Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-07-04
A TRIP SOUTH.
No 4.
To the Editor Of The Kenae5ec Journal:

WASHINGTON, June 90, 1871.
We left New Orleans for Chicago by steam
boat, friends having advised us to take that
route, and we never having enjoyed a Missis-
sippi steamboat ride, were not 10th to try it,,
though FIVE or six days on board boat SEEM
ed rather too much time to spend in this rail-
road-speed age. At o'clock p. NJ. all the
Mississippi steamboats, start out. and the scene
to one who has never before looked upon it, is
a very novel and interesting sight. The long
levee for mile is covered with merchandise,
the boats are all getting up steam and flsating
gay colors; some Of them have brass bands on
board. Their lower decks are high above the
leyee, and we went on board by means Of q
long, wide gang-plank, up an inclined plane O
about 20 feet. For an hour or more before five
there is great rushing OF goods of every de
scription on board. The darkies are as thicl
on the levee as flies around sugar, and the.
make great scramble to get the packages
each one trying to do the most. As they fol
low each other in rapid succession up TIL
gang-plank, this one with bag on his shout
der, the next one with box. perhaps, thu
next rolling q barrel, then five more rolling
a large hsgshead, each man receives brass
check about the size of a penny, for which
upon presentation to the Agent, he gets
small sum Of money. Five o'clock arrives, ant
one after another these great floating worlds
gracefully swing out into the stream, amid the
- A.. .J,ol A..
playing of bands, the resounding of the great
steam whistles, the changing of many bells
and the waving of handkerchiefs. The wait
ers on each boat. in their clean white uni
over the forward part of the cabin as the boat
starts out. Steadily. majestically we glide
over the water. The great engines pulsate
like huge monsters, and the thick, black
smoke curls in vast columns above our heads
IS it leaves the towering stacks. Behind us
lies the "Cresent city," before US the "father
of waters" pours down the center of the con-
tinent for thousands of miles, bearing upon its
bosom the products OF dozen Empire States
About dusk We are abreast the great Bonnet
Care crevasse, and through the dim light we
see an inland ocean, with here and there
treetop above the waves. This terrible de-
struction of property was caused by the care
lessness of planker in cutting roadway
through the levee and allowing it to remain.
The water rose suddenly, and forcing through
the opening with resistless power rapidly cut
away the levee on either side, and speedily
covered the country for miles, spreading ter
ror and confusion over the land. Even New
Orleans trembled with fear but fortunately
the waters find an outlet through to Lake
Ponchatrain, and an artificial river is formed
Our first entrance into the cabin was a sur
prise to us. 1t seemed like some enchanted
palace stretching far away. 1t is quite mar
row, but very long, and curves downward to-
wards the middle Of the boat, running nearly
its length. Flanking the forward end of the
cabin on either side are the clerks Office and
the bar. At the stern is fine piano; be-
tween on either side, are the state-rooms, sew
eral of which are very commodious and hand
somely furnished. On the piano is costly
music box, which plays eight or nine beauti-
full airs at any ones bidding. Our boat is
one of the best on the river, the "Belle Lee, -
so named in honor of the daughter of the
Southern idol, Gen. Lee, whose picture hangs
IN the cabin opposite a portrait of JEFF Davis.
Captain Hicks is true Mississippi skipper,
full Of life and kindness. He was in the con-
federate army which .cnornts Co.. .Lo x..x.o
OF his boat, and his clerk, Mr.. Sullivan, was a
Yankee soldier. They own controlling in
tefest in the craft, and get along together very
tremendously. The first mate is rough fell
low, who pours forth perfect volley of COM
mands to the "rou stabouts" whenever the
steamer makes landing and discharges O,
takes on freight. He is by no means choice
in his language, and il the men don't fl,
around quite as rapidly as they ought, h,
breaks a loose hoop into, and warns them no
to tarry. A United States Deputy Marsha
was on board and informed US that he ha,
arrested nearly all the steamboat mates o.
the river, for assaulting the negro deck hand:
Mr.. Smith, the head steward, is great gentle
manly white man. He also has an interest i
the boat Under him are the head waiter an
and about twenty under walters, all colore
men. They are entirely separate from tn
deck hands who live below, AID are general
Of lower grade OF intelligence and as blac
n che ace Of spades. They number all told
shout forty, and IL any one thinks the negr
win not wo:k, let him take a trip up the Miss
issippi. They toiied like heroes on tn
"Belle Lee" taking heavy burdens on thei
-houlders, and making lively work at tn
sngs. The steamer made frequent land