The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-07-01

Mass Convention, at the Court House In Ottumwa, on
Saturday, the 10th day of July next for the purpose
Of choosing 10 Delegates to represent Wapello Coun-
~ in the Convention called Bloomfield Davis Co.,
on Thursday, July 22d. to nominate candidates for
Judge and District Attorney. J. w. NORRIS,
Ottumwa, June 18th Us. Chm Co. Cen. Com.
River and Railroad Travelling.
and Incidental Matters.
Having made journey last week as
far east as Detroit, to accompany. a
party of ladies of this place thus far on
their way to the land of tall mountains,
clear streams, pure atmosphere, and
steady habits, in pursuit of health, and
wishing to notice sundry matters in
connection Herewith, the shortest
way to accomplish the object, perhaps,
viii be to print brief sketch of our
trip.
Our route was down the river to
Keokuk, thence by packet to Burling-
ton, and thence to Detroit by the Chi
cago, Burlington and Quincy, and the
Michigan Central Railroads. We
took passage for Keokuk on the Ed.
Manning, Capt. Samuel S. Cable
commander and owner. This is the
boat built at Marietta last winter
year, by Messrs Davis and Myers of
this place, and it is a very snug, well
finished and furnished craft. To Capt.
c., Mr.. Wilson and other officers of
the boat, our party are under great OBJ
legation for their efforts to render the
trip comfortable and agreeable. Capt.
C. we learn, has been on the western
waters in the various capacities of En-
gineer, Pilote and Commander, near
aquarter of century. He is every
inch a man, and we trust he will live
to navigate these waters quarter of
a century longer. May all our friends
who have occasion to make journey
down the Des Moines, be so fortunate
as to secure berth on the Manning
with Capt. Cable.
We had for companions Of the voy-
age, Messrs. Laidlow of Burlington, of
the firm of Mitchell & Co. of this place.
Wilson of New York, and Robinson
and family Of Ohio, very sociable and
pleasant party. During the run down
,joyed fine opportunity to view
nerous towns which adorn the
the river, as well as the famous
e Improvement, work which,
ering the time and money spent
it, and the noise made about it,
ertainly sight to see. The Keo-
auqua lock is unfinished, and we had
to run over the dam. Mud and drift had
accumulated in the Bentonsport lock
to such an extent that it was impossi-
bic to open the gates more two thirds
Of the way, and vigorous application
ofsteam, all the Mechanical powers
and some four hours time was required
to get through. The Boneparte dam
is the best ofthe lot, but surly fellow,
whose name we did not take the trou-
BILE to learn, exercised some sort of con-
troll over it, and charged two dollars
toll, which Capt. Cable regarding
as extortion, refused to pay, and
we were detained here some two hours,
and might be there now, if a passen-
ger, anxious to get on, had not paid the
charge. At Croton, the upper gates
leaked so that the lower ones were
opened with much labor and difficulty,
but they finally yielded to strong per-
suasives, and we went on, having a
pleasant run in the evening to st.
Francisville where we laid up for the
night An early start and the cut off
through Nassau Slough brought us TO
Keokuk just as the Packet was leav-
ing. We got aboard and reached
Burlington in time for the 8 o'clock
Train The Ferry Boat, Silver Bells,
conveyed us to the cars, a part of the
way by the river, and the balance
over the bottom then submerged, the
distance being about six miles.
Here we found Mr.. Conductor
i Towne, with his Train waiting for us,
and we were speedily off for Chicago.
The track was in capital order and
we reached the Great Central Depot
ON time, refreshed ourselves with a
cup Of coffee at the Massasoit, (by, the