with the water OF the Mississippi
running through it, streets and over the
greater portion Of its fins building locations,
With here and there small patch Of mother
earth protruding out Of the water, breaking
the smoothnsss and samensss Of the surface.
1t was beautiful day, and the inhabitants,
including the women and children, had
mounted pile Of lumber to see the steam
boat and to take ssfarcwell leave" OF some
parting friends. There were no passengers
to leave the boat at this place. but some nine
or ten came on, saying, "Good by forever
This was an unkind cut but how could they
help ito Everything looked 90 dull, and the
water so stngnant. There lay Burris, sc
lowly, as quiet and still as the grave, and
the passengers generally felt inclined TO lei
her rest so, with the exception Of one French
man, who thought that tho people must have
one very nice eat there; being questioned
why, he said, some grand place for 70 frog
Soon after leaving Burris we passed Port
Louisa. The boat did not land here. The
captain said that he had taken nearly all the
people away from s'that place who had
money to pay their fare with, and that he had
left the rest to be carried by the "wild
boats"
Our next landing was at Muscatine, where
o few passengers left US and about the same
number came on board, keeping our mum.
bers good. Amongst our new arrivals was
Clergyman, bound up the river, who in
short time after coming on board began to
express himself freely concerning the iniqui-
ty Of the circus company travelling on the
Lord's day. lie excused his own transgres-
sion, saying that he had been delayed in
reaching Musca.ins, and was obliged to travel
on this sacred day to keep christian ap-
pointment. This good man requested per-
mission Of the Captain to make small ex-
hortntion to the passengers. The Captain
gnve his assent, saying that he did not wish
that the passengers should be particularly
disturbed in their different smusements, ~
it was his rule to let every one on his boat
enjoy themselves their own way, ~ long as
they did not transgrcss the rules of the boat
or interfere with each other. This kind Of
qualification Of the Captains did not seem
to satisfy the reverend gentleman, 90 he re-
tired to the ladies' cabin and was soon deeply
engaged in conversation with ono Of the To-
male equestrians Of the circus company.
1t Was long after dark before W reached
Rock Island. This morning had few
hours to look around the city previous to the
leaving Of the boat. Rock Island appears to
have good, healthy growth. The buildings
going up Though few are Of . substantial
character, and . degree Of psrmansncy il
generally manifested in their local improve
menss, that impsrts confidence in their abil-
i.y and steady growth to the city. Rock
Island can boast Of some very beautiful res
licences, the architecture being light and
graceful, evincing nice taste. Even their
outward appearance oonvincss one Of the
cheerfulnsss and good cheer within.
At 10 O'Clock We got under way. was
much interested in seeing the boat pass
through the bridge, which feat she accom-
plishsd without any apparent difficulty. In
expressing my surprise to the Captain OF the
ease with which be passed the ordeal Of this
place, he informed me thst bat few had yet
been able to learn the ELECTS OF tho counter
currents and eddics caused BY the bridge
abutments, and that the rise Or fall Of the
water faw inches threw Thorn in entire diff
ferent positions. He informed me that q
fine new boat had her guards and part Of her
whsel-house carried away there yesterday,
and said that it was impossible to say who
would escape when tho wind was blowing
strong. He Was sanguine that the bridge
would have to come down. II the law could