Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-05-13
From Our own Correspondent.

From Our Own Correspondent
From Keokuk up the Mississippi CalEopedn Nh:
SIC Rererently DeScribed-Rock Island and
Davenport, and the Railroad Bridqe-Feuer
Riper and Gaiend-Dubuque.
MIssIssIpP1 RIVER, above Dubuque, April
Dear Spy My last point of departure was
Keokuk, a city once fast but now rather slow,
situated at the foot of of the Lower Rapids
And thereby hangs tale which may develop
at some future day for your benefit. Iembarked
upon the Denmark, one of the best ofthe line OF
steamers between st. Louis and St Paul. One
of the great beauties of these bets is the
uncertainty in regard to the time of their arrl-
val, of which l had the full benefit. The
agent kindly informed me that the boat ntgd
arrive at ten Sunday evening, was likely to ar
rive at midnight, would doubtless arrive at two
the next morning, but something unusual
mqht detain her until sometime the next
forenoon. Suffice it to say that | left the
next afternoon, having passed dreamless
night and an ambuatory day, not at all dis
posed to be satisfied with the Northern Line of
Packets or the world at large.
was somewhat soothed by the good man.
agement and excellent fare of the boat of
which more anon For amusement we had
that muse-i cal bore, yclept Calliope, and be-
gin the world with a capital for the instrument
is evidently human and responsible. AT this
sat a nice-looking man, who, by means Of a
crank, ground out melodies-sable, patriotic
and otherwise-with the most cruel and unre-
lenting perseverance. 1t sounded, reverently
speaking, as if all the devils in Pandemonium
had broken loose. No doubt the shrill treble
and surly bass blended tremendously in the
ears of the village Juveniles along the shore,
but even the mixed sounds of Bedlam would
sound soft and pleasant at a proper hear
ing distance.
Boats on the Mississippi which take freight
do not ''put girdle round the earth quite
as speedily as Puck consequently, when we
were informed the next morning that we had
sped over nearly fifty miles Of space, we were
not in the least astonished at such rapid pro-
gress but prepared to possess our souls in pa
tience as before. Tuesday, our second day,
was overcast First it rained, then it blew,
and then it did both simultaneously and with
admirable effect. Passengers retreated to the
cabin and formed magic circles about the
stores which it was impossible to penetrate.
Everybody felt uncomfortable and looked blue.
A great variety of literature was "sketched"
We toiled slowly on all day, stopping occasion
ally at small towns, sometimes in Illinois and
sometimes in Iowa, towns with magnificent
future before them, but all of whose advan-
tages could not be Immediately known to a
passer-by. After noon we passed Muscatine a
hourishing town of six or eight thousand in
habitants, looking rather shabby from the river,
but said to be more attractive in appearance
behind the hills.
just ut evening we reached Rock Island and
Davenport, cities lying opposite each 9th
er, well built, finely situated and scenery quite
pleasant and homeike. Here is the famous
railroad bridge which steamboat men daily
curse and vituperate after the most unseem-
ly sort. 1t is indeed a great obstruction to
navigation and even in the most favorable
weather can scarcely be passed without dam
ger. The bridge, at the draw, extends diagon-
ally across the river, and the current which is
here very rapid is likely to sweep boats against
the pier and disable if not sink them. We
passed just at dusk, with a gale blowing,
fortunately, nearly in front.
We scarcely seemed to move while passing,
and the stern swung round in disagreeable
proximity to the pier at the right. il this I'M
pleasant catastrophe had resulted, it is hard to
tell what would have become Of the steamer
Denmark and "our own correspondent"
We toied on through The following night,
much after the manner of the previous one,
the wind continuing to blow almost a hurri-
cane until morning. To this succeeded a
pleasant day, when it was pleasure to be in
the open air, and to see every thing of interest
which the river banks afforded Galena lies
up the Fever River, six or seven miles, and is
not visited by the through boats, save when
necessary 1t was our fortune to be detained
several hours by winding up the ditch, that
the worthy people of Galena dignity with the
name of river The city lies on an indefinite
number of hills, forming fine sites for some
very fine dwellings. Many of them can only
be reached by long flights of stairs, the ascent
ct which laRtSt faEe ag gfaRes &c lt 1t
Another amusement of the people is the car
rying about of weighty pigs of lead, in which
the currency of the place consists. After the
finishing of the business here, we got down
the river, with all the speed its short turnings
would allow, for fear of catching the ague, and
! made for Dubuque, our next landing place.
| We reached it about dark, and could not dis
Germ any thing remarkable thereabouts, except
that great number OF Jehus cried up great
number of hotels, with unusual clamor This
city contains twelve or fourteen thousand in
habtants, and has been considered one of the
most prosperous places in Iowa. 1t is very
much i'll debt and has suffered severely from
the general scarcity of money and produce,
but still hopes on.
L must close now, promising other notable
items Of the trip before it is finished.
VIAToR.