New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1857-04-07
Correspondence Of The ". Y. Tribune.
MISSOURI RIVER, STEAMER AUSTRALIA,

MISSOURI RIVER, STEAMER AUSTRALIA, I
Thursday, March 70, 1857.
We 90. off at O'clock last evening, and al
81 We got on-not in the popular Specification, bu,
literally. This great river, great 10 its length and
width, but if depth is an element Of greatness then
this little river, is filed with sand bars. They are
as fckh as women according to the popular notion
of that sex) or Buchanans mind-tO-day in one
place. tomorrow in another. The pilots knowledge
of the channel is of Importance, but he depends
more upon bis eye. The sklful pilot knows the
channel by the different appearance of tbs water -
the differeDnt shades of yellow-for this river is
exactly the color Of the Yellow Tiber and about as
nayi gable.
The admirers of the Missouri, and strange 20 say,
il has its admirers, tell you that the water IL deli
cous That it looks little muddy it is true, but
let it stand few minutes, the mud settles TO the
bottom, and it is clear. Do not believe them; /
have let it stand many minutes and without visible
effect.
Some 500 miles above here the Missouri flows
through desert of light sand. Here it sweeps
down immense quantities. of the light particles-so
light that with the swiDess Of the stream they cas-
not settle, aud are borne to the sea. Yet the
water il healthy As drawn from the river, il is
substantially muddy but when allowed to setle for
half day Of cleared with charcoal or Indian meal
it looks as ii you had drank milk out of your tumo
Ter and forgot to rinse II.
navigation Of the Missouri. snags are Objectionable
and sawyers have their inconveneaces. DO you
know o TRIBUNE the difference between a snag
and sawyer A snag fastens is roots in.o the
bed Of the river, points It's floating trunk down
stream, keeping it's head concealed just below the
surface Of the water. The unsuspectng boat rusbes
upon the hidden foe-he pierces Der quisering
breast, aid she meets an uniimey (in many
cases / should say, timely end. Now. your
IL foa Ha
ambushe'. He is generally in some shallow spot
his trunk pointing up stream, and his whole body
exposed If the foolish boat PUSHES upon hisi, sbe
deserves her fate.
believe / left you on a sand-bar. We'll, we got
OH luchier than some Ooas that lay there MONTH
We effected our escape by al ingenious process, "
which boats under such circumstances resort
They carry above their bow two enormous ger
r.cks- shores believe they cal them. these are
let down upon the bed OF the river on either SIDE
and by means of rope. and pulleys the boz oi tns
boat is fairly lifted into the air linen me s"hl
current sweeps under washes out the sand' ana sno
boat backs out or adv ances again ~ rene" ths
process. ar
Now give ear while tell you Of Life On Me
souri, steamer.
The boat ha. accommodations for seventy people
we have two hundred. Aiter securing our
stai.-room Engaged by telegraph, and lucky
r. at il Zone hundred sleep On the foor), Te have
tine 70 look about. What is this Ginning of bells
Have we the Swiss or Lancashire bell.rngers on
boa,d1 All shades Of sound, from the lt.le tins-
linz breaka,tbell 10 tie deep bass of the City ALL
sten srectis aurbas. II is only the signals Of the
telmsusn TO the engineer: "Slow," Back"
"Half-speed," GO ahead" " S,arboard engine"
"Lsrboard engine" &c. Why, j. mast take
very Champolion of acoustics to Lterpre. all those
sounds.
The supper bill rings. For the las: half hour the
sides ,f the saloon have been lined with rop Of
hungry e1Pest4nt', each nan holding on 70 bis chair