New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-16
A wOsrAN,s LUGGAGE.
The Countess Derwentwater's Departure
from America,
From the New York SUM-

from Amerlc0s
From the New York SUM-
At two o'clock on Wednesday afternoon
great throngs of fashi0nables lined the
wharf of the Cunard Steamship Company
in Jersey City, awaiting the sailing of the
steamer Java. The Countess Derwentwater
was expected. "There she comes in that
COACH" said Superintendent Brady. All
ewes were leveled in the direction indicated,
and pell NELL came the coach, it's sides
weighed down under innumerable trunks,
which half concealed driver, horses, coach
and all, and which, at distance, looked
like so many animated chests on a bender.
Reaching the lower gangway the driver
halted, and as quickly through the carriage
window peeped mass of red hair, whose
length partly covered face we'll crimsoned
by exposure. Soon the owner of the head.
resplendent in a green silk dress, hOunced
and ruffied, white crepe shawl, and pair
of white silk gloves, landed on the pier. ALI
ewes were turned, and all ears caught the
cracked voice as it shrieked to the com
pany's officer:
Cant help it, Mr.. Welch; got surprised
last night and was making pot-pie till three
o'clock this morning. How can l get my
boxes on board9 See my trunks and luggage.
What am l to do?"
Welch's glasses gave perceptible wink
as he took in the chests, strapped and girded.
Soon host of stevedores gathered around
and the scene now baffled description. Tum-
bled down in the hurry and hustle to get
the baggage aboard were:
One guitar, with two strings; two old
cane-seated chairs, one with two legs; three
empty four-gallon demijohns, unhrOken;
two peacOcks and black and tan in box;
two broken children's cribs of mahogany,
one without rockers; one crOss-breed hound
of English birth; one champagne basket
covered with dust; one broken painters
EASEL three ricketty deck chairs, with var
nish scraped off; one bag of tinware; one
pedestal, without statuette cracked
four plain, square Irish chests, two painted
red and two black, locks broken and hang
ing. each marked in white letter, Countess
d." two mammoth chests cross tied with
halfinch clothes line, with same mark: these
contained the countess numerous hats; if
teen ancient looking trunks tied across the
sides and double knOtted at the hack; one
tray for mixing dough; two tin berthrOom
trunks; one bundle of loose clothing: two
portable hatracks, somewhat worn; six cases
of mysteriously packed bottles, supposed to
be ale; three crates of sauces, mixed pickles
and catsups put up in every conceivable
shape; one cOpper-cOlOred wOrk-box done
up in oil; seven heavy, treble-twilled Eng
lish travelling shawls, tied with Irvine; thir-
teen gray wooden blankets made in form of
of newspapers.
1t took Just half an hour to get these
aboard, the foreman swearing, the officers
laughing, and the CustomhOuse officials
jeering the unwilling stevedores, who per-
spired under the baggage of the eccentric
countess, while she rushed to and fro, per-
sonally experimenting the transportation
of the monster trunks which were dashed
into the hold.
When the hands of the laborers took
hold of the box containing the lady's
favorite peacOcks and black and tan, the
curious crowd pressed down on the countess
until her lace-trimmed bonnet took a peep
skyward and her costly shawl swept the
rough boards of the pier.
Handle 'em gently, they're my only
loves,' she sharply cried, as she broke
through the jeering crowd, and reached the
foot of the gang plank.
The third bell sharply rang out the last
signal for "all ashore" 1t took three
minutes for the countess to reach the deck,
her corpulent build and nervous agitation
being serious drawback to progress.
This remarkable woman has a fine estate
in the north of England, in the county of
Cumberland, called Derwentwater. She
has always been noted for her eccentricity
of manner and antiquated notions. Her
wardrobe is said to consist of ever two hun
bred rich and deliberately trimmed dresses,
girted with gold lace fringes and parti-
cOlored velvets. She wears no diamonds.
and but one plain finger ring adorns her
hands. She claims to have among her ap-
parel robes worn by some of the bellies of
the time of William the Conqueror; and
when she travels these are part of her per-
sonal luggage. carefully packed in the tf-
teen trunks mentioned, which are an
tiquated as the dresses.
Her appearance indicates an age not be-
yond forty. though possibly older. She
will visit Scotland and Wales before re-
turning to her home.