The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1866-02-04
For the Daily Gate City.l
A SOUTHERN ADVENTURE.

lime was when the MISSISSIPPI valley was
almost myth, to thousands dwelling in tbs
eastern portion Of our country. Now, owine
to the movements of our vast "Union army. I
during the rebellion so recently ended By .ita
aid, the extent of the great rivers. plains and
swamps of the West is practically understoo,
by the people Of New England and the Eas
for while the sons of the W est have aided il
the struggle on the Potomac, Eastern patriot
have helped crush rebellion along the valleys
of our mighty rivers
am not one who can say of the West g
was to the manor born but the days O
youth and manhood by me have here beer
spent. Almost q score ofyears ago was one
OF then numerous class, called "swampers.
The business of this class Of men was to &C
in the fall of the year away up some of the
small rivers which empty into the Mississippi
cut timber lash or eypress) in the swamp
along the banks, and in the spring, when the
water was high, raft and run it to New Or.
leans market.
During the winter OF 1858 and 1854, was
thus employed in the swamps on the Sun.
flower, a small river which flows through the
State OF Mississippi, emptying into the Yazo 90,
which empties into the Mississippi ten miles
above Nicksburg. The Sunfower divides
about fifty miles above its mouth, and the
branches are known as Little and Big Sun
flower. 1t was the custom Of raftsmen to
bring their RATS of timber out of the Big Sum
flower, but when passing up or down in
canoes or skiffs, it was more convenient, and
few miles nearer, to take the Little river,
as it emptied into the Yazoo few miles
lower than the other.
One hundred and twenty-five miles above
the mouth of the Little Sunhower, and sew
enty-hve miles above the place where the
two rivers divide. planter by the name of
Bush had opened q plantation His house
was a large comfortable one, made of logs.
and was at once the best and the poorest on
the river, 1t being the only one. Swampers
hnts were numerous but the most fertile
imagination could fancy but slight resem-
blsnce in them to house
Mr.. Bush owned about forty slaves; was
the husband of an amiabe wife, and seemed
to ENJOY his isolated life quite we'll AT any
rate he chose to reside here, although pos
sessed OF ample means to enable him to re.
side III Alabama, which was his native State.
During the winter business called me to
Nicksbnrg. The river being low, there was
but one way in which could make the trip
III canoe to the Iazoo, and by steamboat
the remainder of the Journey.
1t required five days to go down the stream,
and seven or eight days to return; the motive
power, a paddle; the baggage, an iron kettle
and coffee pot; the first, to cook in: the name
OF the other indicates its use. In addition TO
thus. blankets were carried to sleep under at
night.
At the junction of Little Sunfower and va
zoo stood log house. which was used as a
tavern, store, grocery and saloon. Two rooms
comprised the entire establishment. Over
the door was sign, on which was printed the
omlnous sentence, "Trdpeltors tax an her.
Among swalnpers the place was usually known
as "Rogues Retreat
On my arrival, found ady, whoinformed
me that she was sister of Mr.. Buh. ofwbom
| have spoken.
coming from distant part of the country
TO visit brother. whom she had not seen for
years she had expected in leaving home to
be able TO travel the entire distance by steam
boat. In this she was disappointed, and |
met her at this place, in most undesirable
quarters, among entire strangers, and with
more than a hundred miles between her and
me nome OF her brother, of a journey which
she knew not how to make.
l, of course, sympathized deeply with
her, but could only advise her to wait until
my return from tieksburg, when | would
hasten on to her brother and have him come
for her in skiff
1aklng The steamer that afternoon, | went
to NlckSburgan returned next evening. STAYED
altnight at the hotel mentioned, and in the
morning prepared for my long, lonesome ride
OF seven days, up to B. S plantation.
AS was about to depart, the lady came to
the bank of the river, and informed me. du
ring our conversation, that she had with her
nfteen hundred dollars in gold, and was afraid
70 stay where we then were. She had not
seen her brother in eighteen years. and was
taking this money to him as a gift from his
mother ans
Az length, seeing me about to start. she
asked now many could ride in my canoe? I
Irephed that two could, possibly, but urged
her not to think of attempting SO long a Jour
ney in SO frail a craft
The answer was, IF two men can ride in
that dug out, one man and woman can. ;,
The result was, IN half hour, my light,
&C eahoc' ifelSuleu Win TWO OF Eve 8
lamiiy land some meat and -four, coffee and
sugar was slowly breasting the current of
me sluggish river, and gliding along on the
long Journey OF one hundred and twenty-five
miles TO the house of Mr.. Bush, the first we
should md, and the only one my lady passep
ger cared to find FN''N
ne river which we were navigating in so
primitive a manner, is about one Hundred
Farus IN width. On each side, the deep. dense
forest came down to the waters edce Graat
cypress ana gum trees bent over the banks
urey Spanish moss, hanging in festoons from
every hms, gives to a Southern forest a som.
pre-, strange appearance; while the green br;ar
ana tangled underground, afford safe retrea,
lot bears panthers. alligators. Sernents
ooth harmless and poisonous dwell in safatv
among the cane and thick underground. Tho
gahy plu.naged paroqaets break the stiffness
on me woods with their strange, harsh tones |
mniie The solitary mocking bird sings his
io"ely lay and makes his chorus from tho +
ing. ''''s' Al ms near-
onr iifsi DAY travel carried us about TWEEN /
~ miles, and at sunset we landed and CAM. |!
ed for the night anu ealhP'
set two small sticks in the ground
paced another across the tons of fben, 80 aa
inns, spread blanket, and under th;s IL
sneiler, with leaves for bed, Mrs. Raw 90
was the iady name) slept. 1 found nv res.'
ihg pace before our campfire with bianLa,
lor pea' and the broad canopy Of heaven
as covering. Here we slept, and in safety I
passed our first night - '"'e'y
AT the close of the fourth day we Isnded 70 /
prepare our evening meal and camp. supnos,
had been nada ~ journey /