The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1882-04-15
THE STEAMSHIP HUTCHINSON.

ed for Cedar Keys and Havana; and TO each
and TO all one question presented IN absorbing
Interest: Where is my state.room Thanks t.
that efficient officer the Purser, the query was
settled to the approval of all concerned soon
after the PROV of the ship had been turned
down stream, and the national colOrs and white
star Of the Morgan line futterng down To-
gether showed that the Hutchinson had laid
aside her holiday dress and settled down To
business
Our last look at New Orleans from the river
was brief one, for remembering the early
hour at which we had reached the ship (elght
o'clock) the steward had most considerably
prepared an abundant morning lunch. The
majority of the passengers realizing that to-
morrow in all probability the table would lose
It's charms, wisely concluded to take time 10y
the torelock and guard against a future evil
by maxim; sure of present good. The meal
ended, they sought the deck IN a body, and
while they were filing the comfortable arm.
chairs we made a few mental notes.
The years Of the company ranged from ex-
IRENE youth to venerable age, and Its allie
glance was divided between seven different
states, The lady on our right was stately
white haired dame, whose heavy brocade vel
vet matched the flashing diamonds in her ears
Diamonds are beautiful but cold, and IN this
case they had a freezing effect on the wearcr
The old gentleman near The capstan had CIR
died the earth on salt water, making the ocean
his home for three whole years. For him the
morrow had no terrors. A sweetiaced lady
sitting near us did not share his courage. She
shrank from the Cult with a nervous dread.
and YEARLY leaning back felt that even on the
Mississippi coming seasickness casts It's
shadow before The handsome girl standing
near the railing was determined to take all the
sunshine out OF the present hour and let a fu.
ture one take care Of itself. Her finclooking
father was philosophlcally discussing with n
lady friend the claims of st. Augustine and
Green Cove as winter homes. Baby, our
youngest passenger, was, as his papa laugh.
ingly remarked, taking his first voyage. The
little sailor looked upon the whole thing rs u
very gay affair and distributed his smiles with
gracious lmpartlality. In one thing the com
pany was a peculiar one. Its elements min
gled, but did not mix Each group was sutli-
cicnt to itself
SO while the great river rushed onward TO
It's bridal with the sea, we watched its banks
with an everdeepening interest, and the hours
went by brightly winged.
Unlike the Hudson, no majestic mountains
stand MS scntlnels to guard the Mississippi in
The last stage OF its long journey toward the
Gulf. The river looks down, not up, to the
country. The plantations which
fringe Its banks are several feet beneath It, and
protected from its fury only by the levee.
Like giant, the river laughs at the feeble
plain and bids 1t guard lts barriers we'll This
needs no second emphasis, for a lit.
tie break in the bank, an hours carelessness,
might prepare the way for this unshorn Sam.
son to rise IN his awful strength and lay spa.
cious home and fertile field low in one com.
mon ruin.
We had reached at last the plantations of
The South famous IN song and story. Sugar
refneries lifted their lofty chmneys over clus.
ers Of negro cabins. Beautiful homes, show.
ing In their exterlors abundant wealth, and
doubtless centers OF happy home life and I'm.
bounded hospitality to their favored guests,
passed in unceaslng succession before US.
One O'Clock came and went No seats were
'acant at the table. The passengers did full
ustice to the toOthsOme meal
AT three the tldings went from lip to lip that
We were nearing the Gnlf, and very soon the
hurricane deck presented an animated scene
md by the gracious permission of the captain
he ladies had invaded and captured the pilot
louse 1t was Il strange scene. The stately
plantations had disappeared and human habi.
atoms were few and far between The shores
we're so low that all traces of banks had been
ost, and II was difficult to tell where water
,nded and land began. The spongy soil was
iensely covered with long coarse grass and i'm.
,enetrable willows As we advanced our path
way was hedged IN. We were sailing through
! long, queer fence, whose builder had set his
substantial posts down to stay and carelessly
orgotten to nail on the boards. In reality our
ence WAS not and never had been fence
rhe posts were the famous jetties, and their
important Office was to confine and deepen the
channel of the Mississippi. Long before the
-iver lost it's identity in the Gulf that great
BODY of water had advanced to meet II and
or miles its white breakers dashed against the
shore, separated from us only by long thin
strip of watery land Even this vanished, and
At four the lighthouse lifted Its lofty head at
our right hand, and before US lay IN Its wide,
radiant expanse the glorious sea. 81 wish you
good day, gentlemen" said our pilot, turning
rom the wheel, and in moment more he had
disappeared. His work was done, and anoth-
...h IL