The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1883-04-14

but now our railroad system has TO Ger.
tam extent killed the business Of the river
and stcamboating. Life is too short"
and the spirit OF progress IN this age of
the nineteenth century too fast tor the
mode OF transportation passing into 90.
llyion.
DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI,
A Journey Of several hundred miles by
steamer in mid winter may be considered
dreary ride 10y those living north of
The Ohio, but that trip IN one Of those
floating palaces that ply on the Lower
Mississippi, at this season ol the year, is a
very pleasant one, especially that portion
of The Father Of Waters" skrtlng the
sugar plantations Of Louisiana. The jour.
ney in many respects resembles an ocean
voyage, for, while on board, one almost
torgets the rapid flight of time. Hours
come and go, and even days fly on the
Wings OF forgetlulnesS. The day has its
charms IN the attractions of the scenery
along the banks, and the different phases
of plantation lite, as viewed from the
steamer deck, and when evening comes
the blaze of the chandeliers, the luxurious
ly furnished cabin, and the rambles about
the wilderness of decks, offer an interest
ing study, which is seldom, If ever, seen
anywhere else in steam coating. And per
haps few sights in this age of the nlne-
teenth century life Of the west have such a
Wild, romantic interos, as a steamboat at
night on the Mississippi river, or the
wood.bound waters of some of its trbutar-
les. The deep shadows of the primcval
forest are lit up by the glare O! the furnace
and torch, or the powerful electric light.
The awful silence is invaded by the hoarse
roar of escaping steam and The shouts OF
The hurrying "rous;&bouts,' whose black
faces and figures would seem 10 Tighten
the contrasted cUlors e night The east
affords no such scene. The Hudson at
any point by day or night Is grand Its
varying aspects never tall IN interest, even
to those who sec them most frequently.
The grand old highlands, the Aoary Cats
kill, and the sublimlty o! the uarroWs, are
imposing sights, while the picturesque
banks, with their numerous towns and
villas, are attractive features, and on the
river the peculiar tow boat with its tiotilla
Of canal boats Some floating palace of
former days, stripped Of its saloons and
gildings-a mere skeleton Of Its former
greatnoss-is Juggling y N a long line,
perhaps fifty or more Of those boats, each
with lis family group, passing their lives
in tins migratory fashion Such is pic
ture of what may be seen on the grand old
Hudson, a striking contrast indeed TO a
western river scene
On my way down arrived IN Nicks-
burg just IN time to take
THE STEAMER NATCHEZ
for New Orleans The Na;chCz is one OF
The finest and fastest steamer, on the Mis-
slssippi, and her own Ct and master, Capt.
feathers. is one Of The best known steam.
boat men on the river. lie Is famous by
name and reputation from New Orleans TO
ST. Paul, and can do M 'r swearing 10 Il
shorter space of time TIA. any man that
ever run Mississippi ste ~ r, 1t Is said
that he goes to bed swear wears IN his
sleep, gets up swearing, al years all day
long. | did think that +, .. rntty tall
answer" our Col Hit took 10 .,eGr. But
compared to Capt Leaihels, to- ,t,!'nel Isl
were he and old Leathers at "a swearing
matinee tor cakes, the Colonel would have
to brace UP in order TO rake III even al
small COokcy. Are you not afraid Cap
tain, that the Lord will blow You and theI
NatcheZ ciCan ~ DAVE Jones locker for
your swcaring:' asked ministerial look.
ing passenger as the NatChcH lay fog
bound just off Batan Rouge. Not by--a
big, big d" answered the Captain The
Lord pays no more attention to my swear.
ing than he does to your praying and
with that he jammed his hands down into
his pantaloons pockets, and strolled away
mut'cying to himself something about the
number Of "cranks and pIouS idiots travel.
ing now days"
At dinner the Captain entertained the
passengers at his table by damning the
government, our hoGsted civilization, and
christianity. 1t was matinee day, and
the Captain was in splendid humor for
just such racket" | could easily Tin.
dcrstand why he blazcd away at the gov.
eminent from the fact that like everybody
else down In this country at the time, he
was on the side OF the lost cause" His
steamer in the service, and to get her
out o. tic reach OF the yankee, lie sent her
Up the Iazoo river where she fell INTO the
han,,, n the Fedcrals and was destroyed,
whether by accident or otherwise is not
clear but she vas destroyed by fire, and
because the government did not give him