Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-03-20
THO HELENA EXCURSION.
The Dean Adams OF Her Metal.
Down and Back I'm Less than
Eleven Hours.

The steamer Dean Adams, Captain
Mark Cheek, wentto Helena and back
yesterday with the Macaroni Club and
a party of excursionists, numbering
close about hundred in all.
The trip was enjoyable in the ex-
IRENE, the Captain and his officers all
exerting themselves to the utmost to
entertain the pleasure seekers, and
they succeeded in doing this most ad-
mirsbly. The excursionists were,
however, especially partial in their
compliments to Mr.. U. Matson, the
boats steward. This gentleman was
unremitting in his attention, 4aboring
without cessation to make everybody
comfortable and happy. His spread
at meal time was magnificent, and
every passenger expressed their admi-
ration in the most glowing terms, while
they toasted in way that Macaronians
and their friends have a talent for. The
Macs are epicurcs, and know when a
good thing is set before them, there
fore they can safely assert that Mr..
Matson is Thorough master OF his
profession. Indeed, be may be set
down as an artist in the fullest sense
OF the term. All on board of the
Adams during yesterday express their
most heartfelt thanks to Mr.. Matson
for his kindly interest in their well
fare, and at the same time are salts.
fed that his employers cannot be
served by more competent, careful
and deserving officer.
The voyage down the river was made
without stopping, ther fore but little
information regarding he overflow was
obtained. Seeing tn lie would be no
stops, the guests bent their energies
toward having good time, and they
had it to their hearts content. The
elegant steamer pushed away from the
wharf here at ten minutes before 8
o'clock in the morning. reaching Hele-
ma in three hours and forty-fve min
utes, the distance being about eighty
miles. The time from the wharf here
to Scanlons was As minutes; to Ben
nett's, 1.35; to Commerce, 1.55; to
Ashley's Point, 2.12; to head Ben
deaux chute, 2.25; to Walnut Bend,
2.42: to Austin, 2.57; to mouth St.
Francis river, 3.15, and to Helena at
1876 pm, as before remarked, the
time made being three hours and forty
FIVE minutes.
A little less than an hour was passed
at Helena, the steamer leaving there
at 100 pm, coming straight through
and reaching the wharf here at 7:45
pm, just six hours and fifteen min
utes out from Helena.
Among the incidents and scenes of
the excursion was the sight Of num-
Der Of starving cattle at several points.
Animals absolutely nothing but skin.
and bones, and barely able to tottsr,
were seen standing in the water at
various places, and presented a most
pitiful sight. The fostering carcasses
of dead bIutes were also numerously
seen, and the odor spread upon the air
was decidedly unsavory.
The city of Helena possesses but one
dry street. All Others are covered
with water except in little patches,
and people were seen passing over the
highways in skiffs to attend church.
In one of the skiffs rowed about
by a couple Of hired hands the
noted demirep Dixie Wagner, accom-
panied by Minnie Williams, sister of
the same stripe, was observed appar-
emily enjoying natures caloric, and a
boat ride. As they glided near the
Dean Adams the, two Aashily dressed
females, saluted those on board in a
characteristic manner. A citizen OF
Helena stated that the brazen Dixie
behaves about the same at that place
as she did when she resided here.
Among those who took passage at
Helena for this city on the Adams
was Mr.. Fred t. Anderson, who left
here on Saturday last to take food
sketches for Harpers' Weekly. He
has drawn pictures of the situation at
Benefits Landing, Austin and Hell
e1s. The latter will be shown from
several points.
Mr.. David Curtis, of the New York
Herald, was a passenger on the Tip
down and back. He took notes Of
leading items, and will doubtless dress
them up in an interesting manner foT
the great paper to which he is at
tached.
The steamer Adams carried the
broad pennant of the club, in the
shape of huge macaroni fork, at the
top of her jackstaf during the entire
trip, and she did her work with
marked success.