Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-04-25
BOATING THROUGH THE WOODS
Up TO Marion, Crlttenden COun-
ty, by the steamer John
OVerfOn.

Nearly one hundred people made a
voyage up to Mound City and on
through Bayou Wapenocke, four miles
beyond, to Marion, yesterday after
noon.
1t is only in extreme high water
seasons that a steamer can reach
Marion, and trip through the woods,
as it were, is full of novelty.
The main part Of the voyage beyond
Mound City is through clusters Of
willows and canebrakes, which thickly
fringe the bayou. The massive timber
Of the swamps lean down from lofty
heighths and spread their broad
branches over the water way, render
ing the scenery very imposing and
highly interesting to strangers.
The town Of Marion is quiet sort
of village, containing two or three
hundred houses. Its leading features
are a county Jail and court house,
both rather countryisll in style and
shape, but reputed to be fully equal to
all legitimate demands. Just now,
the people of Marion and vicinity
are rather disturbed over the
tragedy incident to the muder of
Sheriff Reattie last week. Otherwise
nothing more than the usual industry
Of crop planting disturbs the equauim-
ity of Crittenden people.
Among the guests on board of the
0verton yesterday was Mr.. Sheldon
Collins, of New York, a prominent
banker, millionaire and ink merchant
1t is Mr.. Collins who supplies this Of
fee with fluid to supply reading mat.
ter, and during the past fifteen years
he has sold not less than a thousand
barrels, perhaps twice that, for
use in the LEDGER establishment.
Mr.. Collins often pays us a
visit, but his voyage through the
woods by the Oyerton yesterday
was ths first time he ever penetrated
Arkansaw canebrakes. Mr.. Collins
was a curious observer all the trip.and
pecred through the canebrakes with
earnest eye in search Of panthers, al
ligators, and other beasts which are
known to inhabit those localities.
Duck and other water fowl
fare also plentiful along that
water route, aud recently
wild pelicans and bald-headed eagles
have been known to frequent the same
locality. Mr. Collins being lover Of
natural history made numerous anx-
ious inquiries regarding the habits and
customs Of the game mentioned; also
of the fine perch, trout and other fish
taken from the waters of the vicinity.
Another guest on the trip yesterday
was Mr.. Moses Mason, the youthful
clerk at the Peabody hotel. Nose, as
the boys call him, was a handsome
young man thirty years age, when he
started in the hotel business here.
As an attache of the Worsham house
in its palmy days, also of the Gayoso
when it was bran new, Mr..
Mason Won good repute, and was very
popular with all classes of people.
During the war his skill in the prov
ender line was fully tested in keering
Forests soldiers fed as assistant
to Mayor Rambaut. Later, of the st.
Charles hotel, New Orleans, all Mem
phis visitors found warm welcome for
many years. Still later, at the Battle
house, Mobile, Mr.. Mason moving on,
and now at the Peabody he welcomes
| all with bland smile and a pleasant
word. He is valuable adjunct to
any hostelrie, despite the fact that he
expressed desire on the trip yester-
day to dump one or two Of his com
panions overheard as food for little
fishes, or to soak among the swamp
willows. All in all, the trip was recre
stiye, instructive, and well worth the
| do liar tEat Capt. Fogleman charges to
make i: j.,
While the river is sw6lls9 it would
not be out of the way for MeWphis
people to make the Marion excursion