The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-06-13
For tie N;as:ssipptan
FoT ne 1HsassyslppSaN
Thou glorious mirror, where the Almighty'f form
Glasses itself in tempest"

: Mr.. EDITOR just as the sun was gliding
with his first beams the tall pines, and the
magnolia granda horas, which shade and
adorn the pleasant homes of Biloxi, your cor.
respondent, accompanied with Mr.. It. o.
, Washington county and Mr.. James Bithe
, the polite and gentlemanly manager Of
browns Hotel' put off from one of the
wharves of Biloxi in yawl belonging to the
United States Schooner ar. A. Baker; ridinc
f at anchor in the offing, for the purpose OF
boarding said Schooner, and beneath her can
vass wings visiting the now famous Shin Is
land The morning was one of tropical bean
ty, and as we glided down the bay for the
purpose of taking aboard Lieutenant F. A
Prime, L. s. n, whose otfice-wharf was fnr-
Their down than where we got aboard, Biloxi
presented one of the most charming of scenes
The effect of the landscape from the bay was
pleasing in the extreme. Nestled among the
luxuriant foliage of the magnificent liyeoak
for which Biloxi is so famous, and the um.
brageous branches of the pine, cedar, and
magnolia, the cottage homes OF this pleasant
town shown out picturesquely and delightful
Spreading along the shining sandy shore of
the bay, with the graceful light house to the
west and the curved arm of Point Caddy tn
the East Biloxi lay like the sleeping beauty
here and there, persile grape vine, or the
snowy and golden beauty of the Cape jesse
mine, visitants and ornaments of every Bilox-
ians garden; while the tinny flag Of some
Yacht or sail-boat bearing the revered stars
and stripes, futtered like winged flowers in
the morning breeze, and with the white sails
of some early adventurer on the deep, or seek
er after health or pleas re, contrasted pleas
/ ingly with the dark vendure of the hack
ground.
Biloxi has a resident population of about
two thousand souls, and is a favorite resort
during the summer months, of those who seek
! in its pure air and invigorating sea-bathing
health of body and mind. A large element
| of its population are Creoles, in whose veins
beat the warm blood of the South of Europe
The schooner r. A. Baker, having taken
Lieutenant Prime aboard, her commander,
Captain Belfor gives her as much sail as u stiff
South (head) wind will permit. Close hawl-
ed before the wind, away We go. The brgh-
test bubbles flying from our Prov. What
can be more exhilerating than morning ride
over the deep blue of Southern sea ? There
| is something to stir the blood in the very con-
temptation of old Ocean. Bright, beautiful,
glorious, its waves dance to their own music,
as they danced ten thousand years ago. Man
struts and frets his little hour upon LIES
stage, and then goes down to oblivion. He is
the creature of an hour, his very granite mon
uments, and trophies of brass, crumble before
the all destroying seeptre Of time, but thou,
Oh glorious Ocean
thine writes no wrinkle on thine azure brow
Such as creations down beheld, thou rollest now."
On, and still on, breasting the pillows like
brave man in misfortune, our little vessel
plunges through the briny waters of Biloxi
bay, while our little company inhaling the
braeing breeze, feel that life has something
worth living for in it yet-that is, life on the
ocean wave. Among that company on the
same arrand as ourselves was Rev
Thomson, the Pastor of the Methodist church
South, of Biloxi, man of cheerful converse
ton, and cultivated mind Mr. T. was for
merly located in Mobile.
After few hours beating and lacking
against the wind, We made the wharf, and
cast anchor in twenty feet Of water, Just I'M
der the protecting shore and Immediately
west of the Light House, of Ship Island. APP
preaching this Island We were struck with
the peculiar adaptation of its harbor to the
profession Of shipping during rough weather
The Island which stretches along the ocean
about nine miles in extent on a line nearly
parallel with the coast Of the main land. has
yet an indentation or course of several miles
in extent, which forms natural and c1pacious
harbor protected on the three sides from
which any danger from the sea might be ex-
pected. Within this harbor all the navies of
Europe and America might ride with ease
and safety laughing at the storm" Vessels
drawing twenty one feet of water can, even at
low tide approach within few feet of the dry
| land. Six fathoms of water can be found
within stones throw of the Coast. More
than third of the Island and that the Eastern
part, is covered with timber. The United
States Government owns this isolated track
of land, which though barren and though
nine miles in extent and but from two miles
| to forty yards wide, is yet one of the most i'm
portant upon the Southern coast As is we'll
known it was in the harbor OF Ship Island
and between that point and Cap Island, that
| the British Fleet anchored during the war of
1912. Approaching the advantage of this
Island in case of our country beng engaged
in war with England, or any other maran-
time power, our government are erecting on
the extreme west end of the place, fortifica-
tons, which will command this important
highway to the city of New Orleans, protect
our commerce, and give ample security to
Oui udS y, OiuISIbo Oi stltS COdots
The public works being erected on Ship Is
land, are on scale commensurate with the
Importance, both commercially and in a war
like point Of view, of Ship Island Harbor.-
Under the immediate superintendent of
Lieutenant F. A. Prime, graduate of West
Point, and gentleman of polish, intelligence
and true marine hospitality, assisted by Mr..
Neville, government official worthy of the
NJ No.
Ship Island are progressing with scientific ac-
curacy and finish. We took pains to examine
the original draughts, specifications, plans and
drawings connected with these works, and we
are assured that when completed, the Engi-
neer Department will have no higher nor
more conclusive testimonial of its ability than
the public works on Ship Island. The fortifi-
cation will mount at least thirty guns of
range sufficient to tell upon mysterious sail
infesting these waters. We are informed that
an appropriation Of two hundred thousand
dollars will complete these works; and in /
view of the present unsettled state of Eu-
rope, Of the almost certainty of war with
England or France, either or both of which
nations, will assuredly interfere with our
Mexican or Central American policy, in view
of the stormy times ahead, and the present I'M
protected state of our coast, the General Gov |
eminent could do no act more acceptable to
the people Of the South, more wise, sound or
polite, than make this the necessary appro-
priation.
That the Gulf and Ship Island Railroad
will be built, we do not stop to consider, as
we regard that as fixed fact. One word |
about the Gulf shore terminus. The build
ing Of the above named road is too important
and vital measure to be postponed to the
ukase of any man or set Of men. Much
clashing of opinion, stimulated by private in
tereSts, and local pride, unfortunately exist
upon the question of termini location. But
of this we are assured that there is too much
good sense and intelligence among the people
of the coast to cayil at the determining said
location, when all the questions Of local adj
vantages have been canvassed and settled
The road must be bull, and the proper place |
for the terminus is the best place We might
say a great deal upon this -uered question
but have not the space. We spent pleasant
day upon the Island, were kindly and gener-
ously entertained by Lieutenant Prime and
Mr.. Neville to whom our warmest thanks
are due, and had most delightful sail back to
Biloxi Au reuoir. MAC.
BILOXI, May %, 1860.