Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-12-24
AaUATIC FESTIVITIES.
ResunlptiOn of Navisas
Merrymakings on Board Our River
SteameFs-Flag FERMENTATION 90 the
'EIIa Hughes A Brilliant Party
Last Night.

Last Night.
At length the waters of our beautifu
Cumberland are again ploughed by tn
messengers Of commerce. The familia
whistle of steamboats, is again heard at gu
wharves, and commercial activity is stimu
I lated with a renewed impetus. The re
sumption of river navigation was the oc.
easion of very pleasing episode at thu
landing last night. The Ella Hughes %
commanded by Capt Dix, the Nashville
Capt. W. Simms, and the Tyrone, Can't
Hartman, all staunch and beautiful crafts.
are at our landing. Last night these
steamers were lashed and Illuminated.
while sumptuous repast was prepared on
board the Ella Hughes" consisting of
rich viaAds and delicacies, and the rarest
and most choice wines-nectar the gods
might have slipped. The occasion was the
presentation of handsome flag by Miss
Ella Hughes, the beautiful Young lady
after whom the boat was named. The
presentation took place on board the "ElIa
Hughes" the young lady delivering the
same TO DIR. Morton, who was appointed to
receive it on the part of the boat. Miss
Hughes clearly and distinctly delivered
the following appropriate little speech:
/ am glad TO tread upon the decks of
your new and beautiful craft, the more SO
because she was modelled and grew into
form and beauty for our own trade, and
stands as pledge Of devotion to the com,
merce of the Cumberland. If it is our
custom to greet with a smile and cheer
those crafts that make us but occasional
visits, and bear off our produce to neigh
boring marts, with how much sweeter
smiles and louder cheers ought we to well
come this one, which is dedicated exclu-
sively to foster the interests and enhance
the commerce of our people; and intended
specially to cleave with its cutting beak
the bosom of our own beautiful Cumber-
land. Thrice, then, do we welcome her
upon her first visit to the capital of our
glorious State, and happily do we wed her
to the interest of our city and anchor her
Golfers to Ifs prosperity. The first steamer,
| believe, that was ever landed at our
wharf, was the Old Cumberland, in 1925.
which was soon multiplied into many float
ing palaces, each of which was an offering
to the genius of Fulton, and in its time
source of pride to our people. But this is
a fast age. Railroads for the purpose of
travel, have to great extent superseded
the graceful and ornamental steamer. For
me there is something more social and
agreeable in the cabin of modern steam
er, than in the rapid dashing car. May
many feel as do, and commit themselves
to the care of the ella Hughes" while
Captain Dix is master of her decks and
thus fill the Golfers of her safe The flag
of the Union has hoated its stars and
stripes both in victory and defeat upon
the Cumberland and her borders. 1t now
valves peerless and without opposition.
The stars and bars have gone down before
it, and ended that fraternal strife which
for years had saddened and made sick the
soul of the patriot. The power of this flag
is felt alike on the wave and on the land
at home and abroad 1t is now the emblem
of peace and protection, as well as power
and punishment. May it ever be yOur
shield, as it is your pride. This one here
present, is intended to float above your
| decks, and when you look upon it, whether
Gin port or under way" remember the girl
who gave it, with prayers forIyeur good
fortune. Give it place in your hearts as
we'll as on your decks. thank you, Cap
tain, and through you the owners and
builders OF the ELLA Hughes" for the
Partially shown in naming her for me
DR.. MoRToN's RESPONSE.
To the above DIR. Morton responded in
the following felicitous style:
Ny DEAR Miss: Permit me in the
name ofthe Captain of the Ella Hughes,
to thank you for this beautiful pres
ent; emblematic of union, strength
and protection. Ia your allusion to the
identity of the interests of this craft to tbs
commerce of the city of Nashville | wonlC
disdain to say she was identified to NJ
quick grown metropolis, filled with untold
wealth, based upon a fictitious capita
bustling with the pretense of an extensive
business, which it has not but without pre-
tension, it has more of solid capital, fewe
bankrupts, and a more reliable trade, thar
many of our boastfnl neighbors.
In the commercial sinews Of Nashvill,
there is strength, and in the hearts of he
merchants there is generosity. She ha
need to be proud of her old and settled so
ciety of her scholarly divines her lega
power; her skilled faculties; her talente,
press; her thrifty mechanics and he
educational arrangements. The fortune
of Nashville have perhaps been less varied
and her business less ambitious than othe
cities in like situation; yet her final fate i
never doubled for she moves steadily OF
in a current of gradual prosperity. Whel
the Frenchman, Charyilled with hi
trappers, as far back as IVA, occupied tn
old abandoned fort built by the Shawne,
Indians which sat upon yonder bluff
where now the suspension bridge holds it
western terminus, he little dreamed that h
held the center of future city, wher
capital should rise from her buried quar-
ries, and sit in solid grandeur and archi
tectural beauty as a crown upon its head
And again, when Capt. James Robinson, il
1879, with eight other pioneers penetrate
the untracked forest, and found for th'
time a habitation in the same old for
where sixty-fve years before the FTenc
trappers had lived, he little thought h
was sleeping within the environs of tn
future capital of State, that could boast q
its million of inhabitants yet so it is, tha
where the winding notes Of his huntsman'
horn found echo, the church bell nov
rings its solemn peal, invoking thousand
TO the altar of God.
As Won have alluded to the first steame
that ever assembled the Cumberland, ] will
go little farther back, and acquaint yol
that the old Cumberland was not the frs
craft, full of interest to this country, tina
ever landed at this port. On the 18th 0
April, 1880, the Adventurer fastened IT
cable and aisembarked its passengers a
the spot now known as the foot of Churcl
street. This craft was something on tn
order of the keel fiat boat Launched ii
the HoIston, and comprised more thN
two thousand miles, down the Tennesse
and up the Cumberland, bearing upon it
simple deck the hopes and fortunes Of tina
little colony, of which Col. John Donal
son was the head, and amongst its passen
gers the future wife Of the pride and gior
Of our country, the hero of the Hermitage
la conclusion permit me, dear Miss, il
the name Of Capt. Dix, the owners an,
builders of the +" Ella Hughes" to again
thank you for the beautiful flag you have
presented her. May the guardian angel
Of heaven watch over you, guiding you
footsteps in the paths of peace, plenty AMI
happiness, and when you have done wit
the things here below may your soul be re
ceived into bliss, is the prayer Of the com
mander and owners Of the ella Hughes