The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-11-29
oE BOARD Sra "RAPIDAS,"
ley RTrrp Nnr %

ON BOARD OF r 'AAPIDAE,
4 Tenn. RIVER, Nov. %.
y DEAR BULLETIN Did you ever make q
trip on a steamboat, in the busiest shipping
season, on river with landings every half
mile on either bank? Well, II you have, you
will appreciate my situation, at present.
Started from Clifton at 8 o'clock. last night,
and now il il near noon, and we have made
the surprising distance of about forty-five
miles But "a the papcr-back novelist
would say, go back with me short time, y
and will explain why happen to be in
this particular locality at this particular
moment:
took my departure from the city OF
Bolivar on the afternoon train. Saturday
last, with nv hat "chalked" for Martin
Station, where spent the night with "mine
host of the r. R. hotel, and most excel
lent host I found him to be, though the
hotel is too near the railroad, and there arc
too many trains for the comfort of nervous
people. I would not venture to say how
many trains passed during the night, but
I next morning was fully willing to believe
that the Mississippi Central was doing an
immense business All passenger trains on
this road take meals at Martin, and it's none
Of your Twenty minutes for breakfast "
places No, sir The passengers leisureIy
saunter into the hotel, and as leisarely go
about disposing of the bountiful meal set
before them; then light their past-prandiaI
cigar and enjoy themselves After three
quarters of an hour, the genial conductor
shouts all aboard" and the train departs.
left this place Sunday morning, at Sock,
and was soon so much absorbed in the beau
tics of That Wife Of Mine" that Johnson
vile was reached before I was aware of it.
Here, remained till about three in the
evening, when a black smoke way down the
river indicated the approach of boat
/ However, it was not the packet, but one Of
the most diminutive, side-wheel crafts ever
on these waters. The bluff, old captain and
! pilot of this craft reported that he was from
West Virginia, and was looking for 4
trade" The capacity of his craft was about
eighteen tons, and it bore the euphoneous
name of May B." Some one suggested that
he had better change it to Maybe Not"
About FIVE, the good steamboat " Rapidan 4"
rounded the elevator, and in company with
a gOodly number of passengers, went
aboard. This boat is quite an institution
on the Tennessee, and her officers are the
most genial gentlemen ever met with. Cap
tain Sleets, whose pet name is "Old Pea
nuts" commands her, and Dick Morrow
L..
| arrived at Clifton, Monday morning, which
is about IS miles above JOhnsonvile, and if
the NJ. & K. R. r. is ever built, it will cross
Tennessee river at this point. Clifton is
! quite business little town, but without 4
railroad it has no future-thc measure of
Its greatness is full. For more than three
years, Wayne county was my abiding place,
consequently, felt much at home among
| the good people of Clifton. Having business
at the county seat, Waynesboro', 1 visited
that place Tuesday, in company with Bfaj.
Ned Saunders, Of Nashville. The capital
is sixteen miles in the country, and is about
as old and dilapidated place as can be found,
but withal, it's inhabitants are the most hos
Pitable to be found anywhere, and the
Hassell House is famous, far and wide,
| for its good fare and pleasant surroundings.
| Tuesday evening, we drove back to Clifton,
| through the rain, which had tendency to
make person wish for palace cars, in place
OF rickety buggy and a lazy horse-in
fact, we had to work our passage" You
know, fellow feeling makes uS wondrous
kind" so make headquarters at the Citizen
Office, while in Clifton. Friend Stribling il
getting along very well with his paper, am
glad TO say, and has just built him neat
| little cot, which the young people of town
helped him dedicate to domestic felicity
| with a pleasant, social gathering and oyster
supper, the evening after my arrival. Long
life and happiness to Ebb. and his excellent
lady. The "Rapidan" arrived on her down
trip just after supper, but owing to the
o'clock before we bid adieu TO friends and to
| Clifton, which heaven only knows when we
viii visit again. Mr.. Editor, it is perfectly
surprising TO see the amount of freight that
can be stored away on a steamboat When
boarded, the "Rapidan" seemed to be as
! 800 an - NA~ANJ ''NN S'NAy AAtbAS NAolaAlGG COt-
ton, corn and peanuts, would be taken on.
At this point, she has about GOO bales of
cotton, and peanuts verywhere-hundreds
upon hundreds of sacks. And to think,
that all these peanuts will be consumed by
the enlightened and appreciative American
public, at theatres, public meetings, etc
What an immense number of peanuts, FIVE
cents glass" must be sold to make way
with them. The very last available room
on the boat was filled by the time we arrived
here, and a large barge brought into requi-
sition. All this part of the Tennessee river
runs through country destitute of railroad
communication, and this accounts for the
| steamboat business. II Is now after eleven,
and since breakfast, continuous strain of
peanut sacks have been pouring out of that
caPaciOus warehouse on the hill. l will
leave the boat at Danville and go from
there to GAINESVILLE, thence to Nashville,
etc. Time grows short, and my ten days
holiday will be out before 1 am ready to
return to my duties. 1 will mail this at
JOhnsOnviIle, and write you again from
Nashville. Ton.
RIcHSroED, VA.