Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-05-23
Editorial %C0FTsIadGHGR-,NQ |,
UP THE RIVER.
OS poARD srsAnER JAs, w. CAD.

Na0
is a nice, safe boat, we'll Differed an.
hadsomely furnished. The distancI
from Memphis to Cincinnati by river j
something over 800 miles, and the run il
usually made in from four to six days
We left Memphis Friday evening, th'
18th inst, about seven and half e'clock
There were earnest farswells full o.
meaning, and many a light, thoughtles'
su r%evoir, perhap, containing more pro
phetic import than intended.
The tide Of summer travel has set 10.
and already people are leaving the South
for the lakes and the seashore. the noun
tains, the springs and the farm houses OIL
the West, the East and the North. Fall
ing in with the current for the first time
since the Centennial l End myself in
very agreeable company, A number OIL
Memphis people and others are on board.
All seem to be nice folks, and to be on
polite and agreeable, if not intimate
terms with each other. There is gene
rally an understanding among persons
OF common sense, good manner aud in
telligence when thrown together tempo
rarily that they must all contribute some
thing to the common enjoyment of the
little community, On such a trip as
this We often get we'll acquainted with
old, near ~neighbors, to whom we have
been strangers in a social sense for
years. 1t would have been pleasant 10
have known them sooner and more init.
nately, but time has been precious and
every hour too much preoccupied. Com.
ing together on a steamboat like this,
where o sense Of comfort, luxury and
homelike safety prevails, formal intro
ductions are hardly necessary any more
than new.made acquaintance are to be
kept up in memory after we lose them.
There is a certain sort of monotony in
any long voyage, and even in a river
trip Of FIVE or six days, but there is a
compensation for this in The way OF rest
of social amenities and that soft sense
Of languor which comes like a benedic
ton when we suddenly quit working or
feeling anxious or worried about any
thing. Such little seasons are like pleas
ant dreams which reinvigorate the body
and the mind, and give alouger lease on
life. grfr
But our trip has not been Rithoutpleas-
ing ADD stirring events. Something has
happened at almost every landing to en-.
terrain or divert the passengers. At
Hale's Point, where 0bion river comes
lazily into the Mississippi, the boat took
on about twenty h~ogsbeads Of tobacco,
3 species Of freight we do not ship from
Memphis. One passenger, a Northern
man, who wore a blue Murphy ribbon
and a pair Of eyeglasses, was grsveIy
informed that these hogsheads contained
moonshine whisky. He heaved up a
suppressed sigh and looked sadder, if not
BE will no doubt report this sad
evidence Of human deprsyiiy and South.
ern heathenism when be gets back to the
land Of beans and brown bread.
Saturday night we had q touch of a
which sent the acting captain, j.
D. Moore, to the roof, and others to their
stateroons to grapple with life.preserv-
ers and to say their prayers. 1t Is proper
and natural to mention these things in
order in which they occurred. The
Afternoon had been unusually close and
the air was close and sitting.
Toward night the sun became obscured
" banks Of heavy leaden clouds full
If electricity. No one a~pprebended
but all we're huddled on the
roller deck to catch, if possible, a breath
II fresh air. Suddenly, just after sun
Town, when we we're a little below Ca
'uthersville, Missouri, the broken masses
# clouds 10 the southwest came together
ike giants uniting shields for battle, and
moved forward 10 a solid, threatening
There vas a dead lull for a few
moments. We seemed to be in a u
space under an immense exhausted
'eceiVer. There was little said and little
rave by a few who correctly in
erpreted the ominous darkness OF rap
dly approaching danger. A palllike
Ihadow suddenly came over the river
md the shore, ard a strange sensation
like a premonition, into the hearts
It strong men. In a moment more a
Vind, blowing at least seventy FIVE miles
IN hour, struck the point opposite and
lesr us. Forest trees vert down with a
-oar and a crash, and limbs, leaves and
Of matter we're hurled through
The air ike missiles Of destruction from
sings or eugiaes Of Infatuated geuii.
The noble boat was struck 10 q quarter
ing direction aud forced toward the
shore but Instantly stood out for the
middle Of the stream. Doors and tran.
SONS were violently opened and closed.
. portion Of the roof was carried away.
The boat quivered like an aspan in the
The wind shrieked and howled
through every c%revice and red lightnipgs
up the miinight blackness, while pesls
thunder added terror to the sublime
md terrible scene It passed over and
around us in halt an hour, and the worst
vas soOn over, but the impression lasted