New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-06-29
The Danbury Man on the tIissis sippi.

At Quincy got my frs. view Of tie Mis-
sissppi river. believe there is not an
American but has some sort OF an idea what
the Mississippi river locks like. and has a
vague impression that some time or other
before he dies he will be permitted 20 see it.
The Mississippi-what word II is TO chew
inks an institution by ITSELF. Il IS full of
associations, both tragical and comic, and it
is also full Of mud. 1t has 70 banks to
speak of. 1t is full of bars. and has d mar
row and uncertain channel. These are mat
| tere we all hear at school. and see repeated
| in the papers, but We dom realize them un-
| til we get on the river itself.
The steamboats, are hat-bottomed. and
many of them carry the wheel a. the stern.
| l think it is the stern. II IS that part of the
| boat where, if it were a house, the slops
| would be thrown. The wheel is cumber-
| some looking article. and 20 a casual OBJ
server the boat appears TO have just climbed
over it. l would give you picture of the
| two were not engaged in painting a view
of the Rocky mountains at sunrise.
The river is much broader a: this point
| than / expected to see it. bus we can not al
ways have things our own way N this
world. The channel is about three feet
| deep opposite this place; don't know the
exact width of the river, but there is no
doubt that the water is as thick as it is
broad. The traveller should turn It over
Will HIS iUOI duu sU IoOh d. cttn sues VI III.
All was hustle at the dock when got there.
The boat was taking on its freight, and
about thirty lively negroes and one very
excited and awfully protane white man were
doing the business. That white man was a
study. He was the mate OF the vessel and
what he didn't know about rhetoric could
be held upon the point OF knife blade 10y
a nervous man. The thirty negroes had all
they could well attend to to keep up with
nc nofha anH roll NJ tho cact-c With
out any ces sation they bobbei trcIH the boat
to the shore. and from the shore back to the
boat, and all the while tina. Mississippi elO.
cutionist danced around and sWo!e. When
got on board the boat sa: down On my
baggage and watched that man.
Beng resident of New England, l
thought knew something Of wickeGness,
bu. ! was mistaken. The negroes were
uniformly dressed in pants, shir: and hat
Some of the hats We're Crramented with
different colored ribbons: Others again con-
tanned but a simple brass piate-the trade.
mark of retired fruit can. Beauty una.
dorned is adorned the most. They were
driven like sheep. first to the shore then
back to the boat. The least hesitation. the
slightest misstep, was noted By the orator
and promptly incorporated into his dis.
course. He could not have been more IA
miliar were they his own fathers. wLici il
is not likely they were.
After getting through at the deck the
boat moved up to the Goa! yard. The coal
was brought on beard IN boxes with
handles at each end. Each box contained
two and half bushels. and was carried by
two men. Six hundred bushels We're thus
taken OF. The same amount OF hustle and
vehemence occurred in this transaction.
The men sweat like April and appeared TO
be ready 20 drop at every trip, but the mate
buried tonics at them and kept them up.
When his t1Iroat got tired he used his boot.
and used il in that whole-soled way pecu-
liar to the Mississippi boatmen.
The negroes receive 81 day and their
victuals. should think they would 20 70
some city and get into store.
Through the courtesy OF the clerk
helped to occupy the pilothouse. and in
this lofty perch got splendid view OF the
river and the cin9ers. The shores are fiat
and covered with forests. When ! grew
tire,: Of looking at Them l looked at Che
pilot. There was boat ahead Of us which
The captain was bound 20 Oyertake. The
pilot didn't believe it could be done. be.
cause tine boilers on our boat were old and
weak. and could not possibly stand TIE
pressure. This made me SEX a: the stom
ach, and go | climbed down out Of the pilot
house, and Immediately placed between
me and those boilers all the territory !
could get together.
Shortly we came 70 4 cleared place Oh |
the west shore. in the middle Of which stood !
a single house. the last survivor o.: Marion !
city. 1t was the groundwork for q ci.v,
and never did a city look tairer on paper. /;
People came there and built places. and |
soon after the water IN the river OverHowed /.
tina: point and the inhabitants 90. up and |
busted. No. not busted, exactly: bur they !
got by. They said they werer t naturally |
advocates Of irrigation.
Only this house | spsak Of now stands TO !
mark the ruins OF the city. Where the |
former inha bi,ants now are can no: tell. l !
nave not SWORN 10 keep their whereabou.. !
secret. BIZ, it IS understood, of course. |
that ! AIN not to speak Of it. and with a gen f!
tieman this is sufficient. Bo: not with a |
lady.
There was no dock a: Hannibal. There |
are very few docks along the Mississipp;. |
The boats are 30 constructed az to run close |
up to the shore. and even upon the shore
and over fence, II necessary. This hardly !
seems probable. and perhaps il isn't.