Baton Rouge tri-weekly gazette & comet. [volume] (Baton Rouge, La.) 1865-18??, 1867-07-25
Interesting Sketch of the Hot
Springs in Arkansas.

been sweltering to their hearts con
tent of late beneath the hot rays Of
an almost tropical sun, may consider
it rather out of place in us at this
time to recommend to them for theil
notice or perusal a subject in which
the term or idea of "hot" has to ap
pear as feature Of prominent note
Nevertheless, we are tempted by an
interesting description of the Hot
Springs in Arkansas which we find
in communication written to the
Cape Girardeau Mo- Argus of the
18th inst, to reproduce portion Of
the same, "codte gu coate,' in our
columns. The description given OF
the caloric region whence the writer
dates his correspondence, will, we
are presumptuous enough to believe,
prove more refreshing and agreeable
than parching and distasteful to the
palates of our readers.
The Hot Springs is locality re-
nowned for the hygienic properties
Of its waters, but owing to its re-
moteness in the interior and its COM
parative inaccessibility for the want
Of proper routes leading to it, has
long remained terra incogn1ta to
many, who from curiosity or ailment
would be disposed to frequent the
place and acquaint themselves with
its mysteries and attractions.
The writer alluded to, after giving
memoranda of his journey by
steamer from Cape Girardeau to
Memphis, thence to White River and
up that stream as far as Duvall's
Bluff, thence by railroad through
prairie fifty miles long, to Hunts
vile, which is opposite to Little
Rock, the starting point by stage to
the Springs; proceeds to relate his
adventures, impressions and expe-
rience thus:
May 24th-This morning early,
waiter knocked at our door, and in.
formed us that the stage would be in
waiting in five minutes; so we had
to be up and ready for our departure,
all of which was done in a hurry.
We got into the crowded stage, there
being nine inside passengers, and /
the soundest in the lot; this was a
sickener on a man with the rheuma-
tism, to be crowded up like so many
chickens in a small coop. There
were two passengers outside, with
the driver, and any amount of bag
gage on top. However, we started
for the Springs, the rain falling in
torrents. Went fifteen miles, and
stopped for breakfast Ascertained
the tongue Of the stage was nearly
broken off, and lay here two hours,
new one. Changed horses,
and left. Did not get over ten miles, !
before one of the iron clevis' broke
and we had to stop; but fortunately, |
the driver had another in his box,
and by using fence rails, we raised
the stage and put it on, which made
all right once more but before we
got many miles, the new clevis broke,
and We hardly knew what to do; so
the driver and passengers got pole
and placed it on the axle, to hold up
the stage, and manage to get some
where that the damage could be re-
paired. We succeeded in getting to
Benton, which was three miles off,
and got blacksmith to repair dam
ages. The passengers eat their din
ners here, and we were now some
five hours behind time. Started,
and got along rather badly over the
miserable rock roads, up mountains, /,
and through swamps. We came
near upsetting several times. Pas
sengers that could walk were often
asked to foot it up, mountain, or
through swamp. We were making
sixty miles in twenty-five hours, over
perhaps one of the worst roads to be /.
called a stage road in the States.
This sixty miles is worse than all
the balance of the route.
May 25th-Arrived this morning
at the Hot Springs at s A. M, and
stopped at the Sumter House, which
is about four hundred yards from the
A.. I7l,.