The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1860-02-20
Coyrespoudence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
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Coyrespon.lence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
TH< Sfuft Of Arkassas--R ,rsr Rseotferf'0~s-S"t.
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HELENA, ARKANsAs, Feb. 12th.
Presuming few items from the Mr west
NAV not prove uututeresunR 10 poTuon VI
YOUR numerous readers, / have concluded to
give them some idea OF the progress OF hu-
man events in this region OF country ana Iet
ME first remark, that there IL no State IN our
Union-perhaps no country under the sun
SO unius,ifiably derided or SO ignorantiy as
sailed as this same State of Arkansas Pos.
sessing diversity OF climate and leruI'iy OF
soil almost unapproachable, II should rank IN
point Of natural advantages with the nrst
States of the Confederacy. Nor Is the popu-
lation Of that low and illiterate charac ter
which many suppose who reside in the old
and densely populated States.
The immigration has been Tor the past nve
wears and is now immense. The whole State
is rapidly filing up with farmers ana plan
tiers Of the wealthy and bstantial CLASS, and
before the lapse of many years Arkansas Will
be thck!y peopled by an industrious ana en-
terprising population. Already are her rivers
traversed by splendid steamboats,, ana rail-
roads have been chartered, which, when COM
pieted, will add greatly to her wealth and I'M
portance. For the benefit OF those VINO de-
nounce our comparatively young and unset
tied State, can only add where ignorance is
bliss, tits folly to be WISE
The city of Helena, in Phillips county, is
situated Immediately on the Mississippi Riv-
tans population of 1900 or $500 souls.
In rear of the city the ST. Francis Hills,
Astounding in the most beautiful, romantic and
picturesque cenery; while, in our 'front.' rolls
in its beauty ar 4 majesty the great " Father OF
Waters" a stream The simple sight of which
enkindles in the bosom emotions of the deep
est reverence for the Creators works-a stream
replete with memories and associations plea
SAINT painful and thrilling. 1t was only q
short dis lance above here that the explosion
and burning of the Inflated ST. Nicholas oc-
curred-a disas ter which sent \ thrill of hor-
| ror TO the heart OF many fond and dotins
parent and shed a deep gloom over many a
once gay and happy family. While stroliing
up the river, 4 few days since, the wreck OF
her life at, in which several of the passen-
gers had vainly sought n refuge, was shown
me- und could but think what a fit type ii
furnished of the wrecked hopes and broken
hearts that were produced by this shocking
calamity.
Still these occasional disasters serve as nc
check TO the travel over this mighty river, and
her magnificent FLOATING palaces" pass here
hourly, heavily freighted with human life
their precious cargoes embracing persons OF
every age. temperament and sex, from the
rollicking ''green one,'' of discreet eighteen
taking his first trip to TeXas--to the venera-
bic and settled Southern planter, with his
Well-flied purse.
At another time propose giving a descrip-
ton Of some of the scenes l have essed
on Mississippi steamboats, which, in point OF
raclness, l am sure will compare favorably
with any similar occurrences elsewhere. As
might be naturally expect ted. cases of drown
ing, both inten tional and accidental, are very
frequent on this great river. A day or two
since negro man, who had been captured Us
runaway, and was being conveyed across the
river, opposite Helena, in a fit of desperation
jumped from the skiH and was drowned.
w II Il