The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1898-04-15

gsther at the hotel. After listen
ing TO some sweet strains OF music
from an italian string-band we
sought our rooms and soon were
sound asleep. AMI such sound,
sweet sleeP,one seldom experiences.
Weary In both body and mind, We
had no time for dreams.
Next morning Al about 4 80 Jack
was out and rapping loudly at the
doors 10 wake the other boys. He
called until he got them good wake
and then told them that Richmond
must BE- evacuated at once, that we
had only few moments TO get 10
the train. Now there was hustling,
Is minutes we had in which 10 dress
and walk (run) to she depot blocks
away. But we were on time and
got seats, Notwithstanding the city
turned out en- mssse, il seemed and
began rapidly To MI the coaches. II
is said that ten thousand went out
Of Richmond TO see the launching
of the Kentucky and the Kearsage.
We arrived at Newport News at
about I 20 a. m, without accident
or anything much OF interest, ex-
eept that We noted that the James
river just below Richmond Is about
the size Of Big Sandy, just below
Louisa.
Also, we noticed how level the
land lies down the James river, to
the bay, and how poor it l., too.
Nearly any Of the land on Big San
dy, even the poorest, l. rich in com !
parisOn. They try to farm there.
but an old gentleman who lives in
Richmond. told me that that land
will hardly produce anything.
We passed the site, but not IN
In sight OF, the old historic James
town, OF Capt John Smith and Po-
cahontas memory. We may have
passed over ground where Captain
Smith hunted, and where he was
once captured by the Indians.
AtNewpOrt News We sought first
our breakfast, and second, a shave,
Us cents, please. Then We were
ready for the launching.
weapPointed, by general consent
the {. a q. depot as our rendezvous
and then We proceeded promptly
to fail to meet 30 as TO go together,
and all got lost, lost TO each other.
but the KeArssge and Kentucky
weie in sight from the depot and
all got to them at the right time.
The Kearsage stepped into the sea
first. This was at about 10 O'Clock,
am. Tie Kentucky was next
and went down the creased way
at about IL 40 a. m.
Heaps OF people saw them. Well,
should say so. Some say 25,OOO,
some one put It at 1000, but per-
haps $1,000 is sbJut right
When the Kentucky was being
let dewn on to the way, PreparstO-
~ 70 lettirg her slip into the wa
ter, Dick. Jim and Abe were down
near the water among the masses
OF the people and where they could
see the whiskey bottles smashed
against her sides by some Kentucky
boys.
Pete was up on the platform near
the bow Of the ship where; Cover
nor Bradley and daughter, and the
the Governors staff and the rest Of
his party were awaiting the start
Ing % the vessel 50 Miss Christina
could break the bottle OF water oyer
her bow. Jack was up on a plat
form near by, watching. kodak in
hand 10 catch the monster as she
started seaward. and Miss Bradley
in the act Of breaking the bottle.
The ship started, the bottle was
thrown by Miss Bradley, it struck,
ii broke, the snapshot was taken,
the whiskey bottles were thrown.
they, also were broken, the whisky
rained down, the ship glided on, In
10 the water she went. all was =
success and the people shouted,
shouted, hallOOed, hallOOed, yelled.
screamed, reared. And then all
was over and the people began t.
disperSe. Pete.