The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-05-26
How the Louisville Delegation Par.
ticipatcd in the Festivities of tho
Journey---Pleasant Remembrances
or yfrpinia

| Correspondence Of the Courier-Journal.l
NORFOLK, VA, May 1G.-The "Great
Central Dispatch" excursion party, COM
posed OF merchants and businessmen from
Cincinnati, Louisville, St. Louis. and other
cities OF the West and Northwest, bade
adieu to their hospitable entertainers in
Richmond, Va, at O'Clock Monday morn
ing. and embarked on the steamer "Mary
Hanen !" for days ride to Norfolk on the
bosom OF the historic James river. The
party had been augmented by the addition
of some fifteen or twenty gentlemen OF
Richmond and half as many ladies, who
Joined us for a holiday excursion. Among
the ladies were Miss Lou Barksdale, who
visited Louisville winter before last and
returned in triumph to Richmond with
more than one victim chained to her chariot
wheels; Misses Fannie aid Sallie Palmer,
Misses Mamie and Mollie Leary, Miss Helen
Montague, Of Richmond, and Miss Ida Hud-
son, OF Covington, Ky., who is visiting
friends in Richmond. OF course the addi-
ton to our party OF so many lovely iadles
gave our "ladieS' men" an opportunity OF
''coming ont strong" but they were soon
forced to call for reinforccmentS, and "Vol-
unteers" to engage in such pleasant service
were not slow in responding to the appeal.
The James-river steamers are not bullt IKE
| Il
an ocean steamer, but kind OF cross be-
tween the two. They are less striking in
appearance than our boats, as quite one half
of the establishment, is under water, and
consequently out of sight. You don't go
aboard them and ascend a broad staircase
| through q crowd OF Italian orange-women,
but YOU wind around through the baggage
and machinery, and ask some one g Which
| is the way up-stairs?" and are pointed to
the narrow staircase with brass carpet on
| it, which leads you into the cabin, or into
one OF the cabins. You can wind around
and go on up to three or four more cabins,
all alike, il you choose to do so. l did not
succeed in getting perfectly familiar Win
the " geography" of the steamer we were
on, there being so many staircases, so many
narrow, winding ways, and SO many CABINS
all alike. These boats have but one CHM
ney, like our ferry-boats, but the machinery
is said to be much more powerful, and
know their speed is nearly twice as great as
that OF western boat. The great I" walk
tng-beam projects above the roof, and see
saws up and down noiselessly, propellinS
the vessel at the rate OF twenty miles an
| hour.
We sailed down the broad river, past the
SPACIOUS wharves OF the Chesapeake and
Ohio Railroad Company, with ships from
all quarters OF the globe receiving 1relSht,
were pointed to the old Mayo mansion, with
the antiquated graveyard near by, Where u
is said the famous Indian chief Powhatan Is
buried, and near which also IS SAID TO De
the spot where PocahontaS saved the lie OF
Captain John Smith. [This is mistake: ]
We steamed through the Dutch Gap canal,
which the Federal soldiers kindly cut
during the war for the Improvement OF
James river, and where they found "Uncle
Robert" with his columbiads trained to
sweep their ranks as soon as the last spade
full OF earth was removed and the waters
OF the James river rushed in to COM
DIete the excavation. Further down
the river we reached " City Point" where
the exchange Of prisoners was mace
during the war. We passed Harrison's
Landing, the scene OF McClellan's embarka-
ton after his defeat, and the old "Harrison
mansion" where, according to the state
ment of the captain OF our vessel, every
President from Washington down to and
Including Buchanan had been entertained
in old Virginia style. About O'Clock 1t
was announced that we were IN slgnt OF
Jamestown, the first settlement In Virginia.
We expected, OF course. to see something
of n village, but not trace is to be seen.
The unhealthiness and unsuitableness OF
doned long since, except as landing, and
no trace of a settlement is visible. We were
shown the ruins Of the old brick chapel,
which was built in 1908 or thereabouts,
only part of a tower with the door
way now standing, almost obscured by
the shrubbery which has grown up around
it. It is said that in this old chapel young
Rolfe and Pocahontas were married In lG2l.
The old graveyard is still to be seen with its
ancient tombstoncs; but our stay at the
landing was momentary, and none OF us
went ashore for closer inspection. Our
landing was effected to take on board del
eration OF citizens OF Norfolk who had
come up the river to meet us, and offer the
hospitalities of the city to the " western
men," (Virginians do nothing half way.
When they know guest is coming tney
don't wait for him to come and ring the
door-bell; but they watch Tor his COM
ing. and rush down and open the
cate for him.) Our meeting with the
delegation from Norfolk was with
ont iormalty. They did not lombard
ms with any speeches; there was simply
general introductions and friendly conyer-
satiou. About O'Clock on beautiful at
ternoon we came in sight Of Hampton
Roads, said to be the most spacious and
| magnificent harbor in the world. We
touched at Fortress Monroe for an instant
only, and then pushed on to Norfolk, some
fifteen miles of. where we landed safe, and
were escorted to the courthouse green and
formally welcomed by the Hon. John
Tucker, Mayor Of the city.
AS elsewhere in old Virginia, we were re-
ceived in the g City by the Sea" in the most
| hospitabIe manner, and all Of US felt that we
were among friends and kindred.
USEFUL INTENTIONAL Statesyille genius
has invented what he terms "a garden-pre.
server, or hen-walker." The "machine :"
resembles somewhat the spur Of rooster.
only considerably larger, which IS attached