Wichita eagle., 1886-08-19
OUT IN THE MARSHES.

w In I'LL MANOIlLO.
1t was like drifting along the shores o
the lotus-eaters land, SO deliciously soft wa
! the atmosphere and dreamy the landscape
The surroundings seemed to lack some o.
| the qualities of reality, they were SO pc
culiar, and recalled a similarity to thos,
dinly formed conceptions one receives
when in half doze into which real sounds
and real subjects creep and conform them
selves to the theme of the misty dream
Besides ourselves there was no animate OBJ
ject in sight, nor the sign of a human habi
tation. Far as the eye could see there
stretched away the vast expanse Of sea
marsh covered with tall rush like grasses
with here and there islands in sea of yer.
dure, clumps Of live oaks, called chenieres
rising in dark outlines against the distant
horizon. The gulf of Mexico washed the
very roots of the reeds, and all along the
coast made little indentations or bays into
the edge OF the luxuriant heritage. The
water that seemed to glide under our keel
without even a gurgle, was of light lilac,
and the faint southeast wind was not suffi-
Gent to break the perfect smoothness of its
surface In remarkable duplication the
fected in the water, and the lazy white
clouds overhead were followed by sister
argosies of like soft outline down in the
watery empyrean that lay below.
On our port bow, asleep in the MONDAY
sun, its sands tremulous under the summers
heat, lay Grand Terre, Lafitte's island,
where he and his fellow smugglers for years
piled their profitable trade. Ahead and to
starboard opened up Barataria bay. There
was somnolence in the air, and as we looked
out over the side of the little Italian lugger
the perfect quiescence of the picture seemed
to repress any desire to Lreak the silence,
even by word. Far ashore across the
marches hung a small cloud of smoke and
dependent from it dark gray gossamer
film reaching to the earth like a strand Of
wool from the black fleece floating above.
1t marked the monday meal preparing in
some lone settlers hut in a distant chen.
iere
The excursion was one of exploration in
the inlets and bays lying along the coast OF
Louisiana to the westward of the mouth OF
the Mississippi river, and an artist and q
Journalist were the only yoyagers \ lug
ger such as brings most Of the oysters to
the New Orleans market was chartered for
the cruise, and the two navigators launched
out with an ample supply of charts and
provender seeking the picturesque and curl
on.
About o'clock a brisk wind came out
from the south southwest. and with the
sheet trimmed well aft the lugger went
bounding along up Barataria bay. Just
before SHUTDOWN a she'll bank was sighted on
the starboard bow lying close to the edge
of the marsh, and thriving on it grove of
stately live oaks. 1t was proposed 70 camp
here for the night, and SO the helm was put
UP and a run made for ii. Approaching it
one could hardly believe that the grove had
not been planted by man. The great trees
formed three sides Of a square about fifty
yards across. with the waters of the bay for
the front Clusters of oleander grew near
the edge of the water, and the regularity of
the trees and the gradual slope of the shelly
shore seemed to point TO artificial arrange
ment.
sheltered beneath one OF the largest oaks
and standing about fifty feet from the water
a largo palmetto hut came into view as the
cheniere was reached Standing in front OF
it was tall athletic looking man OF about
IS, with long flowing locks of jet-black
hair and beard fully two feet in length
He appeared to be a magnificent specimen
OF the genus homo and a titting attribute 10
the scene OF which he formed a part
The lugger was run toward the bank
when one OF the party leapad out and waded
ashore with the anchor and cable The
master OF the place stepped forward aud ex-
tended welcome in good English; the pro-
nounciation, however, was strongly marked
by Q French accent After some converse
ton, at MS invitation enough stores for the
night were carried up to his primitive lodge,
and the lugger made secure in case heavy
blow should come on
The hu. was somewhat aristocratic Tor
that part of the coast, for it boaSted of two
rooms about ten fee. square. 1t had
frame made of odd bits of wreckaga and
was covered with a number Of layers OF
palmetto leaves the same material forming
its sides \ number OF pirogues or dug-outs
lay on the shells back of the hut and three
solemn looking water spanieis were asleep
near them From tree to tree near the
cabin a small meshed shrimp seine Vas
hanging, and just beyon the irclosure
made by the seine stood q large pile Of fire
wood, composed of pieces OF old timber that
had fioated ashore and other jetSam picked
Up along the edge OF the hay \ TIRE was
burning before the entrance OF the cabin
and, as evening was stealing CT prepara-
lions were made for supper
Up to this time the conversation had
been on commonplace topics only, and in
Quiries made and answered relative TO dis.
tances to certain points, fishing. etc After
supper, when an ad journment was made in
side, 1t was seen at once that the proprietor
was no ordinary individual A large shelf
extended across one side Of the little room