Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-11-18
KEN0SHA WIS, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER is. 1858.

our first voyage down the Mississippi,
might not beunappropriate. The pack
ct Eclipse WAS built a few years ago for
the southern cotton trade, at cost OF
100000 ndis generally acknowledged
to be the :" Queen of the western wat
ers." She is $50 feet in length, aud Of
proportional breadth. Her paddle
wheels are 30 feet in diameter, propell
ed by two pow erful engines, making hel
also one OF the swittest boats on the riy
er. The cabin is nearly 800 feet long
and furnished in the most costly style
| The Eclipse is commanded by Capt. Ii
|. SPOTS, a gentleman, first in his{pr
fession, AVID worthy of his noble craft
Our company was composed of rep
resentatives from many of the most
wealthy and aristocratic families in the
south-westt---planter returning from
their northern tour. We were honored
by the presence of Gen. Henry S. Foote
of Mississippi, who,l though somewha,
advanced in years, is evidently in the
vigor of manhood. The famous Mat.
Ward and family were also of our party.
He, it will be recollected, was the man
who killed the school teacher in Louis.
vile, few years since. He is harm,
less appearing man, and no one would
imagine him guilty OF a deed that stains
his soul with the mark of Cain. a..r
Our boat tarried at Memphis one
night, and party of the ladies and
gentlemen took advantage of visiting
the city, among whom was your ceres
pendent. 1t is a remarkable place, and
one of the most important on the, river
being the shipping point OF a great ag-
rlcultural section. AS soon as the night
mist which envelops the river so dense
ly had lifted it's dark curtain, we were
again on our way but had proceeded
hardly out Of sight of the city, when we
were suddenly brought to "a general
sense of the properties of inertia and
grayitation, by All ugly old g bar /" 5un,
tremendously thrusting its nose against
the bow of our boat. After tugging and
twisting for q few moments in vain, to
extract himself, our captain came to the
conclusion that his boat "was tight"
and immediately started to the city for
assistance. During our humbling ad-
versity, several steamers passed US with
out so much as deigning to cast pite-
Gus, sympathizing look to our relief
The captain soon came in another steam
er to the rescue, and finally, after de-
Jay of twenty-four hours succeeded in
getting into deep water. We did not
have the pleasure of seeing the bloom
ing cotton fields until we came to the
states of Arkansas and Mississippi
The first considerable plantation was
that Of Brig. General Pillow, who cult
Yates several thousand acres.
The traveller seldom sees steamboats,
upon the Mississippi unless under way.
Atevery landing, however sS.ai cont,
fiat-boats are always to be seen unload
ing their cargoes of produce, giving en-
ployment to several stores, and keeping
business at least alive. These flt-boats
are generally owned by farmers from the
States Of Ohio and Indiana, whs, as
soon as their harvest is over, send off
their boats loaded with the products OF
their years toll, to the ready markets Of
the south. Sometimes they are for
months drifting with the great current,
knowing little Of what transpires in the
wide world around them, and caring
less. Frequently they send out skitf
to hail a passing steamer, and get a
newspaper, * learn the state of markets.
The yellow fever is still raging in the
south, and much excitement prevails at
Nicksburg, Matches and New Orleans.
Vigilance committees have been estab-
llshed, and every means employed to
prevent strangers from coming to these
cities. ,L9eSaI9-eg ba
The steamer ''Ben Franklin was en-.
tirely destroyed by fire few days since,
just above this place. Fortunately no
lives were lost; but the boat, with 5000
bales OF cotton, was consumed. The
whole was covered by insurance. On
the 9th the splendid Memphis packet
:" Newcomb y run on snag and sank,
near Memphis No one lost. There
were 200 mules and horses aboard, most
OF which were saved. The steamer
sunk In fifteen feet water and it was a
miracle that all were saved. The bew
was secured on the snag.
We are having delightful weather,
much like our June or July weather at
the north. Have had nc frost here yet.
Peach trees are blooming, and fruit
lpening-evsry shrub green with foli-
age. Truly have we cheated father win
ter of his chilly blasts. The cotton is
ripening beautifully, although the crop
is not as bountitul as usual, owing to the
wet weather of last spring. But adieu
for the present, till we trouble you again.
KENosHA.
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