New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-03-13
The Lake in >fOrm-CovinSton-Its
Climate. Situation and Springs.

Inc Lake IN >IOrm-tOVInSfOn On-IfS
Climate. Situation and Springs.
CAs:ry STERLING.
Gown 5ton, La, March Il, 1872.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN,:
1t matters ont little. it appears to me,
how short may he the journey that ma Y
be compelled to take. | am still forced BIZ
an unrelenting fate 10 undergo every
variety Of hardshps which the clerk of the
weather can mallciously contrive. When
set out on SATURDAY, last for this place, the
clouds, il was true, were lowering, iidicat-
ing probable rain. but it was oppressively
warm, and there was not the slightest
appearance of wind. and that t would be
cold | never dreamed. Yet we had hardly
reached Metairie ridge before we were met
by a hail storm of about as violent a char
acter as l can remember. The rain came
down in torrents. while the hail RATED
against the windows of the cars with a
force hardly conceivable by person who
had never seen such phenomenon. And
such a wind | tell you it did not give Iue
much of an appetite for my approachin.
trip across the rough waters Of Lake iont-
chartran.
When we arrived at Milne hurg the storm
was at ii, height. and the angry waters of
the lake were beating already with thun-
derins raps against the pichets while the
air appeared TO be filled with sheets ot
water, mixed with hail. After waiting a
quarter OF an hour, with the vain hope that
the storm would subside | gave it up in
despair and ran through the heavy wet =
to the Cameiia. under whose hospitable
decks ! was soon housed, and be fore many
minutes she had cast off and was gallantly
standing out to sea right in the teeth of The
wind.
twas well for NE. then, that had so good
hold upon nay dinner. for otherwise | should
have been compelled to have offered it az
peace Offering 10 the angry waters. as it
was awfully rough, and the boat rocked all
about like fellow with heavy load of
mixed liquors, at one moment going dowr
by the head, the next by the stern and
again to one side with a ltlrch which ap-
peared to have a most sarching effect upon
a man inards But held my own. and If
it had not been for the sudden talin. of
the temperature to almost the freezing
point, which rendered my spring attire
anything but comfortable. the whole thing
would have been enjoyable, as the lake
presented most magnificent ap-
pearancc during this war of the elements
AS the wind was dead ahead. our pro,
eress was but slow, yet we persevered. and
finally, conquering our way across in spite
of wind. rain and tide, arrived at Mande-
vile just before dark. There we found
Captain Pippos fast hack awaiting to
bring us here, and jumping in at the invita-
ton of the captain bimseIf-whom here
take occasion to congratulate upon having |
the best and most careful of drivers and |
.he fastest OF trotters, while being himself
4 very prince of good fellows, as we'll as
he most reliable of business men-and in
ess than an hour and half were whisked |
Trough the sweet-smelling pine forests to
his quiet little town, and alighted at the
PORTALS of this hospitable and well kept
where we passed the night
n sweet repose, forgetful of all the disa-
.reeable contretemps of the journey.
1t is a matter of wonder to me that the
people of New Orleans have never d.
ected their attention to this town as q
'lace Of resort during the summer 1t GER
ainly possesses many advantages over any
ther place in the immediate vicinity of
he city, being located, as It is, il, the midst
f pine forests, upon the banks Of clear
nd picturesque little river, and with
prings Of valuable mineral waters abound
ng. In this last particular Covington is
ertainly very highly favored by nature.
he Abita Spring, which is situated only
hree miles from here, has too great rep
tation to require that l should expatiate
pom it here: while the Sulphur Springs,
ply one mile OF, upon the place of Mr..
norge lngrahaln, are equal, if not superior
the best in the country. Then there are
Il. wonderful healing springs at Mr..
]; v;h's, which are in the town. and which
thtlaims will almost resuscitate corpse:
les.last, but not least. the great Vicby well {
1ea zee a,stle Sterling which, when it becomes
A0 known will rival the Vichy SDripga | 9