Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-02
THE CHATTAHoOCHEE RIVER.
Incidents of Trip from Fort Gaines to
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THE CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVEF
Incidents of Trip from Fort Gaines t
Cambridge
Those who have never sailed down th
| ChattahOOchee river can have any conce
ton of the novelty of a trip from Fol
Gaines to Bainbridge by boat. The steam
ers are built so that they draw but thre
| feet of water when loaded. The boats ar
stern-wheelers, and are exceedingly prim
tive in appearance. The river now i
lower than it has been for many years
and navigation tries, not only the ingenu
ity of the Captain, the patience of tn
traveller, but the durability of the stern
wheeler.
Shortly after our craft had left For
Gaines the high bluffs, verdant with tn
Overhanging willows, laurels and oaks
grew more picturesque, with a peculiar
formation of limestone, washed into fan
tastic shapes. The tiny ferns creepin.
out of creVices and lodges look as though
it had been some time since the current
had disturbed their roots. At each bend
IN the river beautiful views came into
sight, like some new scene IN a piano.
rama.
AS l sat upon the upper deck. enjoying
each new picture, watching the water
birds glide over the placid surface of the
river, ripping its bosom as they sought
some more sequestered spot, l wondered
If any other State or country contained a
more peaceful region than that which was
passing in review. All was quiet; even
the crew seemed to be sleeping, as they
lay stretched at full length upon the cot
ton bales. Nothing broke the languid ST.
lence, save the labOred humping of the
engine and the slashing of the wheel. The
volume of black smoke, as it curled from
the stacks, seemed to give this bright.
peaceful picture an ebony frame.
l was brought back from dreamland by
feeling the boat strike upon something.
tremble and stop. Then followed an
appalling silence, perhaps for a few
seconds, but which seemed to me an
hour, fearing each moment that the boat
would turn upon her side and sink. 1t
was quite evident we had run into some
thing; it could not be another boat, for
there was none in sight. 1t might be a
rock or snag. Could 1 swim to shore?
Had | better jump overheard before the
boiler exploded? These and many such
thoughts passed through my mind.
heard the bell in the engine-roOm ring.
With that sound came relief, because 1
appreciated the fact that the Captain was
going to try and save the boat. l heard
the bell ring again, and the wheel began
to work vigorously, but still we did not
move. The engine was stopped and
started backwards several times, but
without any apparent effect. | heard the
Captain give orders to get the small boat
ready. l had by this time sufficiently
recovered my equinimity to ask the mate,
who passed me, what was the matter.
Ooh, NOTHING MUCH"
he said, ''except that we are on sand
bank" The small boat was lowered into
the river and manned by three of the
crew. A large coil Of rope was passed
to them, and, as they drew away
from rs. the deck-hands let out the slack.
| saw, as the small skitf approached the
shore, that the intention was to make the
rope fast to a tree, l interrO gated the
mate again as to how long we would stay
here. Cant tell! May stick a few
minutes or we may be here all night"
This was encouraging, but L concluded to
make the best of it. The rope was made
fast to sturdy oak, the slack drawn in,
passed around the capstan, and the en-
CINE connected with it set in motion. We
we're actually going to be hauled over the
iand bank by main force. This was &C
after much putting and bell
ringing. Certainly this was novel sensa-
ion, and one that will not soon be for
rotten.
We gIided on until we reached Co
umbia, where q large pile of cotton
awaited US. 1 made some inquiry as to
where most of the cotton was to be
shipped. To my disappointment and sOr-
'Ow l was informed to New Orleans. l
lsked man who seemed to be well posted
Why it was not shipped to Savannah. 1
vas told that it was cheaper to ship it to
New York than Savannah, as the Central
Road had a rate of ten cents a hundred
rom many of the landings along the river
lirect TO New York via the Ocean Steam
.hip Line. l found that cotton is shipped
% New Orleans instead of Savannah Tor
several reasons. One is that the New
orleans merchants offer planters more
LIBERAL inducements in the way of adj
7ances; another is that cotton is classed
higher there than in Savannah. These are
he reasons given me. What the reasons
ire do not know of my own knowledge,
)ut those who deal in this product know
better than / do. 1t is fact, however.
hat much cotton is being shipped else
where that should be handled by Sayan-
lah.
THE FOLLOWING MORNING THE FIRST
OBJECT
hat attracted my attention as l stepped
Upon the deck was craft similar to the
Amos Hayes, the boat was on. Evident
Y the companion ahead of US was in
rouble. l soon discovered she had four
ines out attached to the shore, and de-
,ided she found it a more difficult task to
crawl over the sand bank she was on than
we had the night before. AS she was
stretched across the channel, or rather
the place where the channel should have
been, it was an impossibility for US to
pass her. When we got within converse
,iOnaI distance l discovered the boats
name was the ThOTnateeska, the Indian
name for the Flint river, and that she was
going to cambridge. l informed the Cap
ain that L desired to go on board of her,
and he kindly sent the small boat for me.
All that day we kept running upon
sand banks, and passing as well as being
passed by the Amos Hayes. 1 amused
myself by counting the skeletons of boats
hat had sunk at high water many years
before, but these frames, resembling
)leached skeletons, make the bed of the
liver resemble the path used by the cara
7ans crossing the African desert.
The scenery along the Flint river is as
beautiful as that of the ChattahoOchee,
)ut one tires of river scenery after having
nothing else for two days, and l was we'll
satisfied when the ThOrnateeska reached
Ter wharf at cambridge. SNAP.
How Napoleon Met Eugene.