The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-03-28
DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI.


storm and Floods, Etc.
[EvENIEG TELEGRAPH SPECIAL CORREsPoNDENCE.l
LOUISVILLE, Ky, March 25, 1867.
Yesterday the mammoth steamboat Great
Republic arrived here from Pittsburg with a
large number of passengers on board. The
following named Philadelphians are among the
number-NIiss Emma Floyd, of West Phila-
delphia; Professor B. II. Rand, of Jefferson
Colleges Mr.. Thackara, and Mr.. William NJ.
Runkel.
This steamer is the largest, and is expected
to be the swiftest, boat ever built upon the
Western waters. She was built at Pittsburg,
and is remarkable specimen of workman
ship both in point of strength and beauty. Her
dimensions are 1856 feet long, width of beam 81
feet, depth of hold 10 feet inches. She is
beautifully modelled and built with an idea
of making the best time on the Western
rivers. Her Captain (Mr. William B. Donald
SOM, although quite young man, has had
considerable experience in steamboating; and
his boat, without doubt, is the most beau
tifully finished and gorgeously furnished float
ing concern in this country. The Republic
has now cost over three hundred and twenty
five thousand dollars, and is unfinished
Her saloon is the most magnificent descrip-
ton, and has been fitted up regardless of ex-
pense. Ten colossal chandeliers hang pendant
from the ceiling, each holding twelve large
lamps, which serve to make the saloon almost
as light as day. These chandeliers were
manufactured and put up by Messrs. Miskey,
Merrill q Thackara, of your city, and are of
the most elegant workmanship. They cost
five hundred dollars apiece and are univer-
sally admired. This enterprising firm have no
doubt made for themselves fine trade in this
| section, as other boats will no doubt follow
| the example of the Republic. The firm
| of John o. Mead u Co., of your city, fur
! nished the silverware for the boat. 1t is beau
tlful in its design and finish, and is quite up
| to the usual elegant workmanship of that
justly celebrated firm. Mr.. L. II. Ringgold,
of the firm of Mead q Co., was passenger
| part of the way down, but left upon her arrival
! at Cincinnati, on account Of business. The
Republic is intended for the st. Louis and
New Orleans trade, and will proceed direct
from this point to New Orleans.
The sectional difficulties have gone so far
that it requires considerable to alarm the
people, and yet it is a little astonishing that
the vindictive feeling should be carried so far
as to endanger the success of a private enter
prise; and yet such is the case; at least rumor
says so and have heard it so often that
have commenced to believe that there is more
truth in it than is agreeable.
1t appears that at the time the Great Re-
public was projected, there were also two
other boats, all intended for the same trade
started; one at this point, known as the Rich
mond, the other at st. Louis, called the Robert
Z. Lee. The reader will no doubt observe how
the owners of these two latter boats have en-
deavored to cater to the Southern taste in the
naming of their boats at least if in no other
manner. The name of the Republic, together
with the fact of her having been built in the
North, is said to be the cause of number of
threats to burn, or otherwise destroy her,
should she make her appearance in the Mis-
sissippi. This threat has been made openly
in some of the newspapers, but, notwithstand-
ing, Captain Donaldson will go ahead, and by
| the time this letter reaches the eyes of the
readers of THE TELEGRAPH, the Republic will
no doubt be safely moored to the levee at New
Orleans
The destruction caused by the recent floods
in this section of the country is, without doubt,
most terrible. The banks of the Ohio, far up
above Cincinnati, have been completely sub
merged, and in many cases houses, stables,
etc. have been carried off down the river, and
/ the land almost completely covered in many
, places with large quantities of dirt and drift
wood. As you proceed further down the river
| the evidences of the terrible extent of the
+ flood become more frequent and more appall-
1 | ing. In some places portions of steamboats,
and other craft are left high and dry above
the common level of the water, and the stores
fronting on the river in this city, have been
filled with water up to their second stories
e The wateris now subsiding fast, and should no
= rain occur soon, it will soon be down to its
usual level.
The weather for the past two weeks has been
, of the most distressing character. One day
|. snow, the next rain, the next freezing This
D. constant changing of the temperature has
caused a great deal of sickness along the
il rivers, and it feared that when the warm
7. weather sets in there will be an extraordinary
,t amount, on account of the decaying of the
enormous quantities of filth that have been
deposited ON the banks by the flood In some
ID cases the mud, ETC., is over three feet deep
a Just think of it How can it be otherwis,
y, than that there should be sickness when al
this amount of matter commences TO deca,
u, under the influences of a burning sum-
IN Business here is dull. There appears to b,
ps | no disposition on the part of the honorabl
merchants to do business on the credit system
and as there is little or no money in the South
and the trade of this place is almost exclu
va siyely confined TO that region, there is nothin
:, doing worth mentioning. notice arrivals
III considerable quantities of corn, but it usual
a goes in exchange for similar commodtie
he hence the dry goods and kindred interes
on are inactive, and decidedly fat.