Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-28
ON THE ALTAMAHA.
Interesting sights and Scenes Along the
River


LUMBER CITY, GA. April 25.-Here we
are. and know no one knows how we got
here; but we win try and tell both how we
got here and what we saw on our way.
We left Doctortown on the steamer North
state, Capt. B. Mobley, loaded down with
freight for the up-country, such as corn,
hay, bacon. ETC.. on Tuesday at 3 o'clock
sharp, which is the regular schedule time
Of this boat, which is something new on
this river. 1. G., regular time.
Our first halt was for wood, and TO one
who has never seen q river steamer take
on this indispensable article IL would truly
be a novel sight The mate aboard re-
ceiyes it by hand as it comes from ashore
hand 10 hand. and before you are aware
we have seven cords aboard. Beng
wooded. away we went for our lay over
for the night This is a grand river, fully
entitled 10 be called a brother to the
great Mississippi. Fed by the Geo
nee and OcmulCee. the Altama-
ha river spreads herself over miles and
especially Just -ROw, for there Is
tremendous freshet in both her branches.
Down this river there Is brought TO market
millions Of feet Of timber. both sawn and
rough, which finds ready sale at Doctor
town and Darien. Hello! here we are at
our lay over for the night-W ater's Road.
We thought. when hearing Of our intended
stoppage. of going ashore and giving our
limbs a little stretch thereon. But the
shore was gone. Water, water every
where-not one dust of earth to see-sO
we were disappointed. We put two saw
mill men in nat with their mules, who
no doubt were looking after mill timber
in this back country, who, with the as
sistance of two wiry-looking backwOods-
men, worked their way to terra .frmG. l
forgot to mention that we passed on our
way 10 this place OglethOrpe Bluff, which
towers above the river some 70 or so feet;
then Boards Bluff, at which place
Boards Greek flows into the
Altamaha. This creek, by the way, is
used BY raftsmen for floating timber
and l understand that some of the largest
and best hewn timber that our Darien
friends get come down this creek. Were
the beautiful scenery of this noble river
known, | doubt not but our Northern
friends would try a trip now that the run
from railroad to railroad is made so easy
and on such steamers. Daylight and we
are off for the OhOOpee White Bluf-not
much white, rather yellOw-and after a
short run Of two hours we have the OhOo-
pee river, that Is, its mouth. This is an
other timber stream that p0urs its millions
Of feet Of timber into the buyers pockets
Of Darien. Well, here we are at the Hoo
pee Bluff; well, we are greeted by our
friend NJ. d. Macarthur, Esq, large real
estate owner Of old Tattnall county, who
opened up the Inequalities of his house
and all to US, which we were sorry to de-
cline then, but promised to return and par
take of the same. This being the first
regular stop for freight delivery, in a
short while we discharged carload of
corn, bacon and such stuff, consigned
to the county merchants some ten to
twenty-five miles away. j would drop
word, right here, in praise of Capt. Mob
lev and his able assistant, Purser A. w.
Stripping, for by this time we had a good
chance Of judging Of their management Of
freight, which was excellent, and all those
who intrust their freight to the noble little
steamer "NOrth State" and Capt. MObley.
may rest assured that it will 20 safe and
be delivered promptly. The whistle
blows, the line is let 90 and we make for
Gray's Landing, where we arrive on
schedule time. At this place Mr.. Harry
Mann runs a turpentine still and saw
mill. Quite a settlement has sprung up
here. Here we discharged corn and
bacon; here / made some inquiry about
the general outlook for the farmers for
this year, and learned that everything was
in a most promising condition, corn all
planted and sided out, his cotton up, and
a promise Of plenty.
Between here and Lumber City we
passed the turpentine farm Of Messrs.
Coleman g. s., the Red Bluff saw mills and
Cedar Bluff, so-called from its beautiful
groves Of cedars. At this place is a de-
serted old mill, which has done its best
and been dropped. At Gray Landing our
jovial old friend, Mr.. Shelf. S., and wife
came aboard, by which addition our party
was greatly benefited. At last the rail-
road bridge comes in sight, and our oblig-
4 r.,
nOuncing his intention of landing us on
the station side in his lifeboat, which was
safely done; and, after hearty shake Of
the hand, we babe Capt. Bird NJ. goodbye,
and upon comparing notes we pronounced
our short trip of day and half as one
OF the most pleasant we had ever made.
ZIMMERMAN.