The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1883-12-08

. RIVER ITEMs.-There being now stuff
, Gent depth of water in Red river to foa
! the Jesse z. Bell, that favorite packet ha
| reentered the Grand Ecore and New On
leans trade, and the popular Whisper ha
resumed her semi-weekly trips between
New Orleans and Plaquemine.
The Tensas sustained some accident t,
; her machinery last week, in st. James par
ish, while coming up the river and wa
compelled to return to the city for repairs
She loaded with sugar and molasses OF
the way down.
Efforts to raise the Will Kyle have proved
futile, and the boat has been abandoned t.
the wreckers.
The new and magnificent tow-boat Min
netonka left st. Louis last week having
in tow six barges loaded with stone to be
used in the government works at New Or.
leans.
Capt. Charles Miller, late commander OF
the Mary Houston, is dead.
Ed. Cummings, one of the oldest mates
on the river, died in New Orleans on Nov.
%, of consumption. He was so years OF
age, native of Missouri, and had been a
mate from early manhood.
The II. j. Dickey has reentered the Bayou
Lafourche trade, replacing the Shields, and
! will go as far as Laurel Valley twice week.
| The Assumption will also extend her trips
to Laurel Valley, and as the Silver City
| already goes there, the Red River and
Coast Line will have three boats running to
that place. The Dickey has been thorough
ly repaired, and is in first-class condition.
1t is reported that the John w. Cannon is
shortly to enter the Yazoo river trade, con-
Meeting with the big boats of the New Or
leans and Vicksburg Packet Company at
the latter city. We should be sorry to see
the Cannon taken from the Bayou Sara
trade. She is a prime favorite here.
The cabin of the Independent Bayou La
fourche packet Phil E. Chappell is being
enlarged and fitted up in fine style.
The lightning Baton Rouge and Bayou
Sara mail packet Morning Star broke a
shaft and has gone to the city for new
one. The tug Mamie Woods is filling the
Stars place pro fempore.
The Cherokee has been purchased by the
Parisot Line to replace the burned steamer
8. q. Parisot, and the Fanchon succeeds
the Cherokee in the New Orleans and Baton
Rouge trade.
Capt. George Preston Work died in New
Orleans last week, aged 48 years. He was
born in Kentucky, but had been in New
Orleans since 1854. He served many years
as clerk and captain on the river, but had
more recently conducted steamboat agen-
cy and was one of the most popular men iu
the business.
The river and bayou have been steadily
rising for several days.
FIFTH WARD TRAGEDy.-Last Saturday
night dance was given at the house of
Charley Ward, in the quarters of the River
ton plantation, which eliminated in fatal
shooting ARRAY. The only particulars we
have obtained relative to the affair are that
quarrel arose among the men present and
that general melee occurred in the street
outside the ball room. Pistols were drawn
and number of shots. fired, one of the balls
striking and fatally wounding Bill Wright,
a young colored man employed on the ad-
joining Donaldson plantation. Bill was
taken home and died the following day, and
on Monday Coroner Duffel held an inquest
on the body. The post norton examination
showed that the bullet had entered " the left |
side, between the tenth and eleventh ribs, |
wounding the small intestine, ranging up
wards and passing through the liver, pro-
ducing internal hemorrhage, peritonitis and |
death" No evidence tending to establish |
the identity of the person who fred the |
fatal shot could be obtained at the time of |
holding the inquest, and the Coroner's jury
returned finding accordingly that the
wound had been inficted.by some unknown
party. Perhaps judicial investigation of
the affair may result in the discovery of the
perpetrator of the homicide.
Peter Ransom, a colored boy who is not
IN familiar with dark ways and vain tricks,
is locked u p in the parish jail charged with
DhtIt 1arcanv haoo uco he loid |