Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1875-01-21

HIS iaWIeas agency IN ufeakIuS up Tie
legal Legislature of Louisiana.
The STEAMER CoLrMBIA.-Doubt
less our readers have heard, ere this,
and with deepregret, that the old steam
er which has piled our waters between
Baltimore and Washington for overfor-
ty-six years called at Abelrs Wharf for
the last time on Wednesday, the 23rd
of December, with her flags flying as
symbol of her departure from these wa
teS Our people gathered around the
Wf(Re.sv take farewell looks at the
old boat which had been SO regular
and faithful in her trips through so
many years, and hurras, long and sim
cep, rent the air as she steamed off,
whilst her faithful Captain and crew
stood upon the decks with expressive
looks, and eyes, tender and fearful"
Captain James Harper has been in
command Of this boat for over twenty
five years and served upon her nine
years as mate previous to hispromotion
20 the Captainship. We have ever
found the Captain most competent
and vigilant officer, and we believe we
speak the sentiments of our entire peo-
pie when we say, that he is the best and
most popular commander who has ever
been among us.
The following letter which has been
sent to the Captain, signed by all the
gentlemen in the vicinity, speak so well
our own sentiments that it is with plea
sure we give it publication.
ADELL's WHARF, Dec. "a, 1874.
CAPT. JAMES HARPER.-DEAR SIR ::
We learn with the deepest regret that
our favorite old steamer columbia"
has made her last and final trip to these
waters, and though We rcal;ze to the full
lest extent that time will come with
all its blights," vet we cannot but feel
sorry to part with the faithful old boat
which you have commanded so eff
fciently for more than a quarter of a
century. Your affable manners, strict
sobriety, transformations kindness and
Jealous discharge of your duties have
SO endeared YOU to our people that it is
with feelings of duty, mingled with
pleasure, that We bear testimony to the
high esteem with which you are held
and which you so richly deserve. -
We, therefore, sincerely hope that
when the Spring opens we will see you
again grace the decks ofanother steam
err as faithful as the .'Old Columbia"
and we pledge you not only oursup1ort
and patronage. but that of our entire
people. Wishing YOU great success and
hoping again to have your cheerful pres
ence and valuable services, we beg to
be considered personally Your sincere
friends, &c.
We learn, that by reference to there
cord of the expenses of the Company,
it will be seen that the whole damages
accruing to the boat during the long time
in which the Captain has commanded
her, will not exceed in the aggregate
three hundred dollars.
Indeed, we cannot speak too highly of
the entire crew of the columbia" Mr..
Bernard Freeman, the competant, oblig-
ing and gentlemanly clerk, well merits
the popularity he has achieved; Mr..
Matthew Andrews, the watchful quar-
termaster and wheelsman. has Jealous
" served upon her thirty three years.
whilst her accommodating mate, Mr..
Pearson, with his no less accommoda-
ting assistant, Mr.. Cameron, Dick, our
host of social hail." Jeff, the courte-
Gus and careful steward, with George.
his assistant, Eliza and Agnes, ever
cheerful and kind. have all been upon
the boat a great number of years, and
are Familiarity known and respected by
our people.
We are advised. that it is the inten-
ton of the Company to place newer
and faster boat upon the route in the
early Spring, and we sincerely hope that
it may come among us as regularly and
faithfully Us the old Columbia did. man.
ned by the same old trusty crew and We
ask no more.