The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1872-02-17
Cnrlrspt aoenre.
r,etto,, nom the South.-No. 1.
u.yANA. iClhl,l Jan. 20, 1872.

January We went on Uo'lN 'i'- N'o'''eA A' ~
chem Isyinc ct the wharf ut New Or ans, bound
for Havana. Besides my own aInliy our p'rty
consisted of :. NJ. Turner and wife, Of the TIE
mon; House Chicago; -lr. Preston, Of Evans
vile. Indiana; and Air. R,nnady, of ST. Paul.
Thirty minutes later the steamer cast 100 ana
we swung ont into the rapid current OF the
Mississippi. and went rejoicing on our way to-
wards the Gulf o. Mexico The evening was
mid. but dark. to that the street lamps OF the
CITY made a brilliant dis play, especially as we
nassed The stree : at richttngles TO our course,
showirg nomcntary vestas between tie loog
lines OF light which os they receded in distance
seemed to converge til tAey almost seemed to
meet at son~ for off rsint, where they seemed
but speoks Of light iu The profound darkness.
When we had reached the city limits, standing
on the quarterback OF the steamer, the crescent
of the city WAS brought most distinctly into
yiew, as prominently marked by the lamps bor-
aering the margin OF the river Soon, however,
these were shut ont one oy one by the interview
in. point, as the bend OF the river turned our
course towarcs the south, and then the darkness
Of the shcre-no was only relieved by the lights
in the negro quarteIs, the sugar houses, then in
full operation aud the mansions of the planters,
as We r.yidly passed them with the descending
current. The echoes OF the adjacent forrests
were occasionally awakened by the loud whistles
Of passing steamers, whose lights cast mo-
nentary glare upon the troubled and turbid
waters
At last, when wearied with the scene of dark.
ness without, we retired to our berths, Mr. Tur.
ner and myself desiring to be called before we
shonld pass the bar. Forgetfulness soon came
and l remember nothing more till en- exile from
tsrica ratt'"H at my door, dressed - hastily
IS possible AM rushed On deck Just in time to
see the plot's boat shove off, and on looking back
saw the b.. hts marking the channel across
the bar, nearly mile astern. We were already
on the Ee4,tng bosom of the Gulf, Is was mani
fest from the gentle rocking Of the ship, although
there was not a breath Of air to disturb the
waters. now about four O'clock IL the
norniI i d - i very dark, 80 went back
to nv .row bed to make amends for my broken
rest.
Tine morning was bright and fair with gen.
tie breeze on our POI. bow, but there was too
much motion to enable more than half the pas.
sengers to come to the breakfast table. We eX-
pected TO arrive at Havana in forty eight hours
bat soon the Irregular working Of the engine and
the decreased speed of the ship told that some.
thing was wrong We had lost one wing Of our
pr. Ter. aAd as she was very lightly loaded,
whenevcr We passed over q big wave the crippled
propeller was thrown out Of water, and we were
obliged 70 work loT, head OF steam with ox-
trene caution on the part of the engineer lest we
might become disabled altogether. The weather
we very pleasant and the wind light. which
drew more ahead so we had to take in all the
canvas.
The second morning, ne weather still pleasant
end the wind light. but the seas were heavier
rolling on from the east, the result of late blow
Thu sent uo.e OF TIC paesensers to their borthS
sna SO the day woe away with increased rolling
Of the ship. Fortunately nearly all were asleep
when the ieFiest motion was experienced, as
the captain sid tue ship nearly stood on end
during some OF the time during the night. But
in the morning the were not 80 high, but
still the:e was Moth enough to satisfy all
Wind still : moderate breeze, but the heavy seas
compelled us to I,uuoe our speed to less thar
four miles a. hour, but then we were in the
gull stream, which va. helping us along three
miles an hour. ut eight o'clock on the evening
OF the third day the Msro light was reported,
and all assembled who could on the forward deck
to watch Tor the beacon which should proclaim
land once moro.
One OF the unciyilizai regul, atoms of this
island Is thai no vessel shall enter the barber or
depart between sundowD and sunrise, no matter
what the emergency. We can only explain this
by the same reason which induces them 70 use
the crooked limb 10 stir the ground, instead of
the improvsdiplow, or to pack their green fodder
On mules or nusfangs instead of hauling i, on
wheels In conformity to this absurd regulation
the ship was hove ton under sail, the fires bank.
ed and we went to our hunks, the lights of the
city shining uetore as, resig nng ourselves as best
We could to another night on the water, thank.
ing the stupidity Of come people for the privilege
Whom heard the engines started in the morn.
Ing got up and dressed myself as soon as pos.
s1ols and went deck III the gray of the morn.
Ing and saw We wero slowly s.eaming to the
mouth OF the larbor, about three miles distant
to tic southwest, and looked for the first time
anu with interest at the Moro Castle on the south
OF the entrance. and tho opposite fort and the
city sire ching away along the shores Of the gulf
to the west