Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-07-28
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

STEAMSHIP RoASokE-voIksEr TO NEw YORK
The ATLANTIC OCEAN, &c, &C. $ ~ |,
Editorial Correspondence Of The Star.
On board Steamship Roanoke. in The Atlantis, 4
% FsnWick's Island L'ght-hosss. (eoast
mo. u July "a, 1853. /
missed the well-remembered figure and voice
OF old blind Ben, the ferryman, who twenty three
years ago was the only conspicuous feature of an
approach either way to the then almost only wharf
OF Portsmouth. Va. Poor and faithful Old Ben!
Though .stone-blind, he was King Of the Ferry
between Norfolk and Portsmouth. Many stormy
night has he pulled me over the river there after
midnight; his more youthful companion at the
oar telling him in under-tone how to regulate /
his rowing so AZ to bring the boat up just at her
landing place. In those days the two yawl boats |
Of which Ben was Commodore Were the only |
means of night conveyance between Norfolk and |
Portsmouth, though to one not accustomed to |
make the voyage II appeared full Of peril not IN
frequently. Blind as he was, better or safer |
ferryman never lived. In the mutability Of all |
things he has passed from the face of the earth,
and substantial little steamer plays his part
Thus the world progresses the voyagers between
the two towns being now perhaps twenty times a.
numerous then.
A stroll through Norfolk revealed the fact that
iS pOpuldtlOD IS sara 10 nave uOuOIc sluCe
was familiar with its thoroug hfares few changes
have taken place in its business streets. Few new
buildings have taken the place Of old ones on
Main street. Little Water street is yet resigned
to sailor dance house-keepers, and Commerce
street Is quite as filthy ever; while the numer-
Gus alleys opening into Main street yet graced
with the presence of dirty, half aked free negro
women summing themselves their door steps,
while hufing their numerous babies. The num-
Der of ships. brigs and schooners at the wharves,
tell OF the increase Of the seaward (princi-
pally coasting) commerce OF Norfolk, and here
and there a streak of dirty lime in the dirtier
cutters of the water side streets and those lead
ing to the water side tell that its people have not
yet entirely that four year. ago they
more terribly scourged with the heaviest vista
ton OF yellow fever that ever afflicted an Ameri-
can community. Norfolk does not wear Ports
mouths busy aspect though it has near double
the latter's population. It's trade is principally
seward, while the business Of Portsmouth is
principally mechanical.
The Roanoke, (steamship,) on which took
passage immediately for New York, did not cast
of her mcOrings until 9 p. m, owing to the very
heavy freight Of truck" she had engaged to carry.
On seeing il put aboard dreaded lest il mi ght iE-
convenience one who avels Ii ke myself for rela,
| alton. Yet found its presence fortunate for all
| the eighty or ninety Of my fellow voylgcrs as
well as myself, in serving to steady the ship anna
zingly. Thus, We have been some ten hours on
the ocean without having single sea-sick person
| aboard. On crossing the bar between Capes
| Henry and Charles the ground swell reminded the
| iandsmen aboard who were awake that we were
| fast getting TO the ocean, for the ship gave a few
plunges that made our stomach feel awfully un-
| comfortable for a few moments. With that ex-
ception, the voyage-and we now quite IL not
more than half W ay to New Yori-has been even
smoother than our delightful trip down the Po-
| tomac and Chesapeake, of which wrote on Thurs
day last. Fortunately the wind is fair and steady
so that the steamship has been gliding along at
the rate Of ten miles per hour since leaving her
dock; SO quietly and smoothly as that all aboard
are showering praises upon her for the une1 pected
comfort Of the trip. She is 100 tons burden and
| is caPitally fitted and found in all respects Her
| orcers and servants in all departments vie with
| each other In endeavOring to make the voyage an
| agreeable one to all. They display amount of
| tact IN 50 doing which accounts for much Of the
popularity Of the line with its passenger patrons,
and eastern North and SOUTH ds oeI Vi5gin,a
New York can be reached quickest by steamship
from Norfolk, and By long odds more agreeably
| than by rail
A1ter capital dinner, at which the champ me
corks popped briskly. again take pen In hand
| we are now coursing along on the outer edge Of
| 'he track Of the coasters Seward, hardly a sail
| Is visible; lendward, some forty or afty are in
sight steamships. shiys. brigs. schoopess, &c
| The sailing track TO which refer though marked
by no bounds appreciable to the eve of the lands
| man, IL as well known and easily kept by the
mariner, apparently, the broad trail upon far
! Western prairie by the parties Of traders emf
/ 10 -hf. tr~,- al
Parance Of SO many vessels scattered within SIGHT
along il reminds ne forcibly Of travelling the pr,i
rles. On neither side Of this track is aught else
but sky and ocean visible: as on neither side NJ
such prairie trail is aught else visible but .ky and
grass Mans mastery over the circumstances nv
which he Is surrounded is aptly illustrated by this
abundant voyaging in this narrow track Science
ana adventure have together taught him that il I,
| the path Of speed and safety combined ui.
precious cargoes carried over II are no les, the Pa
suit Of his industry and skill than the shps Of all
| dimensions inwhich be IS transportin NO them 90
many vessels plough the ocean here as that of n
dark night 1t requires great caution and consta ,t
watching to insure each against a collision with
some other vessel that would be dangerous acc.
dent indeed. Our captain, Couch } whose station
seems nearly always to be just by bis helmsman.
makes 1t rule to remain in person on the look
whenever, an last night the of the atmosnbe,s
may be such that one cannot discover many miles
on the light Of every passing vessel.
Many OF my fellow passengers are lust now
very merle in conversation in little groups scat
tered over the upper deck, the ladies appearing
10 ENJOY the luxury of the cool sea air and the
quiet progress of the ship heartily as the gen
tleinen feeling Of entire safety has come over
those Of them who came aboard anticipating sea.
sickness, or that some accident might occur ere
the termination Of the brief voyage
Though for some hours out Of sight of land ,
little yellow bird has just lighted on the forward
end Of the deck, seeking relief, evidently. from
the WEAKNESS Of unusual and accidental over
travel on the wing 1t is an object of universe
attenfion and curiosity, and various specu-
lative theories started around me to account fo,
Its presence. There. II is of Notwithstanding
this time for the land. I presume that gathering
its frightened wits together it will now reacI
home IN safety. God speed it,
w. ID. VII