Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-04-17
River Correspondence of the;"DailylPa-
9rfoaes
Or BOARD STEAMER ELLA,
Mississippi River, April Sth.


Or BOARD STEAMER ELLA,
Mississippi River, April sth.
MEssRs. EDIroRs:-A minute examination and
careful saryey Of the celebrated "GoOss Island on
this river, caused me to leave the City OF Rocks in
haste on Saturday last. Going down to the wharf
found the good low boat Ella filed with pas
sengers, some for Kansas. some for Iowa, Wiscon-
sin, Missouri and other interior States, for, be it
known, the far West" now means, in this progress
sive age, "beyond shutdown" / was fortunate in
deed in securing ROOM it being the largest one on
the boat, extending from end of the cabin to
the other took shelter under table and con-
graduated myself upon my good luck as gazsd
out and saw some suspended on the walf-in
word, we were full to owe flowing with people and
all anxious to Ego ahead" Capt. Miller. and por
ton of his crew, went down on the Ella to the Al
coma. We found her hard aground at Elk Creek
Shoals. We relieved her of about 400 barrels of
-four ehich put her sfoat aud both boats left, fully
satisfied they nearing the North Pole, it hav-
ing turned extremely cold from the day previous,
and the snow filling 50 thick and fast. The tedium
of our stay at the shoals was enlivened much ty
Aleonia, who bad been absent for some weeks on
official business in the city OF Pull Tight" Ben
is ready to the rescue, aud thinks, from
the 'foot-priuts" the bank, and the indications
| OF the thermometer that time, Sir John Franklin
must have been "swamped" at Elk Creek Shoal'.
Arriving at Cairo many Of our passengers took the
cars, which great relief to those remaining.
The improvements at Cairo seem to progress stead
| lily. though slowly. We passed her rival, Mound
City in the night, therefore cannot say how she is
getting along with her improvements. Reports
current in Cairo, that two banking houses in Nash
vile intend establishing each agency at Mound
City. In port at Cairo stesm-rs AIeonsa for Mem
| pills. and Huntsville from Nashville, when left
met Sale Hest coming down the Mississippi, IN
sight of Cairo. The wind was blowing hsri when
we left Cairo, maki1g oar progress slow up the riv
er. Arriving at Goose Island" Familiarity known
among steamboatmen as the grave yard, we made
ready for exploration, providing ourself with
week supply of provisions, and "val of digestive
fluid" The surface of the island presents nothing of
terrific or alarming appearance, the "outside pres
sure" in the shape OF snags, contiguous thereto and
the biious nature of the channel, in our opinion,
is the Of dark for holdings aud CONSIDERATIONS
among all pilots when passing through this part OF
the river few day : stay convinced me Of the
danger of this place to an alarming extent, as
found, by of the water, "sand-b,r" forming in
my stomach, so hard and formidable that the "Au-
id,"-in broken doses of coursc,-was the only
thing that would open up navigation. l hailed a
ooat made my exit, and arrived in ST. Louis fright
side up"
The levee Of St. Louis is curiosity to Strangers
the living moving mass of aborers, mules, horses,
drAys Cart, wagons, g., with all kinds Of produce,
trade and traffic being tumoled to aud fro presents
a scene to "green an" of "confusion worse con-
founded" Awaiting myself of the attention of
friend, went on Change great anl indi-p 'nsa
ole institution 10 village like St. Louis. Samples
OF -four, grain and vegetable products with the
amount and where to Oe found, here offered for
the inspection OF purchasers. All the heavy tran
actions ia the produce market are consu inflated at
this place, aud within about hour The attend
snee on 'Cnange indicates that the merchants here
prompt and energetic in the discharge of their
| lAborioua ousin So.
st. Louis C an boast OF one of the finest Mercan-
tile Library Associations in the United States.
Their Library is not ouly very extensive aud judi
ciously arr ranged, but they have shown their good
taste in furnishing their rooms with copies of many
of the leading journals of the day, which are filed,
and their columns consulted by hundreds daily.
The Librarian, w. p. Curtis, seems to be well suit
ed for the post he fills with so much credit to him
self, aud particularly to Strangers.
Houseman & Smith, the extensive man ufacturers
aud dealers in brandies, wines and liquors, continue
to supply the trade 10 the States far as possible
with their celebrated brands of liquors. Yesterday
they we're making a shipment to New Mexico The
popul rty of their brands has become great that
it has used some persons TO counterf it them
was shown Litter fom Tennessee wherein the
writer says seven different counterfeit brands OF
their liquors had been ced and s1li to vend-
ers in that State. To secure genuine article deal
ers shoull apoy to head-q uarters at ST. Louis, or
TO some authorized agent.
Hon. Frederick p Stanton, of Tennessee, the
newly appointed Secretary of kansas, arrived iu
St. Louis on the 9th inst and left to- lay, the 10th,
en- route for the Territory. The emigration to
Kansas is almost beyond conception. Boats by the
river He'd to such an extept with movers and
their plunder, that merchants find it difficult to ship
freight up the Missouri at moderate prices, not"
withstanding there about twice the number of
] boats in the trade this season TO what there was
last. Large numbers also going into the Terri
4 tory by way Of Iowa. Soma persons think Kansas
will contain population OF $4,000 by next fall.
all seem to think Uncle Sam has fat bone (" to
pick in that region and are eager to "squat" a
quarter section at least.
The Ella is in charge of Capt. WEAvEa, gen.
tlem4n of long experience, and most attentive
and accommodating officer assisted in the Office by
W. R. BILL, whose variations are like the suns, un-
changeable. Sac is q superior low water bot, CO.
psble Of taking large load o; freight and passen-
gers, drawing but little water AMI making good
time. With her attentive and courteous officers
passengers will always Cad hearty welcome and
| good cheer.
Yours persprinely, BOB.
P. Sit was currently reports at "a Goose
Island " that Peeg Davidson. of Rate Ftis5y noto-
riety had been cIled preside over the destiuics
of "PuR Tight"