New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-07-13

All Day in the Swamp. With Nothing to
Eat-A Return to the Seaside Hotel
Who is to Blame 2 " f3 b ssr 4
M SEASIDE HOTEL

Quite unexpectedly finding myself here
for the night, the pen falls invitingly into
my fingers debating an account of my ad-
ventures since leaving the Pass Christian
House this morning on the 7:I0 train for the
city afs 2 Ho.An .au $50 81
We got along splendidly at first The
long bridge over Bay st. Louis was crossed
in safety. The Bay St. Louis stations
added to our passenger list both gentle
men and ladies in scores Then we touched
at Nicholson avenue station, and took in
several others. So by the time that we
had passed Toulme's station we were
packed in the two cars, which comprised
the entire accommodation train, somewhat
after the fashion of sardines in barrel.
But everybody appeared to be in good
humor, and when one gentleman told the
conductor that he could not find a place in
the cars, and was answered by that official
with great Righteousness that he had plenty
of standing room, every one present laughed
as if it was really good joke. ras
At last we arrived at Grand Plains sta
ton; this was exactly S:l2 A. NJ, and the
train stopped somewhat longer than usual.
The curious man. who is always looking
out of the window, at the immense risk of
losing his hat, to say nothing of his head,
looked out to see what was the matter. He
saw nothing; so he said. The testy gentle
man, who always objects to the door being
left open, then arose and went to the plat
form and held conversation with his part
ner OF the other car Still nothing def
mite. The fellow who is always eating
closed his haversack and left the car to
forage. The sleepy man awoke with a
snort and asked what the hills the mat
ter; WHY, don't they go on Still no answer
could be obtained. At last Bob Yidette
hurriedly entered the car (he always has
the latest information from the front, and
would immortalize himself as a reporter),
and announced that freight train had run
off the track just couple of miles ahead,
at East Pearl river bridge, and that our
train would be detained couple of hours
before damages could be repaired. This
news was not received with demonstrations
of joy. '
Well we waited the two hours, and as the
breeze which blew over the great prairie,
which surrounded us, was quite COOL and
not over laden with mosquitoes, our patience
was not much strained. After that, however,
affairs took another turn. A violent mutiny
was discovered to be Matching among those
who had got on the train without their
breakfast, which only the utmost vigilance
could possibly keep under Another hour.
Anxious inquiries then broke out for whisky
and ''cold decks" These ended in the in
quirers disappearing into the depths of their
seats in hopeless misery Another hour
Our fankers. who had forced themselves
into the premises of the station master, re-
ported that dinner For at least fifty men was
then being placed ON table in one of the
sheds. Right here, almost a cheer was
heard, and the eyes of the fatigued and al
most exhausted ladies were seen to brighten.
But Bob Yidette brought US the sad tidings
that the grub was for the hands at work on
the bridge, and that even mouthful of
ton on the plea that 'Mr. Brown, the boss"
was not present, but absent experimenting
the wOrkmen. -
An interview was then had with the con-
that the accident had occurred at four
o'clock-two hours before our train had
started from Ocean Springs that there had
undoubtedly been dispatches sent all over
the road about it, but he had not been in
formed. When asked to back his train to
Bay St. Louis or some other civilized settle
ment, where the ladies could get off the
train and house themselves, he persistently
refused, as it was contrary to orders. When
told to ask for orders, bis answer was. that
the nearest telegraph station was eight and
a half miles off, and he could not go there.
But, gentlemen" said he. 1.-THE bridge will
be finished IN couple of hours"
Halt-past two o'clock. A little boy re
ports that a lady at the next house had
something to eat, which news creates an
intense excitement among those who sat
under the shed trying to appease their now
furious appetites by smelling the fumes of
the dinner laid out for the workmen. In
few minutes this lately popular locality was
deserted, and the next house" invaded by
a cloud of men ready for any emergency,
from a ragout to a dish of peas. Alas
they arrived only to behold the last egg and
the last piece of bread disappear down the
Threats of the Ajax of bank presidents and
the Hercules of canal lessees. The comely
Alsatian lass and her mother-the sole
occupants of the shanty-charitably allowed
the invaders, however, to lick the plates,
divide the ham-bone and coffee grounds,
and devour everything else favourable on
the premises. One heavy grocer was even
accommodated with bottle of snake root
bitters, which disappeared under his belt
like creased lightning, and then all strag-
gled back to the cars. ~
Other efforts were now made to induce
the conductor to return to Bay st. Louis,
but he was as firm as rock The question
whether he should be hung or not was then
debated among those who had not eaten
breakfast, but they were too weak to make
the demonstration with hope of success.
Half-past four o'clock, and the Mobile
train hove in sight. We had the fun OF tell
ing the news to the passengers. The con-
ductor of that train sent his engine down to
learn particulars. "Only small amount
of repairs to be yet DONE an two hours
everything ,eould be ready" Our conductor
at last agreed to return. Joyful news We
start. We arrive at the first station
Nicholson's avenue seize my bag and