Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1883-01-31
A Lively Letter from the South.
Pass Christian, Miss, Jan. 20,

shady bowers week ago last Tuesday
the 9th inst, and you will please re-
member that the weather was cold
We, that is Duane Butterfeld and
myself, left Detroit on the 10Th for
the sunny south, via Chicago. Left
Chicago on the 18th, in a snow storm.
Fad all sorts of weather from there
to Cairo. From there it was rain q
great part of the way. l had to stop
off at Jackson, Mississippi, Duane 60
ing through to New Orleans, Louisi-
ana. l left Jackson at 1890 p. NJ,
on the 18th, in a warm rain storm and
a crowded car, two in every seat, and
they all seemed cold, but, as for my
self, it was hot and l nearly suffocat-
ed, as they, the passengers, would not
have a door or window open. In fact
the small ventilating windows over
head were kept closed, and if any one
opened the door, there was some one
ready to kick it shut. l rode most of
the way on the platform, although
against the rules, but as my life was
insured, | took the chances. | never
took much stock in that story about
the ark q presume you have heard
the anecdote) until that night. I
must confess that night gave rise to
some doubts in my mind in regard to
that question of ventilation, for all
that car had was hole in each end,
three-fourths Of an inch in diameter,
through which bell rope passed one
half inch in diameter You can
guess how it was, nearly enough to
kill the oldest man living. Near the
line between Mississippi and Louisi-
ana it did rain. and they told me it
had been doing so for two weeks, and
as the road runs through low, fiat
and, or water, hardly know which
10 call it, at any rate it was mostly
water and small brush with now and
hen station, where we stopped for
ome one to wade off or on. Down
rear New Orleans we passed nice plan
ations, but they were covered with
water.
Arrived in New Orleans in the
morning, and about the depot it was
water, and Oh the way up town, for
lalf a mile, the water was from four
o ten inches deep on the streets.
some of the houses had the lower
loors covered, so they told me. Half
! mile up the people were rinsing off
he sidewalks. Boys and girls were
vading about with bare feet. 1t was
-ery warm. Up in the city and on
he main streets it was nearly dry, as
t had stopped raining for an hour or
wo. Found Duane Butterfeld at the
Jity Hotel, which by the way is an
excellent hotel.
We went down or up the river, 1
lon't know which they call it, and
aw salt water shipping, which looked
rood to me, at any rate. Took dinner
It Vonderbank's Cape Restaurant,
Nos 126, 1913 and 100, Common St.
"a first-class place, where you can
ret the very best Of everything in the
Eating and drinking line, but as
lever drink anything, only in summer,
when | can't get snow, and, of course,
couldn't get snow in New Orleans
where they are going barefoot, I had
o smile.
We left New Orleans Yesterday at
$50 P. NJ, for this place. Railroad
uns most all the way through very
ow swampy flats and ponds and lakes,
where the track is on piles. When
lear this place it is through pine, but
III of any size has been cut for rail-
Dad building. Coming across one of
hose ponds or lagoons, one of the pas
engers saw an alligator, but / did
lot see him. They are mostly down
n the mud for winter-the alligators
mean, not the passengers. We ar
lived here last evening, still in the
ain, but this morning it had stopped,
although it was very foggy.
Pass Christian is beautiful site,
icing an elevated strip or ridge of
and from thirty to eighty rods wide,
md from twenty to thirty feet above
he beautiful lake or gulf where salt
md briny waters have washed its
,each for can't say how many years.
asked the oldest inhabitant, this
morning, and, strange to tell, he con-
esscd he did not know. / thought
hey and editors knew everything.
The sun has been shining an hour or
o, and hoped it was going to clear
fl, but am afraid it is going to rain
gain soon.
This country is like Texas in some
Kings, and Texas weather is like
anne bear or an independent Demo-
rat--you never just know what it is
,oing to do next. Have just been out
or short walk after dinner. There
S q splendid drive Of five miles in
ength, on front Ct the ridge that the
own is built on-the houses being
mostly on the land side of the road. |
The land is sand, but the track where
hey drive is made of oyster shells
hat have been ground up so by the
wheels that stranger could hardly
ell what il was. / am told this is one
# the healthicst places in the world.
)ne man in jackson said they never
lied here, but lived until they became
selcss, and then they killed them
Nth a club. 1t is my opinion he will
ever be punished much for telling
he truth. But, joking aside, it must
e healthy. Most of the buildings
re owned by New Orleans parties as |