St. Landry democrat., 1893-08-05
A CRUISE EN- THE GULF.

! On July 18th party consisting OF Dr. 4. J.
| Bercier and Chas Petterkorn, of Opelousas, and
| F. NJ. Dumartrait and son DoIphy, Of Jeane-
rette, left for a cruise in Vernilon bay. They
| returned Oh the 22d.
Arrived at Cote Blanche we chartered a sal |
boat from Mr.. TaGuuo. His two SONS manned
the boat. Two better boys never met they
neither drink nor use tobacco, but they made
up their share of the fun with their witty Jokes
We visited the Hammocks, and remained
there two days and nights Thence we sailed
to Avery's Island, Reddish Point, Southwest
Pass, Shell Reef, and Birds Island. We had
more sheephead, croakers, drums, founders,
mullets, Jacktish, turtles, shrimp, crabs and
oysters than we could destroy: i'll fact, when
ever we hauled the seine we caught more fish
than it would take to supply the Opelousas.
market. The ballny breeze Of the Gulf so in
vlgOrated our lungs that you could hear so
small man as Petf sing tive miles off, and the
| effect of the salt water on our skin enabled lis
arms, with the hand. The mosquitoes were not
bad on the water, but the two nights we spent
at the Hammocks they entertained lis royalty.
They were not small, cadayerous looking ones
like We have, but they are stout, robust and
lOng-legged, with great leverage, and driving
power, and sufficient in number to build fort.
The first night Pef swOre vengeance against a
certain mosquito and pursued him with a light
ed candle, and he swears that when that mos
quito made his exit through the door he struck
the doorframe with SUCH force that he broke
his leg.
Our cook, Arthur, was a dandy at sea, and
every time he caught tine sea crab or a shark,
Or something unusual would happen, he would
say, 81 am gwine to tell my honey dis too when
/ gets home.' One day he let the butter get
misplaced, and Dumartrait told him it had been
"a good while since he had killed Niger" and
if that butter wasn't found he would be the
next victim. Arthur hunted in vain, and while
he was hunting the boat was sailing in feet
water, when unexpectedly Dumartrat seized
him by the back OF the neck and seat of his
pants and threw him overheard AS soon as
he recovered his feet and got his senses he re
marked, 81 amt gwne to tell my honey dis,
but gWIne to verse it and say Hinged some
udder feler over
Our last night was spent at Mr.. Taquino's
He has two lovely daughters and four SONS, and
including the cid lady and old gentleman there
never lived d happier and more Jolly family
The girls are both natural musicians, and after
partaking of fine fish supper we sat in rockers
on the front gallery, breathing the balmy gulf
breeze, enjoying one of Peff's Havanas and lis
tening TO sweet music executed by the fair
damsels. Next in order was dance-the Ian
cers-in which we were one girl short. An
apron and sun-bonnet were soon adjusted to
Peh, and he became tie happy partner of Mr.
Alexis TaquinO. The dance was kept up for
one hour, when singing was in order, and it was
settled that Bercer would sing first, which he
did, but not before the front gate was opened
and pannel of fence knocked down, for he
knew they would all Want to leave at once.
Pef's and Franks melOdiOus voices were soon
opened up and it was not many niputes before
even the mosquitoes lit ont.
In conclusion. Mr. Editor, We had a grand
tine, and right here we desire to express our
heartfelt thanks to Mr.. J. 3. Brown, a success
full and well known sugar planter near Cote
Blanche, for fayors rendered. Any man who
will send q sack OF ice by anegrO, in Il cart,
with s25O.00 mule, to d lot of strangers lex
cepting Dumartrait, eighteen miles through
woods and sea marsh, in the month of July, and
send word with it that if needed more to
make it known, is phianthropist in the true
sense OF the term and a new friend who shall
debted to Mr.. and Mrs. Taquino and their open
hearted little family for courtesies, and sin
cerely hope that when We visit the briny wa
tiers again they may still be found reignng on
its banks, with as much sunshine and happi-
ness as when we last saw them, x