The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1882-07-01
OUR EDITORS EXCURSION.

OUR EDITORS EXCURSION.
a Day at Charieston-Seenes and Incident
In the South Carolina Metropolis-A De
nShtful Passage to New York-At til
Nations Capital.
ST. JAMES HOTEL. }
| Washington, June Is, 1882.
] DEAR CHIEF:
You may be sure that I looked will
much interest upon the historic water
and surroundings of Charleston harbo
| as we steamed by tortuous course int
that haven Friday morning, the 26tl
instant, at sunrise. Passing up the chan
mel at the entrance Of the harbor, we lae
Fort Snmpter on the right, with Castle
Piuckney "off our port bow" nearer the
city, which sits at the lleadwaters of the
hafbor where the Cooper and Ashle.
rivers form their junction. These ven.
cradle Notifications, so prominently
identified with the wars of 1776 and 1861
presented a peaceable and inoffensive
appearance i'll their present state OF
dilapidation and disuse, ard it was not
easy for ME lis gazed upon them to con-
juro np-a very vivid picture of the stir
ring scenes enacted here during those
memorable conflicts Sumpter claimed
the largest share of attention for against
its battlements was hurled the cannon
ball that proclaimed the opening Of che
bloody and unsuccessful struggle for the
disruption of the Union. Each one Of
these forts is situated on Pm island, Moul-
trie being on Sullivan's Island, sur
rounded by the village Of Moultrieville,
and sumpter lying midway between
Moultrieville and the mainland on the
opposite slSe of the harbor's entrance.
Moaltrle appeared to be entirely earth
WofF, Sumpter brick and stone, and
.nckney q combination of earthwork
and masonry. The latter is round or
nearly so and is covered by a fat roof on
which earth has been placed to the depth
Of several feet. In fact it struck me as
resembling a garden plot built on stone
foundation with row OF little chimneys
or ventilators around the edge by way of
statuary or Of fence posts, just as the
fancy Of the beholder might suggest.
Or, it might be taken for gigantic
bake-oven, something like the one the
Scotchman imagined must have been
used for producing the seven loaves of
bread upon which the multitude were
RECALLED in scriptural times.
The Greyhound stopped abreast the
quarantine station, which is situated on
the mainland opposite Fort Sumpter,
and here waited over an hour for the
medical autocrat, who reigns over this
to board our vessel and ex-
anime into the sanitary condition of our
boat and its crew. Finally this cadaver-
Gus disciple of Esculapius rowed along
tide, scrambled over the bulwarks and
Ill hands were piped mp for inspection.
fhe Doctor said there had been a heavy
quail the previous evening fortunately
We escaped this blizzard) and he had
zone to his farm two miles out in the
country to see if it had been blown away.
Ending that we had clean bill Of health
and that there had been no sickness on
BOARD during the passage-sea-s ickness
DOESN'T count, you know, because it isn't
on 1and-the man of pills
gave us ticket leave, struck the Cap
;ain for a five-dollar. bill and put off to
lisinfect large English steamer lying
1t anchor hundred yards away. We
steamed across the harbor to the city and
led up alongside vacant pier, where
We took aboard during the day 80 tons
If coal, 300 gallons Of nice spring water
md an instalment Of fresh meat and veg
etables from Charleston's noted market,
me Of the institutions Of the city.
[ spent a few hours ashore and trav-
ersed a considerable portion Of the
,ity on foot aud in the horse cars. There
ire comparatively few large or striking
and among these the custom
some edlfce, built Of whitish stone and
s said to be one of the first custom
int thu 70 c;}
East Bay street, the main business thor
,ughfare. Little attention was paid to
display i'll the construction
If the business houses, as rule, and l
Jaw none that would attract special at
ention Of person who is familiar with
:ities.. The largest and most pretentious
esidences face the famous quay at the
extremity Of the city and took
his to he the most pleasant and attrac-
i've part Of Charleston. Strolling along
eisnrely unde: the trees and enjoying the |
delightful breeze from the harbor, / |
ould not but admire the view, whether
turned my face landward or seaward. |
n this park noticed bust of Simms.
nrmounting granite pedestal, and a
handsome monument erected iii 1876 to |
the centennial of the gal
ant defense of Fort Moultrie by South
'arolina regiment during the revolution
ry war.
Charleston appears to be what it really
), very old town, and large proper
lou Of its buildings display marked evi