The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-08-08
A FEW THINGS FROM MANY
PLACES.
From our Special Correspondent
LoNGMEADow HOUSE, Il. l.,
August lst, 1874.

! SE, ii. L.
August lst, 1874.
EDITOR CHIEF:
We went from New York to Proyi.
dence in the steamer Frances, bui
there is nothing remarkable about the
Frances but her moderation. All the
other boats passed us, even the little
tugs, and some of the canal boat cap
tains looked rs though they would
not run from a challenge to race on
the Sound. When one is not in a
hurry let him go in the Frances, fol
the appointments are good, and we
had an excellent supper at moderate
rates on the European plan. The
steward of the boat is most rotunG
individual, with frank countenance
that incites confidence and wanting
to speak to somebody and not daring
to invade the august presence of the
captain, we attacked the fat and
froliesome steward, who received our
advances in the same spirit as they
were made. An eventful life has the
steward experienced. He has been
on all kinds of craft on seas and
sounds, lakes and rivers, CULTS and
hovn,e ap1 hoe ,,,at opJ e,r.;,o1 =, II
the perils that steamboats, have
power to put man undeI-wrecked
on coral reefs, snagged in the currents
of the Mississippi, foundered in the
gulf, run on the rocks of dangerous
coast, caught in q vessel on fire,
blown up by an explosion, and last
and not least, he was on the Metis of
the Neptune line, which was lost last
year of Watch Hill, having survived
a terrific gale to be destroyed by a
collision with miserable sloop. His
of the disaster was better
than that published. They felt the
shock, but did not regard it as dan
gerous. Another steamer hailed, and
the captain said all was right and no
was needed; so they laid
down for another nap, and the other
steamer put off into darkness. When
beyond the reach of sound or signal,
word passed that the Metis was sink
ing. They got out the life preserv-
,rs, and lashed the cork mattresses
logether and arranged them for the
women to get away on, but the poor
Kings stood and looked at them, pro-
lounced them dangerous, and utterly
'efused to try them. Not n woman
'Ould be persuaded or scolded into |
rying them, and they all persisted.
The steward, weighing two hundred |
md eighty, foated on one six hours,
vas then picked up and survives to
ell the story and encounter other
'erils. If il steward can tell such adj
'entures, we could not help asking
ourselves what must be the tale of a
aptain ! But we did not get at the
aptain, and must leave him to the
eader for pumping when he chances
ravel on the Frances.
The Frances brought us safe to
node Island. We came to Rhode
sland to get cool. The State is so
nall that it cools off very readily
fter warm spell, and we find it's
reezes most delicious. On some of
lie maps the State is indicated by a
OF or point, aud to the inhabitants
nd visitors it is more specifically
nown as Rocky Point, which is a
larming spot, though it does make
erely a spot on the maps. The
allure of the Point is an eating
'use, being the only one in the
'untry capable of feeding the whole
sople of u State, which this one does
lslly. There is a tower here, and
ON the top you can see the whole
Rhode Island and a segment of :
assachusetts. The State has re-
ntly been staked off into lots for !
lllding purposes, and these lots can t
seen from the tower, and that is h
e best situation for making a Sc :
'tion. They don't sell SO well as g
is expected, on account of the scar II
y of room for exercise, but this diff ?
ulty it is thought will be obviated 81
lmately " establishing ferry to n n
ckonk. The people are proud of t Il
State on account of its diminutiye Il
e, and call it gem, which it is. ~ q,
in the silver of Narragansett Bay. eli