The Evansville journal., 1868-05-12

the leyee, and a scene of excitement,
hustle and confusion ensues. After
discharging her stock at the stock
yard, the Richmond crossed the river
to wood, and then swept graceful y
and swiftly around the point Of the
Crescent" to the New Levee,
where we found the Louisiana just
landed. The municipal regulations
require all steamers to land bow
down, which is not always an easy
matter, but having one of the best
pilots in the world-Jim Osbrander-
at the wheel, the Richmond was
dropped in gently as an infant laid
in its crib. and everything was snug
and taut" before the Louisiana was
got into position by the aid of small
steam tug. Thousands of people
crewed the levee, and hundreds rush
aboard, from motives Of curiosity or
on business.
A corps of "press reporters took
pOss ession Of the manifest, which had
been prepared for general use, and
which they proceeded to copy on
manifold for the use of the several
city papers. This was no small work,
as the manifest was about fifteen feet
long; but it was by the copyist much
condensed After leaving the stock
yard, the Richmond crossed the river
and took on board some thirty FIVE
cords of cypress wood, of which thou
sands Of cords are piled up along the
bank. 1t was therefore about sun
down when she landed at the city
proper. Among the attractive fea-
lures which attract the attention of
visitors, as you approach the levee,
are the steamships Of the Texas or
Morgan line, which ply from New
Orleans to Galveston and Corpus
Christi, Of which the Austin, J 4.
Harris, Harlan, Matagorda, and Nor
gan were in port.
Near these lie three of the famous
blockade runners, to-wit: the Teazer,
Lillian and Reindeer These are trim
and finely mCdeled, painted perfectly
black, and having two sets of machin-
cry, with two smoke stacks inclining
backwards. They are said to be very
fast. The object of having two sets
of engines was to provide against acci-
dent, or the crippling Of one, when
the other could be brought into re
QUESTION. On the opposite side OF
the river, at Algiers, lie several old
iron-clads, stripped Of their armor,
also the rebel ram Tennessee in like
condition, and which was partly
burned by the burning of the South
eTner a few months ago. Along the
levee, for miles. up and down, are
numerous sail vessels of all classes,
and Of every nation, also Atlantic
and Gulf steamships, some of them Of
the largest class.
The new levee is a matter of inter
est. 1t is of plank for a great dis
tance, level until near the present
water line, where it slopes gently out
into the river. For several hundred
feet; indeed, for the distance Of a
square from the steamboats, towards
the city, the water can be seen be-
meath the planks, and here in low
water river thieves ply their vocation
In a most adroit manner. They man
age to get beneath the levee II a skiff.
and anchoring beneath a pile of
freight, say of coffee, tea, whisky, or
other commodity, easily drawn off,
they tap it and let it run into barrels
or boxes in their skif, and. il is no
uncommon thing instead of a barrel
of whisky, left on the levee an hour
ago, to find nothing but a whisky
barrel or a collapsed coffee sack or two
beneath a pile of sacks of cOfae
Between the wooden levee and the
city, is a wide space redeemed from
the great Father of waters 10y filling
with earth, rubbish &C., mingled with
shells and gravel cemented together
until it is as hard as adamant.
Three blocks of buildings now
stand where thirty years ago the Mis-
sissippi held undisputed sway, and
another has been commenced. The
first familiar faces We met were
partner, Mr.. Gilbert, who thoughtful
ly furnished us the latest copies re-
ceived of the Journal.
The evening was very warm, but
was rendered pleasant by a stiff breeze
that prevailed. Ia the boat. however,
the heat was oppressive, and as night
closed IN Immediately after sunset
there IS no twilight here to speak Of
we hear low strains Of familiar music
produced bya pestilent baad of hun
CRY mlnstrels, who visit your city in |
large numbers about the 1st of Au- /
gust, aud always present their bills as
their songs proceed. Some times they |
take their pay in advance. Here they |
are larger, more persistent, and more |
penetrating than in Indiana, and have |
a vlllalnous propensity TO keep up |
their songs all night. They don't sing |
you or your children to sleep very
much.
After dark, IN company with Bob
oIUa ruh0 -