New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-09-02
Biloxi.

opened to those French mariners, worn out
with voyage Of more than two months
when they beheld the Bay of Biloxi almost
land-locked by its shores and islands. I'm
agine oneself a Frenchman who leaps
ashore in the fabled land of Lasalle. The
verdure, the flowers, the forests, with
visions of game and gentle savages. Per
haps we immigrants were destined to ex.
perience more severe disappointment than
those who landed something less than a
centuO ago at Biloxi.
To look at this placid little seashore vii
lage, with its pillared lighthouse but with.
out a ship of commerce in its harbor, one
would regard it strange point of origin
for the empire Of thirteen States, with halt
as many territories, which now occupy the
ground that the Latin race claimed by dis
covery and prior occupancy. The earlier
colonists clung to this barren shore. With
out fields or farms, surrounded by savages,
raided occasionally by pirates, they moved
and removed old and new Biloxi-Mobile.
They stood and gazed upon the sea that led
TO France. 1t was strange difference that
made the Anglo-Saxon hew his way into
the forest and blockhouse the savage out Of
his most fertile lands.
The struggle between those who had
built up Biloxi to prevent change of
colonial base was memorable. Bienville
contended that the chief colonial depot
would be better placed at some point on
the Mississippi. The opposition to this re-
moval was formidable. The vested inter
ests of the property owners. the influence
with ignorant and mercenary officials in
France, all opposed the proposed change.
Bienville toiled his way through the lakes
and lagoons to the banks Of the mighty
river. Coasting and sounding along, it was
then a voyage of ten or fifteen days. We
traversed the same distance yesterday in
three hours! Biloxi disputed with the
Crescent City; she denied the health, the
water, the safety of the foundation. The
site of the Crescent City certainly con-
trasted badly with Biloxi in more
respects 1t was to be founded in marsh,
the new depot. 1t was subject to an ann ual
deluge. Worse, perhaps, than all, the
river was unnavigable at its mouth. The
theory of Bienville was good one. First,
Biloxi had no river or back country; she
neither had nor could have agric ul ture.
Her mercantile trade consisted in shipping
skins to France in exchange for fish, bread
and claret. Biloxi was a failure. The
Mississippi and its tributaries opened a
To anI tho cn1rit Of
adventure thirsted to explore the fertility of
the Red and the possible mines of
the upper Arkansas. 1t connected inde-
pendently with New France, and the min
istry even then tancled Gordon OF forts
to connect Canada with the colony of Lolis.
lana. An authentic survey of the Balize
proved the river, though not deep, ade-
quate to the navigation Of the period. The
construction OF half a mile of levee settled
the ascendency of New Orleans, and all
who could leave Biloxi, we may suppose,
hastened to bet theil little piles on the win
ner. SO here is the embryo spot VIII ere the
vitality of civilization made its frs pulsa-
ton on this part of the continent.
The Regatta.
The great event at Biloxi yesterd ay was
the long talked of yacht race.
The Judges of the race were Stephen d.
Mcneil, Esq, Captain Ira E. Bride, and
Commodore NJ. NJ. Waring, Of the Mobile
Yacht Club.
The entries, according to the official list,
the first of each having won the choice OF
position, were as follows:
FIRST CLASS.
Name. Fnerer. Sailer.
Lmnas. Peter Kiopman. Martin Green.
Meteor. ......R. Brewster...... Alex Brewster.
SECOND CLASS.
Cayuga. G. Mcneil ........ H. Knapp.
Restless. ....P. Klopman. Joe Folco
THIRD CLASS.
Adelia. .......C. wolkart. L. HALEY.
Jennie'...C A. Harris '.. Fred. smith
Emma. n. HalIey........N Haley.
FOURTH CLASS.
fapao pa aoio Joseph s Stpe Mornor Il Hahn Hahn.
Nameless -. P; Klopman~ D Liuus;
Katie. .Chas. Waterman. X Farrell.
John Mahony. Charles Speler... II. Knapp.
FIFTH CLASS
Petoia........J. V Woods. ...J. Martin.
Herald .......J. Bearlman. .... N. Hill.
About twelve o'clock prepara tions began
to be made to get into position. All the
wharves were covered with a gay crowd OF
spectarors. Awnings we're spread over the
Judges stand, giving grateful shade to the
many ladies who gathered to witness the
sport. b twenty minutes past one all boats
had secured their positions, and the judges
returned trGm their inspection. Each boat
had been carefully instructed that at the
word "ready,' one shot would be fired.
At one o'clock thirtysix minutes and
twenty-nine seconds, the judges called in
concert, Are you readya and at the uni
versal response in the affirmative the shot
was fired and anchors were hauled up in
double quick time.
The start was a splendid one, the Limnas
leading, The course was very nearly tri-
angular in shape, and to be sailed over
twice, thus giving the most complete chance
to show the sailing qualities of the vessels
and the skill of their shippers The meas
urement was inteauded to reach, at least,
fifteen miles, but was really great deal
more. As they reached the first stake boat
bets of all kinds became lively. The Me-
teor was the tayorite of the first class, but
q bet could be captured on almost every
boat whenever the correct inducement was
offered. Those who had good glasses pro