The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-15

will be enough of the ola left to tell the
stranger within her gates OF Paducahs
old-time grandeur.
As &c grows into a mature stream the
Tennessee river loses the frolicsOme pro-
clivities of It's earlier miles and flows quiet
ly down its course. But 1t Is not sad In its
quIotness, for it's banks are gay with wild
flowers. and the dark green of holly and
mIstletoe accent the lighter green of the
trees n long its banks. and over the Indian
mounds on its shores .he fox. and, coon,
anu 'possum wander, with now and then a
deer. On the upper part or the river farms
and clearings are more numerous than near
it's mouth. The heavily wooded shores are
more frequently broken by landings, midi
Gated by more or less aintly-marked
path up the bank, and a building for the
storage OF freight; or there may be nothing
moro than a break in the line of under
growth. The whistle of the boat may
bring 10 the landing dozen men. women
and childreD; or. perhaps. no one responds
TO the call and the freight is left or taken
on and the boat proceeds. Now and then a
postmaster gallops down TO meet the
boat. the mall-nouch strapped behind
him TO be exchanged for one carried by
the boat. Mail-landings are frequent
along the Tennessee. At one point two
are but three hundred yards apart The
mail contract with the government allows
the establishment OF nanv offices as the
Postoffce Department may locate. and at
each a stop Is necessary on each trip of the
boat To secure the establishment of q
post0ftice, with the not very remunerative
office of postmaster thereof. is not diff
cult matter IL ones neigh bors VIII Join in q
petition. That done. be the landing diff
cult or easy. the weather foggy or clear,
windy or calm. no matter how the eddies
may twist and twirl her. the boat points
her nose ashore and tho mall-bags come
and go.
A CHASTITY SADDLE CALL"
The landings on the Tennessee never
weary the traveller by their monotony.
There are but :wo wharf boats in all the
2G5 miles of river between Waterloo, Ala.
and Paducah. At Britt's Landing the
shore Is rather low. At North Carolina
Landing there is a steep bank to climb. At
Cerro Gordo one steps from the boat on to
the solid rocks. AT Clifton the traveller
debarks In red clay. At Savannah the
shore Is stony. At Densou's Landing there
10 not n stone to be seen. AZ Crump's
Landing. as at many others, the boat
pokes her bow among the trees and bushes
that line the banks. and one can step from
q steamer into the shade of tho forest. To
tho rank outsider there Is little in the APP
pearance OF the Tennessee river landings
TO suggest many of their names Why
Grab Dog Landing is so called history
does not tell Nor is the derivation of
M0usetaIl known. On the other hand.
Rard-times Landing does not belle
It's name. even 10 the casual OBJ
server. Captain McNechan says-and
the Captains tales import verlty-that
North Carolina Landing was named IN the
following wise: Two famous marble-pIay-
ers of North Carolina agreed TO play n
match game. The first shot. then the sec
ond shot. aud 50 they proceeded in a west
erly direction across rivers and over
mountains. each shooting in turn until one
of them in shooting across the Tennessee
river missed his play. So they had dinner
there and the landing was named after
their native State.
Fort Henry. on the east bank of the river,
has lost nearly all sem blancs of a fort since
the day In February. 1st:9. when Flag-ofIi-
Ger Foote's gun boats forced its surrender.
As we steamed by 10 one evening the Cap
tain tnrned the large electric ssarch light
upon the steamers bow so that its rays fell
upon the bank ano pointed out the location
OF the tort.
There 10 . story" he said, that some
times on still night yea can hear the