The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1880-02-14

general outline on that side is semi
circular, though broken by angles
more or less acute. Following thes,
angles to great extent, and at tn
very edge of the cliff, AROSE the wall
of the fort. =.
They were long since demolished
and the brick has been hauled off tt
build chimneys in the town, but the
shape of'the parapet is still plainly
visible. The land of the old parade
ground has been plowed and cult.
waited in cotton and corn, as the ridges
and burrows still indicate. In the rear
OF the parade ground, and overlooking
the old fort, rises Block-house Hill a
rough, ragged young mountain, some
four hundred feet above the Level of
the river. This was used as lookout
station during the occupation of the
fort; and on its summit was built Il
block house to protect the fort from an
attack from the rear. Ascending this
from the north side, which is not as
steep, as at other points, we rested on
its summit for breathing spell. The
prospect was beautiful one with the
broad panorama of the Mississippi
spread out before us, the mouths of
the Buffalo and Homochitto, off to
our right, with the winding course of
the grand old river far above them,
until it loses its identity in the dim
distance. TO the South is seen the
mouth of Red river, and her wharf
boat, as she reflects the rays of the
rising sun. Behind us for miles around,
is wild, broken country. Hills piled
on top of hills, and ravines running
down deep between them, ragged and
torn; while from the bottom of which
spring up the tallest oaks and syca-
mores, and as you look down upon
heir tops, from the pinnacle on which
you stand, they seem like little buckle +.
berry bushes, 50 far are they beneath |
you. In front, and on the Louisiana
ide, is Point Breeze-now nearly
washed away-between which and
he old fort-now slmost beneath your
majestic old river glides
on to the sea. Obliquely to
he right and far below your point of
nestles the little vi lage,
ushed out to the very bank Of what
vas only few years ago the main
hannel of the river, by the hills in
IS rear. But now a bar is formed in
ont of the town, some half a mile {
1ide, and is covered with a dense
rowth of cotton wood trees thirty or
'rty feet high, where, during the war,
arragut's fleet rode safely at anchor,
1e vessel of which remained here
+ months, to prevent the Confedrates
ON fortifying this point, and it is 1
fought by many, that her position
used the first formation of the bar
e that as it may, the baris there and a
cam boats are obliged to land half
lie lower down the river than form N
ly. After spending an hour on the Ct
mmit of Block-hOuse Hill, we S
our descent, picking our p
ny over the cottOn-rows-fOr it has u
en- been cultivated on three sides to =,
very top, though nearly as as steep ii
a sugar loaf or hay stack-by
owing round, for a mule could never P
md headed up or down the hill, n
thout turning Il somersault, and |
IS informed that on several occasions B
lies had lost their footing and roll "
: over and over, were dashed to r
ath, and landed in the tree tops far
low, food for buzzards; but this | p'
| not see, and cannot vouch for; yet, w
, thing do know, and that is, it W
uld puzzle one unaccustomed to
e hill farming, to cultivate most "
Y of the hills about this place; al oG Of;
ugh the soil is rich and produces 10
2 crops. a
me item more and / will finish this 60 60
eady too lengthy letter: Some time c,
'ut the year 1887, the steamboat
ell Sherrod," Louisville packet, &c
her up trip took fire some ten miles s''
we this point, and. burned to the -.
ter's edge. She had on board two mr. mr.
three hundred passengers, and NJ,
ut three hundred thousand dollars wi
cold and silver, belonging to the pa
The specie was in kegs ref
stored in the hold. When she me
found to be on fire the greatest MI
ic ensued; the passengers became cd
ltic and jumped overboard-the
IT of them to find watery grave, am
ugh several succeeded in getting VIZ
ore, while some fioated down to
place ON some of the cabin furni- for
which was thrown overheard, and Col
rescued. The wreck also fl6ated stoI
II opposite here, and sunk in the 4
die of the river, where now is ma
led the bar above alluded to. A yer
,eman residing here, saw her go N "
II, and informed me he could point B.
the spot within a hundred feet. clai
lid it not be a good investment aga
a company of well borers to, pros Ind
for the treasure? NJ
,-morrow shall start across the . II
TRY for Natchez, which is sixty ca "a
5 distant, over one of the roughest adic
ons of country nature ever tucked
le corner of a State. PAP.
enc: Academy of Music. John mer
as Virginius. Fourth II
second scene: The Forum - nro,