The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-12-17
LETTER FROM FLORIDA.
A Description of the Trip Thither and
Interesting Information OF the
Peninsula State.
From our own Correspondent

towoc Saturday 14th inst, at 10 o'clock
A, N. The Steamer Manitowoc is as
near perfection as human Mechanics
could make her. No better sea-going. or
faster Steamer plows the waters of Lake
Michigan. Well may Capt Goodrich be
proud of her as well as Manitowoc of the
ORIGINATOR of her model and the mechan-
les who successfully carried her through
to completion. Capt Barney Sweeney,
her commander, is our ideal of Captain
as well as Henry Pates as Clerk, having
known both for the last fifteen years.
In 1868 Capt. S. was mate on one of the
Ward Steamers, and Henry Pates cabin
boy on one Of the same line of boats, which
is now succeeded by the Goodrich line.
Capt. s. unlike many of his calling, is al
ways to be found at his post in place of
! gossiping among and with his passengers
| The Clerk, hlr Pates, has worked his
way successfully and successfully from
boot black to his present position, always
attentive to his duties and courteous to
them with whom he has to do. The
same may be said of the other officers of
| the boat. Each and all are attentive and
| attend strictly to the duties allotted
them. We arrived at Sheboygan 1890
p. NJ. Here [ was forcibly reminded of
what we may soon expect to see and hear
in Manitowoc, the shrill whistle of the Lo
connective, and cry Of all board not from
the conductor Of the train however, but
from Capt s. We do not recollect of
ever having more pleasant time on the
lake, not a ripple or breath of air to dis
turb the cold transparent waters of
Lake Michigan. We arrived at the
Cream City, milwaukee, at 6 P. NJ,
feeling none the worse for our trip.
Sabbath evening at @ clock we were on
board the stanch Steamer Al pena, Capt
Demont commander and Bemis Clerk, a
line boat, gentlemanly commander and
courteous clerk, bound for Chicago where
we arrived at 5-l5 A. NJ, Monday l6.
| During the day we strayed about town
| sightseeing and visiting our friends. At
L. NJ, We we've on hand at the Mich
igan Central Depot ready to resume our
journey. Upon examination we found
we had left our oyer coat at the Office of
our friend Mr. r. As we had heavy
shawl and were on our way South con-
Guided the coat would not be required for
our comfort. The whistle blew, the
usual cry Of all aboard, and away we
went at about lao. About 4 D. m. a
dlsagreeable rain set in At dark, or soon
alter the storm increased and kept it up
mostly all night. Upon our arrival at
Michigan City we found an unusual num-
Der OF passengers awaiting our arrival,
bound for indianapolis. Five extra cars
were required for their accommodation.
Not having common passenger cars in
readiness, two sleeping cars were brought
into requisition for the occasion, into one
OF them we were asked to take ND cur
quarters for the night. The Buckeye:
perfect fairy palace, furnished in the
most gorgeous style that the imagination
can conceive. The seats or berths were
arranged on plan similar to what we
have seen before. with high backs, so as
to be used either for night or day. The
backs are arranged so as to be lowered
away to an angle of about thirty degrees.
The upper part incased in white muslin
to rece i've the Uranium of the passenger,
and arranged in pairs so as to accommodate
two persons. The passengers were all
paired off. We suppose they were all
married people, as we went the entire
lenghth of the car to find vacant seat,
and did not notice seat occupied by two
gents or two ladies' We noticed some
queerly matched-June and December
occupying the same seat. Al appeared
loving and lovely, but to us bordering
on free lust or free love at least. Perhaps
some of them were on their wedding tour.
at least we should Judge SO from the
proximity Of their bills to each other.
Thus we unused as we were swiftly whist
ing on towards Indianapolis where we
arrived at A. NJ. 18th inst, and left
Immediately for Louisville. When with
In about 40 miles of the latter place we
noticed the first rays of daylight. From
this on to ,Ieffersonviile, situated on the
North bank of the Ohio and opposite
Louisville the country if thickly settled.
In the morning we approached what was
slave territory and more than ever Were
we impressed with the curse and blast
ing influence it engendered in every
direction. We fear it will take years, aye
an age to eradicate the views it has accu-
mulated in the minds of the people. The
soil appears to be sand of yellowish APP
pearance, underlaid with dark slate or
gray hme STONE and can be seen l., the
beds of all the streams and occasionally
making its appearance on the surface W oh
would indicate soil superior to what
the thinly settled country would indicate.
The timber is mostly scrub oak anu hick-
Dry on the high lands and sycamore along
the streams. We arrived at jefferson
vile, a town of ten thousand inhabitants
at a. m. In place of running the cars
to the river bank, the depot is located
about ] mile from the suburbs of the
town. Here Omnibusses were in readi-
ness to convey US to the ferry boat The
steamer James Thompson arrived from