Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-06-16
COMING DOWN THE OHIO.
A Delightful Trip ON an Elegant
and Popular Steamer.
correspondence of the Ledgsr.l
STUANfEp AMpS w GAEp NpAn

The Ohio is one of the most beauti-
full streams on the North American
continent. Its scenery is picturesque
in the full sense of this word. Lofty
hills, quiet wales and towering cliffs,
reminding one Of the castles Of the
tabled giants, meet the eye of the pas
Between Louisville and
Evansville the scenery will compare
in loveliness with that along the Hud-
son. The banks of the latter are
Remmed with elegant houses and evi-
dence taste and art the banks of the
Ohio are wild and the forests are as
dense as the hills are weird. Here
the hand of art has not yet profaued
the sanctuary Of nature. Below New
Albany, Indiana. great hills loom up,
and in the distance contrast their
azure hue with the emerald. colortd
valleys. These hills present some I'M
usual geological specimens. Besides
furnishing a very hard building stone,
the drilling and dressing of which not
unfrequently defes steel Implements,
there are banks of shale, which evil
dence the truth of the theory that
thousands Of years ago a great and
powerful body of water swept down
this valley to some guilt other than the
one We now know. Here and there
the waters eddied and surged around
the base of the hills, the erosion Of
these resistless tides have left traces
plain enough to the eye of the g%eologi
cal scientist. What great waves thun-
dered against these mighty hills and
lashed their fury upon the cliffs, not
tradition tells the faintest story.
But science has given us proof Of this,
and we a readily imagine how the
deep waters of bygone ages bathed the
high hills and irowning cliffs now
with shrubbery and bearing trees of
no small growth. Against the same
great rock, high up on the hills. the
waters dashed their silvery spray where
now blooms the beautiful wild flower,
or creeps the dark hued vine. After
leaving its tortuous passage between
these towering hills, the Ohio broad
ems into a lake-like appearance. At
times the effect Of the sunset is such as
to inspire the sweetest delight. To
watch the footsteps of the silent
moonlight across the waters and up
the rugged hillsides-to catch the
first roseate tints of morn upon
the rivers quiet bosom-are to
me pleasure as delightful and thrilling
is their opportunities are rare, and
appreciated. Last night while sitting
alone OF the guard, watching the
finely feathered waves that rose like
an imperial banded plume around the
majestic oDstep Of the steamer ,sweetre-
collections of the lOngago came back to
me. How often has Captain Wise with
his poplar steamers given our people
delightful trips up and down this
beautiful stream. He is the same
merry and affable gentleman as Of
yore. Like pure Bourbon his excel
lence increases with his years. His
acquaintance is remarkable. 1t mat
tiers not where he goes, Captain Wise
and his steamer are we'll known and
appreciated. AS an evidence of his
popularity, it is related upon good
authority, that an old man with his
wife and three children once waited
ten days for the Gaf. Other steam.
erS were leaving Cincinnati daily, but
the old gentleman could not be Undue
ed to board any craft but Captain
Wise's Gaff. To day there was a large
steamer ahead Of the Gaf, but thirty
or more passengers at Lewisport,
Rockport, Greensboro, Newburg and
Evansville Waietd patiently for the
Gaf. the latter being detained by
landing at different places along the
The truth is Captain Wise's
t%ireless disposition and wonderful tai
emit for making his passengers aequain
ted and affording them such un-
usual social eDjoyments entitle
him to the high esteem in which
be is held by all who know him.
Then there is that HOah's ark steward
General William Collins, whose exact
age, like that of the monolith, is un-
certain. According to the most authen.
teal tradition, Mr.. Collins is the
living river man on the western
waters. He has been on the river
58 years. Despite this long active life
on the water, he is as graceful a
waltzer and as energetic Virginia reel
as any person Of twenty years.
a steward he has no equal, a fact
which all who have ever travelled with
Wise will attest. He will never
remain away from Captain Wise who
understands and values such a person
Mr.. Collins. Another attractive
Of the Gaf is the fine music
by Girard's quadrille band. The must
never tire playing, and there isl
scarcely an hour but what sweet
are heard, the leader of the
band Nh. Girard is a young man Of
musical genius. His Comprehension
If music as well as his method are
marvellous, his Interpretation Il aCcu,
rate while hig expression denotes the
.alent of an Ole Bull. OF course the
present trip Of the Calf like every one
The makes, affords a constant enter
for the passengers. The
Gem club" a social organization
Aurora, Indiana, came down
Cincinnati, and such a merry
crew VIC seldom see anywhere. The
9af is nearing Evansville and l will
to close. The passengers are
a good time and if the boat
long enough at Evansville
they will be reinforced by dancing
party tonight. A full report Of the
Of the moon will be made by
Wise upon his arrival at
SALTUs MoBEGAN.