Morning journal and courier., 1880-04-07
A Trip to Nassau.

Hindered by a Snow SGOrm-A Cheerful
 Start Followed by 2 SicIxenIng Change | A Short Stop at Port Royal of
 Again-Lo0Ikinx for Vessels and Light.
 hOuses-AgrOund near Fernandina | but COntentSd-FrOm Fsrnandina tG | Nassau-The Climate and Beauty of | the Place.
 Correspondence of the JOURNAL AND CouR1ERl | NASSAU, N. F., March 2s, 1880.
 DEAR COURIER:
 Az I have taken 6 run for short
 vacation. from your hypsrborsan region to
 this land of perpetual summer, will write
 you brief letter from here, giving some ac-
 count of our voyage and arrival. I shall at-
 tempt no dstaiIsd description of this beauti-
 ful and unique plaos, as that has been done through your columns so graphically by your
 fellow citizsn, Charles Ives, Esq., and it will
 be further described by the etchings of his facile pen. Less than ten days ago left
 home, chilling atmosphere about and a
 threatening sky above me, which soon full filled it's promise of cold and drenching rain.
 By noon this had changed to driving snow | storm, which lasted through the day and uu- ! til nearly midnight, as if the clements had | conspirsd to make tho situation as dismal and l uncomfortable as possible. Friday, the 18th, | at p. m. WAS the appointed hour for sailing but when that time arrived, on account of the | eontinuancea and severity of the storm the l captain announced furiough for his weather l beaten passengers until II o'clock. The l sailors were employed most of the night in l clearing the decks of the snow, and it I.was | not until Saturday morning at half-past five o'clock that the good ship City of Austin left | tho dock and commenced her voyage. The
 storm was over and all hearts lighter at the prospect of good time coming. But al | though the tempest had passed, unyeilirg the cheerful sunlight, it had left it's footsteps upon the sea. No sooner had we passed the
 light at Sandy Hook, than old Neptune | asserted his power, the pallid hue of many faces that but short time before had been bright with plsasurabla anticipations, show ing that Ia change had como over the spirit of their dreams" However, the sea god in
 this instance was merciful in his dispensations the raging of the wild waves was soon
 stayed and we passed Hatteras about p. m.
 the next day with steady ship on an even
 keel Thus it continued, as we sighted in
 SoSSS50iOA oESo AOOhOuI, l Si SASo'Ss
 Cape Romsin, &c., and entered Beaufort
 river, preparatory to making our first landing
 at Port Royal on Battery Greek. This vicini-
 ty has become historic ground. It will be
 remembered that one of the first conquests of
 the late war was made by landing at Hilton
 Head, where the stars and stripes were un-
 furled. We stopped long enough at Port
 Royal to stroll about the place. On seeing us looking intsntly at a building about 20 by 40 paint, windows, or other establishment, which we inferred to be the church of the place, a olsricai-iooking colored gentleman emerged from an adjoining cottage, and seemed disposed to bs communicative. He volunteered the information that the place we were Investigating for the first time WAS good deal of place, but Git hadn't growed yet" We agreed with him. He informed us that 1t was intended to be great railroad center, with diveraing lines extending through ths South and West.
 few hours suficed to unload our freigLs at Port Royal, when we again got under way, bound for our next landing at Fernandina. Our progress WAS so quiet that the appearance of vessel or the sighting of lighthouse was 8 matter of considerable excitement. When one of the far-s sighted announced that either was in view, every oyo was strained to catch sight of the welcome stranger, and when the naked eye was unable to accomplish it. the distance -snnihiIating glass was brought to it's aid, and tho objscs sought was soon re- vealed
 On Tussdsy, the 23d, at o'clock p. m, we are approaching the trsachsrous shoals of and seeking to follow the sinu- ous channel which will float us to the city dock. The beacon set for our guidance is throwing it's full blaze upon us, but as the tide has been sbbing about three hours we are proceeding cautiously, throwing the lead at short intervals, indicating abundance of water, till suddenly 1.-two fathoms' Is called, 8 grating sound heard, and we are hard and fast upon the shoal within a ships length of the channel. All efforts to go ahead or back out are unavailing, and We make up our minds that we shall have to rest where we are until the flow of the next tide. But as only gen. tle breeze is blowing, the moon throwing its rays over 8 smooth sea, and~e shall have to wait at Fernandina for the arrival of the train at 5 p. m. the next day, it is & matter of little consequence, SO we will wrap the mantle of content about us, and lie down to pleasant dreams. Here we lie until 3:30 o'clock the next morning, when the incoming tide lifts the steamer from it's sandy bed, and at breakfast time we make fast to ths dock at Fernandina. This Is one of the great marts for Southern pine lumber. Several steam saw mills are running on the shore near by, and vessels are moored at convenient distance, re- ceiving their products. We stroll about the town, viewing the parent and baby alligators, shells, and other curiosities of the place.
 At p. m. we are again on board, headed for our final destination, the tropical city of Nassau, N. P. The voyage from this place ! until we ploughed the blue waters which | baths the Bahama group was without any in- 1 cidsnt of importance. It was exceptionally | delightful-indsed, the whole trip has been l pleasant one. Playing whist with | a keen-syed and clear headed Judge for an op- l ponent, and blue-eyed beauty for partner, | aud watching the jump of the dolphin and the | skip of the flying fish, have been among its l pleasant and gentle excitsmeats. We have | have had good ship, good fare, good atten- | .ion, and . better captain than we have had Edgar 0. Stevens-never walked the deck of | ship. Fully master of his business, ever | zatchful and vigilant for the safety of his ,hip, his personal attention and courtesy to | his passengers have bsen remarked by all.
 On Friday, at o'clock p. m.-just about week from hone-the Nassau light is descried .a pilot taken on board, and at little after ; we cross the threshhold of the Royal Vic oria Hotel. As I have promised you in the beginning of this letter, will attempt no de- cription of the place. Suffice it to say, a nore lovely and unique place for winter visit
 cannot imagine to exist on the face of the ,lobe. One week ago I was shivering from he chills and blasts of your changeabls and igorous climate, where vegetation of the most lardy kind can exist but few months of the ear-this morning sit at my breakfast table Et,a rkioo 7l deoraas-op l