Smyrna times., 1876-08-16
For the Smyrna Times.
A Trip on the Packet Line.


Seeking for information as usual under
all circumstances, we concluded to trv n
trip to Philadelphia by water, and with tbis
object in view, found ourselves ut Rothwell's
Landing, on Wednesday afternoon. Auo. O.
having been conveyed there bv the hack
right from town. There is no better way of
getting good view of the wide awake
activity OF business transportation and
home commerce than by little excursion
on board a peach boat. Here at the land
ing were piles of baskets filled with deli
cious-looking peaches, baskets of green
corn, apples and tomatoes, barrels of poto.
toes, bags of grain, live stock consisting of
calves and sheep, cOops of chickens, &c.:-
wagons waiting to be unlOadPd, and Others
still approaching, no waiting. no loufuc
here, everybody must act, for there is Mr..
Tschudy, and there is the handsome. voun0
man with curly whiskcrs and straw hat.
and others of the firm, all full of go also
Capt. Thomas with a stern look in his eyes
which seem to say: "thc st. FG.hiy leaves
at three o'clock, certain"
Baskets were rapidly passed along the
line and carefully slowed on deck, stock
was securely and comfortably penncd, the
last load was quickly taken on, and with an
all aboard and musical toot of the
whistle, the cables were cast off and the
boat steamed away. Before we were fullv
under way though. we had too heavc to at
the Brick Store Landing, when we were
confronted by another large congregation
OF peach paskets and other produce. The
stop was not long however, and we soon
proceeded on our winding way, calling
likewise at several other landings with n
repetition OF the same busy scene before
rrachingopen water. Just before six o'clock
We steamed safely over the flats and out
into deep water, which here is neither bay
nor river, but partly both, and swinging
round 10 the north, pointed for Phladel-
Ihia
No more stops now except call at Port
Penn. and we have plenty of time to look
over thc vessel and cargo. The ST. Fields is
a trin-hui.t, Side-whcel steamer one hun.
dred and thirty feet long, thirty feet wide,
d'ublt-dcckS, and draws two and half
feet Of water when light, which draught is
increased four inches under an average
load. thus giving her only thirty four inches
below water when freighted. Her decks,
above and below have room for between
four and five thousand baskets of fruit, all
Of which can be slowed in cool and airy
quarters: the accommodations for live stock
are in the fore part of the main deck, safe
and comfortable. and can be enlarged if re-
Iured. The boat has two engines, slightly
inclined, independent of each other and
working separately so that one wheel may
move while the other is quiet or both may
move together, or enc may revOlve forward
and the other backward. giving her the
power to swing entirely around in her own
length, and rendering her very easy to
handle. Taking hasty inventory of the
cargo we found it to consist of about twelve
hundred full baskets, one hundred and
fifty bushels Of wheat, sevcnty-three sheep
and lambs, ten calves, FIVE barrels of pota-
toes. several boxes Of eggs, a coop of poultry,
and nearly three thousand new baskets
from Smyrna for parties in Port Penn and
Philadelphia. lnquiring as to the time of
landing we were informed that on the
Monday previous the vessel left Rothwell's
at the usual time and reached her wharf at
Philadelp phia at $50 on Tuesday morning,
and on the Friday previous she left fifteen
minutes late and landed in market a: .. 80
A. NJ, and that this time we should probably
get in by three or sooner.
The sunset on the water was very fine.
and soon the great moon came riding up
. from a belt Of clowds lying low on the
horizon, and-right here we were invited
down 70 supper, which evening meal passed
very Pleasantly tho provisions were good
ana the company was agreeable, consisting
OF six passengers besides your humble ser
want. We then repaired to the upper deck
again. and passed the time iii conversation
with the friends on board, with the kind
and social Capt. Thomas, whose strong and
steady hand is generally OH the wheel in
the pilot house; and with watching the
moon lit scenery and the progress of the
boat. At half-past ten We were opposite
Fort Delaware and making good time
toward port. Soon after eleven we turned
IN for sleep and slept as comfortably as we
ever do on a freight boat. If passengers
are not happy and comfortably, the fault is
not with the Captain or his assistants nor
with Mr.. Doughten, the clerk, nor yet with
the kind and gentlemanly Mr.. Getz who
IS always on board, buying and selling at
either terminus, either in his own interest
or on commission.
We reached the wharf, pier thirteen,
between Race and Vine streets at near four
o'clock, having been detained an hour and
half by heavy fog on the river, which
however, was carefully and safely weathered.
And now were enacted the usual morning
market scenes, wagons were loaded with
peaches and driven away, fruit and stock
soon disappeared, all having been carried
IN perfect order, and arriving in time fox a
ready disposal.
Returning by the same route we left the
wharf at hve O'Clock P. NJ, and reached
Rothwelrs at four next morning. We have
not space TO describe the down trip, which
was equally pleasant and prosperous.
Among the freight were hundred elegant
watermelons for one of our dealers in
Smyrna, but they were sour grapes, we
could not get one well, watermelons
don't amount to much anyhow. We shall
certainly try the 81. FseLis again as the
Smyrna Company have purchased the boat
and we are sure to be in good hands.
One word for our creek. Oh, what 6
stream is Duck River. 1t doubles up, runi
in hundred directions, almost ties itsel
in knots, and if looked at from aloft will
give you an impression of a snake struck
with stone. II is fact that the U. S
Government, with Smyrna to back it, coulC
not do more desirable act than to spend
hundred thousand dollars in giving US {
straight and reliable water course to the
delaware, HgRMoSIcUs.
Senator Window Is not believer in the