The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-02-04
LErrER FROM ST. LOUIS.
speciN Correspondents Of the New Orleans Crscsntl
ST Louis Ian a. 1865

ST. LOUIS. Jan. 81 1868.
Since my last we have experienced the coldest
weather Of the season. and IN bed have been COM
PEELED TO hump up and double like burnt boot"
in order TO keep the coroner from holding an in
quest on our remains IN the morning. Wednesday
morning the mercury stood at five degrees below
zero, and more uncomfortable looking lot OF
mortas than those who were obliged TO go out
into the singing air cannot be imagined. Hot
whisky punches buffalo overshoes and furs were
in brisk demand while some were so shockingy
wicl ed as TO "cuss" the weather, and wish it was
the Fourth Of July and red hot. These same fell
lows, in few months from now, will be "cuss
ing" the heat and wishing for cold weather. But
mortalsnevsr were, and probably never wiz be,
satisfied with their lot
The Father of Waters is bridged here at last
with ice--and people arc crossing to and fro In
large numbers. Some are m0yed by curiosity and
others by business, and several narrow escapes
from drowning have occurred. Yesterday morn
ing Peter Doyle, baggage man on the Chicago
road, started 10 come over, aud came very near
handing in his last "check." Pete il ''heavy
weight" and when about midway across a cake
of ice on which he stepped "les down." and in be
went up TO his knees. He cluag to the edge OF
the surrounding ice and scrambled half way out,
when that also broke loose and down he went
ag ain ND his waist. But "try, try again''
his motto, as it would have been with "any other
man" under similar circumstances, and the second
attempt was successful, when he Immediately
struck "bee line" Cor the "Hole in the Wal, !"
where Mike Reypods put up prescription of
himself again; but he says he is not Cr0ssrug UI1
the ice now az much as he was.
The ice gorge is Immediately in front Of the
city. channel was cut yesterday for the pas
sage Of the ferry boats but il soon closed and the
boats were extrieated from their perilous posi-
ton and taken TO places of safety. Above the
city the river is open and the Jerry boats carry
railroad passengers and baggage over to Venice,
Illinois. whence they are conveyed to the diifer-
ent railroad depots at East st. Louis.
The weather to-day ia modefating some, and it
is not probable that the ice blockade will be OF
very long duration.
The two rival companies that undertook to
build bridge at this point have settled their difi-
culties ard been consolidated, aud that the bridge
will now be constructed with the least possible
delay, there is no longer any reason to doubt. II
our leading men HAD been possessed of that inde-
iatgsble energy aud spirit OF enterprise with
which The citizens OF rival city, not over three
hundred miles from here, are endowed the Mis-.
sissipp river at ST. Louis would have been bridged
at least FIVE years ago. But sit is better late tn
never" aud perhaps instead of complaining We
ought to rejoice over the fact that our citizens
even realize and acknowledge the truth of the
maxim.
Steamboatmen are disgusted with the proTacted
cCld weather, and have little hope of being able
to accomplish any business in their line before the
lst of March, and in fact if the river were open
now there would be large excess Of tonnage in
port for, as to business, there is none to speak
| Of ~ as the man said when asked if he had any
children. However " when the spring time
| comes gentle Annie - we are in hopes that BUSH
ness will be brisk enough TO satisfy everybody.
The following New Orleans guests were regis
tered at the hotels yesterday: Laclede-R. h. Es-
| tile. Barnuu's-J. Gilderseeve.
| AtDeBsr's Opera House, Mrs. F. w. Lander,
| nee Davenport and her excellent company have
| been playing the legitimate drama to large and
J delighted audiences. Mrs Lander is a finished
actress, and holds her auditors spell bound from
| the opening TO the closing scene, while her sup
| port is frat class Such combination OF talent
| is very seldom offered 10 our theater goers, aud
| our citizens show their appreciation by their
| presence. Ny amiable friend Jones, the treas
urer, has been busy as bee, from the opening OF
the box Office till the closing thereof, assigning
| seats TO the multitudinous applicants. Mrs. Lam
| der has appeared as Elizabeth, Mary Stuart, Lddl
| Macbeth, and TO night, on the occasion OF he
benefit and final appearance, " Adrienne u
Couyreur'' is to be played. Frank Mayo vii
commence at DeBar's on Monday night.
At the Varieties Kate Fisher and " The Fier.
Untsmed steed" are still the attraction. Mis-
rehes's 4ngsp cement will close Saturday night
and on Monday nignJ ruuHy JauuUsyiivh (PsV
nounced Yon-Ow-sheck) the eminent German ira
gedienne, and her company will open for twt
weeks, Mile having leased the house for tina
term. "Medea" will be the opening play. Il
the meantime Deagle, with his GOe company, in
cluding the beautiful and talented Anna aut
Mary Meeker, whose presence in our midst VI
at one time expected to be so unfortunate az t
be deprived of, will visit Springfield, Jackson
vile and other interior towns Of Illinois.
The Olympic still "hourshes like a green ba
tree" The performance is varied and excellent
the audiences large and -apprecative, and a.
goes merry as marriage belle" RAINBOW.