New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-08-27
The Bar Blockade Broken.

Iesterday morning at four O'clock .he
steamship State Of Alabsms, after thirty
days of vexatious labor, wac foated off the
bar ae the Sonth west Pass and came to
anchor in the blue waters of the Gulf Of
Mexico. Seldom if tver has case of this
kind occurred at the mouth Of the Miesis-
eippi at this season of the year. An almost
etfectusl bar blockade for the month of
August was. never heard or thought of;
hence the reason OF loading the Alabama
and other ships now detained deeper than
il the custom at the time of . bad bar
The constant rains and continued fresh
cts are, Of course, the cause Of this unsea-
s0nable misfortune to commerce. The river
swollen bank full, carries the sediment that
is always astir with it's strong current
down to its very mouth. where once q day
it meets the infowing undercurrent of a
food tide, which causes it at once to settle
and form the many mud Jumps that always
more or less exist at tho passes.
Although the disaster to the State of
Alabama and other vessels bound in and
out has been pecuniariiy great, it is only
drop in the bucket compared with the de-
vastation and ruin that has followed the
heavy rains in States north of us, 90 while
eympathizing with them, We can but feel
grateful that no greater calamity has be-
fallen our city or State from the recent
foods than thirty day bar blockade.
A tugboat, with thirty men, left the city
yesterday At noon for the purpose Of re-
loadint the Alabama from the lighter that
has had the bulk Of her cargo ON board
since leaving Pass-a-r Outfe. and by Sunday
morning, weather permitting. her PROV will
be. turned toward Liverpool.
In fifteen minutes after the Alabama
crossed the 0beron was at sea, drawing
seventeen feet nine inches. She had been
detained twentytour days, and as she
struck deep water the pilot jumped into his
boat, and the good ship Oberon has not
been seen since.
The St. Louis, which has been inside wait
ing several days; will be put on the bar at
high water this morning. which is about
two o'clock; she is drawing eighteen feet
one inch, and. as the tides are good and the
condition of the bar heur]y improving by
dredging, there are no fears entertained of
her not going over at once.
The New Orleans has been outside twelve
days and will be put ON the bar as soon as
the st. Louis il over. She 10 drawing over
eighteen feet, but has great power and
fs~0fable model, which will doubtless bring
her over when once the attempt is made.
Tho sailing ship Mary E. Riggs has
lain outside fifteen days, is drawing
eighteen feet two inches, and will be the
neat to attempt the bar. Each vessel that
goes in or our without much detention has,
Of course. tendency to increase the depth |
OF water, a. all more or lese drag bottom
10 tho Riggs, though drawing tho heaviest
draft, will have this advantage.
The German ship INLAND, the last Of The |
sufferers has had her fourteen days of quiet |
anxiety, and is also drawing over eighteen
feet aft, but il nearly foat BY tho stern,
vhich is greatly in her favor.
There is no doubt. if the tides continue |
food, that the close of the week Will see US
,nce moro with clear bar both at South
vest Pass and Pass rOutre.