Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1878-03-02
ANew Exnlorlnr Exnedition.

OdlllclidN. At lnlS DOl0I we WeT
. also Joined by Messrs. w. II. ant
Y NJ. M. Rudolph and Prof. Brooks
our School Superintendent. We al
got on board just above the bridge
: the Gracey whistled and the explor
alton commenced. We knew wei
that with Capt. Callishaw at tn,
wheel we could go anywhere tina
was practicable for moderately
competent wild duck, and that any
obstacle which, under such piIotage
the Gracey could not get round OF
climb over or dive under must, un,
less removable, decide against the
navigability of Red river.
| With the high bluff occupied by
the residences of Messrs. Brandon
and Porter on one side and the open
fields towards the Orphan Asylum
on the other we took a circuit first
south, then east, then north again,
which brought us to a straight run
of water between heSypert property
on the north bank and the Goostree
farm on the South. So far we had
met with no distractions worth
mention, except that between the
lands of M. Porter and Mrs. Leavell
q tree had len which would have
puzzled a-'y craft less duck-like
than the Gracey to run round; but
| she rounded it with no trouble, as
she did some sunk logs opposite the
middle of GOOstree'S farm. At this
latter place the trouble was increased
by some Overhanging trees on the
side opposite the obstruction, some
of the branches on which were
broken by our chimney and fell on
deck. Before passing Brandon's
Bluff we had passed over a fish-trap
which would be an obstacle at a
lower stage of water, but was easily
passed at the present stage. Another
of these was passed opposite Coos
trees farm and one or two more
higher up. These distractions are
Illegal, but the law which makes
them so is one of those which ii
seems to be no ones duty to enforce.
They are an evil not only by OBJ
structing the river where it might
be otherwise navigable, but by pre-
venting the accumulation of fish in
its stream.
Mr.. Sypert's property terminates
at the point where Cave branch
empties into Red river, which is the
boundary between it and the War
field property. This branch has its
source in the cold and translucent
waters within the bosom of Dunbar's
Cave, and very soon is followed
by Sulphur branch, from the
sulphur springs at Idaho. We
now have the Warfeld tract on ouI
left, now divided between Messrs
G. H. and G.. w. Warfeld. The
river now becomes very winding
making deep bend sOuthwards into
the farm of Mr.. lessee w. Bailey
then turning back again due north
past the old Warfield homestead
and little southeast again, when
it regains its average direction, +
little north of east. At Mr.. War
fields landing we took on board
two young gentlemen of the War
field family who seemed much in
terested in the exploration and very
gladly offered to remove at an early
period some snags and Overhanging
trees which offered obstacles to nav
igation, not very serious, though
the latter would be more 50 at a
higher stage of water.
We now entered a comparatively
straight reach Of water, with Mrs
Yarbrough's land on our left and
Mr.. Gerhart's on our right. Pass
ing Gerhart's, which presents a
high bluff on its river front, we had
the Rudolph tract on our right.
Several branches of the Rudolph |
family here occupy farms between
Red river and the GAINESVILLE and
Nashville turnpike, and here we
took on board Mr.. J. NJ. Rudolph |
and a tribe of his young relatives,
III RI Ir
r. Swift. The Rudolph connection
as well as the Warfields are highly
in iavor of the navigation of Red
river. Next to the Warfield tract, |
ON the left bank, comes the Meri- |
wether property, and the rest of our |
course was between it and the Ru
dolph tract.
1t was ut the head OF what is called
Smalrs Island that we came upon |
the first insurmountable obstacle. |
The stream opposite these islands is |
necessarily contracted, and at this |
point trees had fallen across it from
both sides, forming 4 natural dam |
entirely across, which cannot be re- |
moved until Il lower stage of water, |
as one of the trees is entirely sub |
merged. From this point therefore,
about fourteen miles from themOuth, |
we had to return, after a really !
pleasant and interesting voyage,
with many thanks TO Capt. Gracey
for his genial hospitality. Some OF |
our younger passengers were 50 !
pleased with the Gracey that they
returned with us, cutting out walk
home for themselves of six or eight |
miles in the evening.
The obstacles to navigation en-
cOuntered so far as we proceeded
were of the most trifling character,
and we are informed that there are
none more serious on the remainder
of the course to Port Royal. The
farmers along the river could each
,,,,, 800, H.. I,.,,.,0 ori,,,r ~, !, T., O,t-,,