The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1891-07-28
WAY DOWN IN DIXIE.
A Descriptive Letter from the
Land of the Sun.
Kissed South.
4 Pleasant RiHe on the Father
OF Waters-Aemphis' Pref
~ Girls-HceDes and
Incidents.

Memphis, Tenn, July 81. ESpec-
ial Correspondence. l. arrived in
Memphis one week ago to-day, direct
from Old Missouri, ard have put in
the time in seeing everything Of i'm
portance in this, the second city of
the South. Memphis is a modern city
(thst is in the estimation of it's inhab-
tsn's.) the principal buildings are
the Custom House, situated on the
bluff, from which, one has beauti-
full uiew up and down the Mississippi
river, adjoining the Custom House is
q quarter million dollars library
building, considered to be the finest
in the South. The Gayoso is the
Oldest and leading hotel. This is the
hotel in which a noted actress was
robbed Of her diamonds several years
ago. The Peabody, GastoD's,
Luehrman's and Fransioli are also
leading hostelries. Occupying block
on the principal streets Of the city is
a public park filed with squirrels, is
is also q favorite trys ing place for
young lovers of the Bluff City. Men,
phis is noted for its handsome and
wealthy young ladies'. many Of whom
during the summer months
become the reign ng bellies at
the leading eastern seaside resorts.
The bulk Of Memphis business which
is furnishing planters with supplies
and the handling of cotton, cotton
seed, etc, is transported by river.
She ranks seconi as cotton market
and first as q supply market. For the
crushing of seed She has FIVE mills,
running night aud day for eight
months of the year.-Memphis is s.,
well known that it will be useless for
me to dwell further ON her wonderful
resources. After doing Memphis l
engaged passage Oh the old race horse
steamer, James Lee, one Of the fas:-
est boats on the Mississippi, for
round trip, & ing as far as Friar's
Point, Mississippi. The james Lee is
one of the celebrated Lee Line steam.
ers, founded by that old time and
well known steamboat man. Capt.
James Lee. better known as Jim Lee,
one of the best story tellers that ever
commanded boat. The line is now
controlled by his sons, Captains Robt.
and James Lee Jr., and consists
of FIVE handsome steamers.
The james Lee is in charge Of Capt
E. 7. Claggatt, most genial and
efficient commander. of the old school.
We left Memphis at FIVE p. M, in a
few moments passed between piers of
the new bridge and left the city far
behind. then began to look my
fellow-passengers over, with a view of
striking up q conversation with one
or more of them, and was successful
in making the acquaintance Of Col.
VIM. DickersoD, through the courtesy
of Capt. Claggatt. Col. Dickerson is
owner of the "Elkhorn Plantation"
situated in Coahoma county, ten miles
from Friar's Point, and is one Of the
largest and best equipped plantations
in the state. The Colonel is man of
about forty, and typical southerner
with plenty of what l call "good
sound sense" He gave q very press
ing invitation to visit "Elkhorn.
which / promised to do in the near
future. We took supper together
in the capacious cabin and an excel.
lent meal it was. The Lee Line be-
ing noted for its excellence Of cuisine
of their boats. Oul first landing was
male at Peters Island, where we de-
posted a very large amount Of grain
and supplies. This is one of the fin-
est plantations in Arkansas and is the
property of Attorney General Peters,
Of Memphis We then crossed the
river and landed at Wilson's, Miss.
then back to Whitehead, Ark and
kept crossing and recrossing near up
to eleven O'Clock when / turned in, it
being so dark that / could not obtain
a view of the country which We were
passing. Iawoke Al six q. NJ, after
q good nights rest and found the
boat lying at Austin, Miss, discharg-
ind an immense amount of grain,
groceries, lumber, etc. Austin is q
very quiet little village consisting Of
half q dozen buildings. quite unknown
to the outside world until the Spring
Of 1890, when it came into promi.
nence by the breaking of the levee
Immediately below the villsge, dur
ing the high water Of that
wear. This break caused
the surrounding country, to be over
flowing and wrecked devastation to
evervfhinD in ifs nafh. 0ur next