The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-03
FLORIDA NOTES.
DOWN THE RAGING APALACHI-
COLA RIVER.

4 Stormy Night Dangerous Naviga-
ton -Moccas!n Slough Confederate
River Decentralization and When
They Were Placed-Cotton Trees
Growing in the Channel--Cutting the
SIough-G Government Aid Needed
Justice to Apalachicola Capt.
1apham- The Southern Eotel--Sun-
day in Apa!achicola--Old Apalachi-
cola--Eer Past Proud History-Rise
and Decline--Recen New Departure
Oyster and Fish Trade-Other In
dustries - Prospective Railroads &C.,
Statistics Sponge and Fish
Traffic - The Fish King Oyster
Freights-H, E. Grady--The Town on
the "LJp Grade"-Return Trip-Steam-
er Thronateska-A Mighty Hunter
1t was raining in torrents and bitter cold
when the omnibus left the Crawford House
in Columbia, Ala, to meet the steamer from
above at the Wretched hour of a. m. The
river was distant one mile, aud the road al
most impossible in the thick darkness. Mar
rowly escaping an upset once the landing
was reached, however, in safety, and after
tedious delay in the pitiless rain the boat,
which proved to be the
FANNIE FEARN,
hove in view, her brilliant electric lights
fairly Illuminating the swift-howing water
for hundreds of feet III all directions This
steamer has the largest carrying capacity
of any on the Peoples Line" and is ably
commanded by Capt. T. A. Marc, UNI, as
sisted in the clerks Office by Barton Eber-
hardt. Luckily there was no fog, and de-
spite the darkness and tempestuous elements
we made satisfactory Roadway.
The navigation of the Chattahoochee and
Apalachicola rivers is by no means devoid
of danger, as is shown by the startling fact
thathO less than
THIRTY STEAMBOATS,
have been wrecked or sunk while plving
upon them Both rivers, which really form
but one continuous stream, are very crooked,
making sharp angles and in some places but
little more than 100 feet in width Dense
fogs also are frequent, during which to
move is impossible save at the imminent
risk of collisions, running aground, or be-
ing impaled upon snagS aud 'Sawyersn The
only safe course Is to ''tie up and wait pa
tiently until the vapors lift OF are dissipa-
ted by the suns rays.
THE FAMOUS MocCAsIN SLOUGH.
During the recent struggle for indepen-
dence the Confederate government effectu-
ally closed up what was known as the "Nir-
ginia Pass or Narr- ws, TWENTY-FIVE miles in
length, and only 200 feet wide II was done
by means of barges built at Columbus, Ga.
and 1oated down the river, These were
fitted with cribs of heavy crossed sills 10
inches in diameter and securely bolted to-
gether. Each barge was then drifted into
position, laden with rocks. and after having
neen firmly fastened with ships cables from
bank to bank 10 the trees on the shore, were
filled with water and sunk to the bottom Of
the channel. These barges remain intact to
the present day, and have so completely per-
formed their allotted task that now, in the
Narrowsn where there was once a depth of
over 20 feet of water, cotton trees are grow
ing in the middle of the old channel.
THESE distractions were laid Down by
Capt. W. J. McAllister in 1862, under the
direction OF Maj. Morens simultaneously,
IN order to keep the navigation open for the
use Of the Confederacy, the 'Moccasin
Slough, which Is only one-fourth of mile
IN length with an average width of 115 feet,
was cut by the government thus uniting
two bends of the river, one above and the
other below the Narrows Through this
cut communication was maintained with
Apalachcola, while if necessary to prevent
the progress of the Federal gunboats it
could be completely blocked in few hours
by filling across the canal immense cypress
trees which line either margin.
THE WHOLE RIVER
nearly has been diverted into this slough
Its depth ranges from II TO 10 feet In some
stages of the river it is difficult for boats TO
shoot" this narrow cut, and it is manifestlv
the duty of the United States government
either to remove the distractions and re-
store the original channel of the river or
cttff .
Apalachicola is destined to be the chief
outlet for cypress lumber in the Union, and
her extensive fisheries, isolated position and
the entire absence of railroad facilities,
ought to commend that port to the especial
consideration of Congress
The writer is indebted for the above facts
to the pilot of the Fannie Fearn, Capt
George l., Lapham, who was present. and
assisted In placing the river distractions
and IN the opening of the Slough He Is
pleasant, Intelligent gentleman and thor
oughly posted on river matters. In one
place he says the channel is 20 feet deep.
1t was about nightfall on a Saturday
evening that the staunch Fannie Fearn
mot Fern after stormy passage made fast
70 her pier at Apalachicola. The arrival of
a mail boat i'll that far off place is quite an
event, and the wharf was crowded with
citizens, sailors, merchants, laborerS and
porters, all anxious to hear the news from
the outer world, and receive tidings or
packages from their absent loved ones In
the throng | recognized Mr.. Cason, the
genial proprietor OF
THE SOUTHERN HOTEL,
and soon under his guidance was snugly
CHARTERED in that favorite Travellers
Rest and basking before ar open wood
hre Mine host keeps an excellent house,
and his guests are served with the finest oys-
tiers and fish i'll every style, prepared by a
veteran cook who understands his business
thoroughly, and other delicacies 1t was
delightful change from the terrible weather
ana rough experiences of the past week.
SABBATH SERVICES.
The nextd day your correspondent attended
religious worship in the morning at the
Episcopal church and listened to the first
discourse of the new rector, Rev. j. B. G.
beauvien, late of Leesburg, Fla, who was
compdgn0n d1t UOyGge on the boat. He
was suffering severely from catarrh but
preached good sermon, and is evidently a
most Jealous servant of God. His church
IS one OF the neateSt in Florida.
At night, in the Baptist church, Rev. j.
Cheves held forth to large and attentive
congregation. This gentleman, also fell
low passenger on the Fannie Fern, is
graduate of Mercer University and after
wards spent two years in German school
OF theology. He resides near Bainbridge
and supplies this and several Georgia