Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1859-06-16
[cerrsspondepce Of the Patriot. /.
The Pleasure Excursion OF the R. M.
Runyan from Nashville to st.Loufs.


4th, one of the largest parties of ladies and
gentlemen that ever left your wharf, depart
ed on the Ella, for the steamer Rssyan which
lay at GAINESVILLE, placarded for pleasure
excursion to St. Louis and back. The.j
on the Ella was complete. The presence,
however of so many ladies cont r5buted to
make the pressure, rather agreeable than 9TH
erwise. They left the city amid the recipro-
cal waving of adieus between hat and shore,
and with hearts full of bright anticipations of
coming pleasure. After supper JORDAN and
corps of assistants, by the special invitation of
1.-THE SUBSCRIBER" made their entree into the
cabin, and the dance began. Numbers who
were unable to join in tripping to the merry
numbers, engaged in promenading the upper
deck, in playing euchre and whist, and in
gazing at the whirling maze of grace and
chivalry as it obeyed the stentorian call of
JORDAN. at twelve the dance ceased. the
ladies retired, how and whittier is scarcely
known. and the gentlemen were left in pos
session of the cabin. Soon after, fog gath
cred without and the lamps grew dim and
misty within, the Ella tiled up' and the
sleepless sleepy, talked, nodded and smoked
TO exhaustion A large number of the pas
sengers failed 20 rise to breakfast the next
against keeping late hours under any cir
cnmstances. At 10 o'clock Capt. CORBETT
and Ben EAGAN, as clever gentlemen as ever
commanded crew or chronicled a log, de-
livered us lin good condition. on board the
staunch A l steamer Runydn, and TO the good
offices of Capt. MILLER aud Bob BELL The
crowd was now increased by number from
Clarksville; but the elegant aud spacious ac-
cOmmodati0ns of the II. soon gave each and
all a registered name and local habitation,
including floor berths fOr-say one hundred.
The RtmyGn soon turned her bow down
stream, and the loud peals of the colope
walked the sleeping echoes from the silent
bluffs and Sorges OF the river side. The day
was given, in good part, to repose and con-
verse, aud at daylight Monday morning we
entered the Ohio ut Smitbland. At this
point, as at Eddyville above and Paducah be-
low, we had accessiOns TO the list of the eX-
cCr-ionists, besides wayfarers unnoticed here.
The day was given to the dance and the
promenade and to euchre and whist. Not
with-anding the size of the crowd everybody
appeared TO enjoy good measure of comfort
aud all were cornwall aud pleasant. The
steward was tasteful and abundant in his de-
partment, and tn. luxuries for the palate
were various and plentiful. Everything had
been studiedly prepared by the officers of the
boat to make the trip in the highest degree
pleasant to all-eXcept the ordering an extra
hundred Of state-rooms, and the removal of
The boilers and chimneys from their accus-
toned proximity to the f rHard rooms. The
first oversight was in part remedicd by run
ming alongside the steamer NashUiHe at
Smi bland, and stripping her of the stated
number of mattresses; the boilers and Chin
neys were left, however, in statu quo, whereby
at least hall adozen state-roOms were render
ed uncomfortably warm for a part of the time.
Some of the company thought, and judicious-
ly, that the captain should have showed them
aside for the trip-and his not doing il is the
only point wherein | shall reflect upon him
in his role. We landed at Cairo for a couple
lands and rivers, which was entirely satisiac-
tory TO those who had no thought of remain
ing. But after all that has been said dispar-
ingly. Cairo is Choking up"- though ''down
in the mouth'-of the Ohio, it may yet rise
one of these fine days. 1t has at least one
thorough-going, enterprsiug. hospitable cili-
zen, that we wot of l deem it not in bad
taste to mention his name in respect for his
energy and bOldness, A. Il. STAFFORD, Cash
Ter City Bank" He has erected a couple of
business aud dwelling houses, which will bear
scrutiny and compare fhvorably with those
of any city, in architecture finish aud ar
rangemrnt. He had the kindness to show
half dozen of the party to the top of the
building, where they bad magnificent view
of the two great rivers and the three contig
nous States. Leaving Cairo, we made the
run to ST. Louis in "a hours, having, for
much of the way. 10y sunlight and moonlight,
a fine view of the best scenery on the river
The East side is generally fat and wears
sort of tl;ng, suiiocating aspect but to the
West the lands are higher and beautifully un-
pitious crags rising high above the water line
Some of these are splend,dly adorned with
palatial residences, especially those within
striking distance of st Louis. At occasional
intervals Islands, densely green. rise upon
the bosom of the river parting the turbid
stream and multiplying the beauties OF the
landscape. The Iron Mountain Railroad
runs along for great part of its length I'M
der the bluffs aud some ten feet above the
waters edge, and reminds one somewhat of
the line of The Hudson River Road. This
road is one Of the best local business arteries
which St. Louis has, as il penetrates an ex-
haustless region of iron ore, and, though
opened but short time, is having sensible
effect on her manufactures.
At Carondclet seven miles below, we
came in fair view of the great city of the
West with its many spires glittcring in the
evening sun, and pointing and inviting Hea-
vcnward the host of weary souls congregated
below. The bright spires of religion and the
domes and turrets of Education and Justice,
were mingled with those darker ones of La
''' NV AHNHobg ihc stGdu-SlaNc VI
waved its black flag unfurled all over the
dense city. aud beneath each eddying cloud,
the small white plume of throbbing vapor
told of the battle and the conquest.
The city rises on a gradual ascent from
the river westward, and We gained birds
eye view of most Of it on the approach. That
portion bordering on the river, being the old
est, is blocked of by exceedingly narrow
streets, not much relieved by narrow levee.
Back, however, in the newer city, from 4th
street up, the city is blessed with wider av-
ennes and fresher airs. There are many OBJ