The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-07-25
AN EXCURSION.
The Pcrileus Voyage Of the staunch
Ship Myrtle.


ship Myrtle.
That was most perilous and eventfnl voyage
, OF those ancient msrinors who embarked from
shis port last Saturday on that staunoh seagoing
ahip the Myrtle. bound to Hoyss on Lake pont-
chartrain, via the Mississippi, the Sound, Lake
Borgne the Rigolets and Lake Pontchartrain.
The Myrtle is that splendid craft recently pur.
chased by Mr. David McCann and chartered by
Capt. John Hawkins, for the adventurous cruise
along the coast OF Lake pontchar.rain, between
nakpyfs and Spanish Fort and Milneburg. The
Myrtle Was guaranteed az one Of the safest and
most easily handled sea boats that ever went
from this port. Hence q number Of our notabli-
sizes gladly accepted the invitation OF Capt. Haw-
kins to accompany him on the trial trip. An ex-
perienced navigator was retained as pilot the boat
was fully equipped and her store-room supplied
with all the substantals and luxuries suited to go
long voyage.
Proceeding down the river In gallant style the
crew and company Of the Myrtle had q very
pleasantvoyage until passing through the Pass.
a-rOutre, she suddenly came in violent contact
with a mud-lump with such q jr as nearly cap
sized her, and woke up oil on board NJ or Q
O'Clock in the morning. When at last, after
great efforts, the Myrtle got free OF the mud.
lump and passed out into the Gulf, she was
struck by heavy wester and high sea. and was
soon involved in dense darkness. The
little vessel tossed and rolled very
heavily through the pillows, which
completely enveoped her and drenched her pas
sengers to the skin 1t was not long before q
number of the so-called weather. beaten sea vet
,erans began to expose the extent Of the fraud
and deception they had penetrated upon one
SO only hardened iand-lubbers are capable Of
rendering. Foremost among these was Ike re-
doubtable Capt. Hawkins. who fell early In the
engagement and had to be slowed away as
atterly unavailable for any uses Of navi-
epidemic included the whole company and
crew, excepting two eminent surgeons, who
were kept busy administering to the piteous
cries for relief and alarm OF the sick and panic
stricken. Al last even the brave surgeons be-
came alarmed at the desperate way in which the
little vessel was plunging through the mighty
pillows. Then 1t was discovered that the pilot
naa lost his reckoning, and didn't know where
1ha myrtle was pointing. What was to be done
10 get her in the right track At last q musty
old chart Of the Gulf Coast was discovered.
and by the dim light OF a lantern, all who
were able TO hold their heads up, set to work to
cipher up reckoning In this work they had
neither the aid of heir profoundly elumbe1inp and
insenslble captain. nor of that experienced river
. plot, Capt. Bird Paris, who had never before
trustedhis giant frame in such cockle.shell of
boat and never plotted ship out Of
eight OF land or trees. After tossing
and rolling all night the break of daS
afforded the tempest-tossed voyagers
% distant view of some islands Then ii was pro-
posed as the Myrtle struggled with great diff
Guilty through the opposing bottoms that Capt.
Paris should Jump overheard and haul the boat
along to the distant island Capt. Paris declared
that he felt very much like wading ashore. taking
Johnny Hawkins and striking the railroad and
getting to the city as quickly as possible. Jim,
Johnny Hau kins' body servant. was engaged in
shedding tears over the PROSTATE body Of his be-
loved master. The two doctors bore themselves
as philosophcally as the gentlemen Of the
faculty usually do on such accasons. but sug-
aested the feasibility Of making for the Pass or
Biloxi as quickly as possible; they had pressing
engagements in the city. At last, JOYFUL sight,