New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-08-24
rHRouGH HARvEY's CANAL
AVIsIrTO GRAND ISLE
THE WATERING PLACE DESCRIBED

Grand Isle is a grand watering place, at
least as tar as extensiveness is concerned,
everything there being such long distance
from everything else, as to call to
mind the title bestowed by John upon
Washin gton CITY when he named it the city
of magnificent distances. The present
mode of access to Grand Isle is by the
steamer ID. s. Cage, which makes two trips
a week, leaving for the Isle on Tuesdays and
on Mondays and Thursdays.
On Saturday morning last at eight o clock,
the d. S. Cage left the head of Harveys
Canal. having on board some thlrty-ive
passengers, buoyant with anticipations of
seaside enjoyment. Among them was an
attache of the New Orleans REPUBLICAN.
who had accepted polite invitation by the
proprietor of the Grand Isle Hotel, in hopes
that "a few breaths of sea air would remedy
a condition of chronic emaciatlOn.
Down the six miles extent of the raging
canawl we steamed, Soon reaching Bayou
Washa: increasing in speed, passing into
Bayou Nillere, noting the signs of habita-
ton. at first an occasional shanty OF the
most primitive construction, put up for the
accommodation OF men employed III getting
out shingles Then appeared signs of more
ornate civilization; the peach orchard plan
tation. on which there are no peaches;
Chaperon's plantation, exhibiting a promis-
ing growth of sugar cane, 10 work which a
new mill is in process of erection; then, at
q long distance, Berthereds plantation, one
OF the finest and best appointed in the
South, exhibiting, however, signs that war
has passed over the country. Lastly, at
the entrance of the Rigolets is Drouet's
plantation, also extensive and we'll ap-
| pointed.
Onward we sped, passing through bayou
after bayou, the marks of habitation lessen
| ing as the expanse of waters increased.
| Still an occasional shanty appeared, shelter
ing those who tOiied at the shell banks, the
product of their labor being conveyed to
| New Orleans in barges. that deposit their
cargoes at the head of Harvey's Canal.
| The scenery more and more showed the low,
| marshy character that indicates a nearer
| approach to the sea-cOast on the guilt, yet
| still there were elements of the attractive
| and the picturesque Point Lookout, evil
| IDENTITY so named because the shallowness OF
| the water called for extra care from the
navigator: Fisherman's Point, looking at a
| distance like strong fort, nearer ap-
| proach resolving the view into group of
| houses-grOwiI1g more and more shabby as
| the steamer neared the point.
The atmosphere, at first breezy and brac-
| ing, grew calmer and calmer, till at last 1t
| left the listlesS passengers TO the mercy OF
unmiti rated heat. as the clOudlesS sunshine
was reelected back by the dancing waters.
| AT len .th dinner, long looked and wished
| for, was announced. and the crowd OF pas
sengers relieved their ennui with soothing
! OCCUPATION. The dinner was excellent, and
was well appreciated by the hungry guests.
| We take this occasion to say that the little
steamer D. S. Cage has every appliance that
a passenger boat should have; and Cap
| tain Plateau seemed to Nave the comfort OF
| his pa ssengers at heart, in which he was
| ably seconded by the clerk of the boat, Mr..
| w. s. Slaughter, Jr. The bar-keepers,
| Messrs A. Mcbride and Andrew Hoh, re-
ceived much deserved .commendation for
their polite attentions to all on the boat
As the evening shadows deepened, Fort
| Livingston was deserted in the distance,
| and il was full dark before the steamer
touched the landing to put a couple of pas
sengers ashore. This fort is now ungar-
| risoned. being under the unaided charge Of
| a sergeant.
The latter part of the trip had been by
no means comfortable, from the entire
| diving away of the breeze. But the worst
was to come. Leaving Fort Livingston a
Isle; but the wind had blown in the wrong
| direc ton. consequently the water was
so shallow that the steamer could not get
| within a half mile of the proper landing
place. here she lay to- and blew her whistle.
A light soon appeared in the distance,
slowly approaching, and at length the appa-
| rition of large hat-bottomed boat loomed
| through the darkness, propelled by poles.
| The passengers were transferred to this
| boat and slowly we moved away in the IN
certain gloom of night. And now the
mosquitoes had their innings. For one long,
, aWfliny long, half hour, we sat close
huddled, while mosquitoes, gigantic in size,
| potent Of bill, with the voracity of shal KS
| and the unscrupulOusness Of office seekers,
worked their wicked will upon us. But all
things come to an end; and at length we
reached the wharf, cramped in limb and
stlIl to the verge of madness.
As we stepped on shore welcome lights
appeared in the distance. Trudging weari-
ly along. we at length approached what had
the appearance of moderate sized village
! Passing on. we reached a very long build
ing well lighted the interior showing Ia
bic of immense length, and on IT spread
the welcome signs OF approaching supper.
But first it was necessary to seek the
"otfice," register and secure room. A
light at a long distance off was pointed as
coming from the office. and the weary walk
was continued long way further. At the
Office We found Mr. +. Il. Coggswell the po
lite and attentive clerk of the establish
ment. who speedily asst gned Ills to comtorta
bic rooms and then marshalled the way tC
supper The meal was excellent in quality
|
last breeze which had now subsided, had
blown from the marshy space that separates
BAYOU Rigaud from Caminada Bay; and
hence our enemies. the mosquitoes, were i'll
full force. completely armed and equipped
So the supper exhibited a spectacle of ca
ger mastication, performed with profu
sion of gesticulation that would have set
up dozen tragedy actors. Painfully
We acquired experience III the strategy OF
the war. and confined our attention to
those edibles that could be discussed with
the aid of one hand for the other was alb
solutely necessary for unremitting selt-de
fense. Sure as an unhappy wight. attract
ed by the tempting appearance OF 1lsh OF
shrimp, attempted to use both hands Tor It's
appropriation. the vioilant foe, taking ad
vantage of the incautious movement, would
promptly charge i'll line, and no sharp
shooter ever hit the mark more accurately.
Fortunately, the table contained deilcloui
oysters prepared in several styles-raW,
baked, broiled; so the supper was at last
achieved, through much strife and tlIDllla
ton. A visit to the beach and a trial OF the
unsurpassed bathing did much to restore
the Observation-Disclosures equilibrium, ana a
clean, comfortable bed, well protected from
the dreaded foe by bar, III a cool, airy
room, did the rest.
Early the next morning every one was
astir to enjoy the sea-bathin9 before sun
rise. a railroad of unique construction
leads from the hotel, or rather the assem-
bIage of buildings that constitute the hotel
down to the shore of the Gulf of Mexico
The ringing of bell announced that the
| car on this road was about to start, and the
bathers crowded in, young men and maid
ems. old men and children, mostly in an
abandon of dishabille, showing that free
and easy was the order of the day. The