Dallas herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1849-1873, 1860-05-09
LOUISVILLE, kYr (
Anil .lth lstiu 4

DEAR HERALD : At lO 0'cl0ck, a, m, the l5tl
nlt.,.we left Galveston, in the steamship Mexico
bound for New Orleans, via the Balize. 1t wa,
I beautiful sight to stand on deck and look upor
Q the city and the Island as they receded from us
On we went, pointing Tor the wide, wide sea
and as we passed ships ut anchor outside thu
bay, the height OF our enjoyment Of tho ricl
scenery before us, our ship began to swing and
take gentle leaps, increasing us We went. N
once, all began TO feel disngreeable sensations
and some n little nausea. We hurried our ladies
and children TO their rooms, and musng was the
order OF the day. At dinner, not half dozen
OF large number OF passengers, could venture
up. The Gulf was rough, and yet there was but
gentle breeze. ltwas what is termed q "gr0und-
SWELL" There are strong currents in the Gulf
and after heavy wind from the northwest,
these currents keep up for one or two days an ir-
regular swell of the sea. There had been storm
the day before; and we were riding over angry
waves, struggling for rest. Unaffected by sea-
sickness, enjoyed the trip finely. sought ev.
cry position to realize the motion of the ship and
the action Of the sea- Out of sight OF land, on
this world of waters our attention was attracted
by the sea-gulls, which continually hovered over
the ship. They are always to be seen on the
wing, playing around the vessel. Night closed
in upon us, and as sleep began to weigh down
our eyelids, how agreeable it would have been for
the waves to have gone to rest and the to have
hushea her noise but we were not to be graft
fed. All night we felt the same laboring Of the
ship, and awoke only to hear the ceaseless war Of
OF the waves. At sunrise, we were in sight OF
Ship Island light house. 1t is, really, no island
but shoal, where the ship Galveston was wreck.
ed some years ago. 1t is found necessary, now,
to sound, when in its vicinity. Toward evening,
a brisk wind blew up, and we had still roughcr
sea. Nothing of interest, however, occurred
We spent our time in watching focks of tie rcl-
lean, and their action in diving into the water
Here, also, we saw the porpoise, following our
ship in schools. One would occasionally turn
out of the water. We were soon in sight of the
Ialize; and what rejoicing to see land once more
As we neared the mouth Of the Mississippi, the
water, by we'll defined line, assumed the color
of the river; our ship lost its motion, and on we
sped-all hope. A skif is seen at a distance. 1t
is the pilot. He comes aboard. We are coon
over the bar. Supper is announced; and all
hands, for the first time, sit down and do justice
to the table.
At the mouth of the Mississippi, land is con.
tnually making. 1t is very low, and irregularly
formed-n fact, in many places, land is just ap-
pearing in the water Here the pilots have built
a town, called the Balize and (all the male in
habitants being piots) it is sometimes called Pi-
lot Town. They have large observatory, where
some one is always on the lookout Hence, Il
ship is always seen before she gets in anda pilot
sent out to meet her.
| In fifteen minutes after crossing the bar, the
safe arrival of our ship was announced in New
Orleans and at daylight, the next morning, we
found ourselves all right at the wharf.
We spent four days in the city of New Orleans.
In the last ten years it has greatly improved,
and it's business largely increased. The city was
crowded with Texans. In fact it is Texas that
is sustaining and building up the city. 1t con-
trolls nearly all the trade of Eastern Texas, which
is becoming very large and lucrative We no.
ticed that the new Custom House is still untinish
cd though we believe some parts of the build
ing are now put in USE 1t is acknowledged that
the city is now infested with a larger number of
thieves, robbers and cut-throats, than ever before
We heard several complaints by hoardcrs ut the
City Hotel to that effect, who had suffered in
that way very materially.
We had the pleasure of making the acqualnt-
ance of Mr. De Bow, of the Review lie is very,
very agreeable company-is always in inquiry,
and very communicative; but his vsage is thin,
face raw boned. mouth large, and manners so un-
assuming that | could hardly realize | was with
the editor of the most ably conducted and popu-
lar review of the South.
There is now railroad route from New Or
leans to Louisville-fare 800 but there are no
sleeping cars on the road, and the route is said
to be very fatiguing. We therefore went by the
river, and had no reason to regret it, the boats
are elegantly furnished and the fare most excel
lent.
Memphis has greatly improved it is now a
large city. There is no city in the West which
has grown more rapidly 1t has even grown more
rapidly than the city of Chicago on the lakes
Its rapid increase in wealth and population, dem
onstrates the practicability and profits of rail
road making. Not so much can be said Of Louis
vile thoug Oh this city has also improved very
rapidly.
Nothing of interest occurred during our trip
on the rivers. We arrived in old Kentucky, all
right, and enjoyed an old fashioned reception by
the'' old folks at home'' No pen can do justice to
the happiness and joy of family meeting, after
an absence of ten long years in far-of Texas.
In Kentucky there is a strong feeling in the
Democratic party in favor of Douglas for the
name as the expedien.y candidate. shall write
you next from Philadelphia, and shall have some
thing to say about matters at Washington.
Very truly, &c. j. W.F
Off for the Capital Cincinnati-Ihc Route and
Fdre-Mountain Scenery Harper's Ferry
Washington--The Capito-The Legislative
HaHs-Our Representatives. &C.
- WASHINGTON, April 9th, 1901
DEAR HERALD :TOn the 5th inst, left Ken
tncky for this city. On the Mail boat to Cincin-
natl, was happy to meet with Dr. Graham, the
present Superintendent of our Lunatic Asylum,
at Austin, who was also enroute for the Capital.
Thenceforward we were travelling companions.-
His sociability and kindness endeared him to me
May he long live a blessing and ornament to soci-
ETY.. On the morning of the 9th we were at
Cincinnati. where we obtained through tickets,
by railroad, for New York, via Washington
fare S23.
Cincinnati appears very much as of old, save
in size. 1t now extends for tive or three miles
up and down the river, and presents an extensive
business appearance. Those mountains and high
peaks in the rear of the city, and all along back
from the river, which formerly appeared wild
and romantic, are now all highly improved
Each one supports some magnificent ed6ce and
boasts of evergreens and flowers skillfully ar