The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-10-26
A Steamboat on the Grand Canal OF
NeuICe
INDIaNANr aoNpoLIERs ANp A nAcr.

INDIGNANT GoNDoLlEBs AND A RACE
lively correspondent OF an English paper
thus describes his voyage through the Grand
Canal Of Venice in a steamboat:
An other whistle ana another startled the
echoes OF tho old palaces on the Grand Canal
whilst we ghded past them at our utmost speed,
or shut oilsteam and put the helm hard over to
avoid collision with some rash gondola which
crossed crossed our bows, Then there was an inter
change ofcomphments, in the smooth Venetian
dialect, between our captain and the pondolers
-suave In manner butsfrong IN substance and,
with rapid strokes OF the screw, we glded on
once more. At the Rialto we were delayed
by number of laden barges, which had become
entanRled IN the narrow channel beneath the
bridge aud as we moved forward very slowly
we could hear a comical water-carner inter
spersine his regular cry with the names of his
King and OF his country--'Fresh water for VIC
tor Emanuelp Fresh water foe United Italy y
and so on through several artistic variations.
There wac a roar OF applause at each addition
TO the song although prudence forbade the
people TO join in, as they would fain have done.
THE steamboat created no little sensation as
she advanced on her course. What with shouts
ano stoppages, hair-Dreadth escapes from col
lsion, and trOnical cheers ron small bows who
ran by the side when there chanced to be foot
path,we lelt sure that Venice was aware of our
movements. Perhaps the gondoliers we're jea-
lous or their formidable rival Perhaps they
took the matter philosophically, and Temem-
bered that the railway viaduct would soon be
re-opened tor general traffic, and would super
that we had race across the Lagoon with
three-oared gondola, and a close race. too.
Jealous or no, the men struggled hard to Keep
their lead OF twenty boats leugth, or there
abouts they made their oars bend, and seem cd
as though, they would iall on their noses should
anything 20 wrong. The steersmRn, perched
high up on the pointed stern, with his whole
hgure Clearly visible, was a study OF graceful
strength end skill. How he stopped and
strained to give force to his strokes How
dettly he combineu guiding the others with
helping them onl They never looked back, but
they knew that we were close behind, for our en-
glne pulled loudly in token of high pressure, and
our whistle was by no means silent.
"On we went and on they went vessels were
met ana vessels were overtaken, The Custom
House, at theeutrsnce OF the Mestre canal, grew
plainly visible and the distance between us
lessened at every stroke. That Custom House
saved them. They touched for an instant
sprans out, spoke TO The officials, pushed OF
again, and we're gone before we we're even laid
alongside. In vain did steam bring near
them once more, as we approached the fort OF
MalgheIia Bone and muscle were favored by
fortune. tor The single passenger in the gondola
had his passport quickly examined, whilst we
steamboat passengers were kept waiting until
servant of the Emperor had ascertained that
we were ali legally qualified to go ashore. So,
when the rest of the canal had been traversed
and we arrived at Mestre, the three gondoliers
sat there watching us, with broad grins upon
their sunburnt iaces.r