The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1878-09-06
BAYOU La BATRE NOTES.
Some lettings by Palma" Origin of the
the Towns Name, Etc.
NEAR PORIERsYILLF. Aug. 81. 1879.

I'D. CkAI-DIAk-NC NC arc
informed, through an indirect
source, that the much dreaded and
fatal yellow fever has, since your
last issue, reached Scranton. ! am
in great distress lest the report be
authentic, for | have many dear
friends in your pleasant little town,
and my heart is keenly alive with
sympathy for them in case of such
dread calamity. We would glad
~ receive them all as refugees
from the scourge, if the stringent
quarantine imposed by our city
would permit. Our village is per
tectly free from yellow fever, as
well as all other infections, nor do
our citizens generally fear it, and
our physician being one among the
most successful during the terrible
and neverto- be forgotten epidemic
of '53, assured me a few days ago
that he ".believes it impossible to
assume an epidemic form in the
healthy, bracing atmosphere that
surrounds u.s." Health is one of
the many blessings our village
can boast. | have known several
years to elapse without a single
death occurring i'll our midst.
Bayou Ia Ratrc, that gives the post
office name, is a small stream
about four or five miles in length,
and empties into the lake sound
twelve miles below Grants pass (at
the entrance of Mobile bay), and
derives its name from the fact that
a battery once had existence here,
the remains of which are to be
seen about one mile from itsmouth,
Immediately back of the old GENE
terry, on the right bank of the
stream. 1t is a matter of uncer.
tainty by whom or at what time it
was erected. The trenches around
1t, locations and traces, are certain
proofs that it was a battery. Some
persons moline to the belief that it
was erected by pirates, who we're
very numerous once on this coast,
and that this is one of the favorite |
retreats of Captain Scott, and that |
much treasure may lie dormant |
and undreamed of somewhere in
our land. The village of the same |
name is romantically situated on
both sides the stream, one mile
above the old battery, and, no
doubt, like every other town, has a
history aud a legend. It's soil is
peculiarly adapted to vegetables;
fruit, rice and oranges grow here
almost equal to southern Louisiana
and Florida. Peaches, pears,
ounces, figs and scuppernongs
have been raised here with perfect
success and OF very superior
quality. Many of the families,
apart from the village
proper, live entirely from farming
md stock raising, and raise corn,
rice, sweet potatoes and sugar cane
enough to supply their families
Turing the greater part of the year
md abundance to sell besides. A
great many have hogs enough to
and lard to last them
I'll winter. | have seen very re-
,ently hogs running in the woods
which positively never cost their
'wners cent, as fat as hogs could
DC. a little economy and care will
,oon secure to the farmer here an
Independent living, especially if he
urns his attention to amaSsing
3attle and sheep, which do remark,
IDLY well here.
Another much-to- be-appreciated
blessing is that there is not a col
,red inhabitant owning a foot of
and nearer than five miles to us,
lor in fact living here at all. There
ire children here three years old
Who never saw an AfIican-de-
cended gentleman. We have a
Catholic church, also Baptist and
Iethodist- Union church, and our
chools could be made excellent
lere by a more extensive patron
ge. 1t is only seven miles from !
it. Elmo, on the New Orleans and
Iobile railroad, and we have fish |
nd oysters plentiful at all seasons.
| would invite the attention of
he business man, who wishes a |.
ealthy and retired country seat
Or his family during the summer
lonths, to our village. Here, a
usiness man who has large boys
hat loaf around the streets learn
ng how to swear, smoke, spend
honey and drink, and other per
icious practices, could make them
cry useful in summer raising
ruit, vegetables, ETC., until at a
iper age, when they can appreciate
earning aud advice. Suppose they
hould adhere to farming and make
business of it? How vastly su-
elior is the respectable farmer to
he reckless, besotted wretch you
Till often encounter staggering
Iome at midnight, or thronging
he haunts of vice, which, if you /,
Tould raise the slouched hat and
DOk into the hag.ard face and
loodshot eyes, you would recog-
ize the son of perhaps "a merchant
f high standing, doctor, or per- !
APPS Statesman-boys who !,
layed marbles on street corners :
4 summer when they could have :
made hay" in the "sun shine" !
tut should my letter attract any
ne, and they conclude to settle
mong us, | think it but fair and
onest, Mr.. Editor, to inform them n