The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-11-12
An Historic Southern City.


For many years this city was noted for
I its intelligent and refined population. and
for its great wealth, says a Natchez.
Miss, correspondent OF the New York
Evening Post II furnished many historic
/ characters, state and national, and was
prompt to introduce important enter
! prises. In the height Of its prosperity the
city did not nRmber more than 400 IN
/ habitants, and the 'Natchez Hill. con-
I tiguous 10 the city, numbered about half
! that number.
/ Natchez was originally settled by some
/ Of the French nobility, who preferred the
high. rolling Natchez hills and their sa-
lubrious climate 10 the swamps where
( Bienyille had located New Orleans Here
they found a fertile country. adapted TO
B the production of cotton and indigo, and
/ they at once began the Importation OF
/ negroes from Africa and San Domingo.
( Here they found the powerful Natchez
| tribe of Indians, the most civilized OF the
southwest. The French erected stock
ade and called it Fort Resale. The gar
rison was murdered. and thus the first
chapter in the history OF Natchez was
written in blood, but finally the Indians
were exterminated by the French. The
city is l99 years old, and next year pro-
poses to celebrate its founding The
SpaniardS succeeded the French, and the
descendants OF the adventurous dons are
still living in the city. The "old govern
ment house and number OF their pal
aces still remain as landmarks OF Span
ish dominion
little more than a century ago came
the English pioneers from Virginia and
the Atlantic seaboard. As a class they
were intelligent. refined, and wealthy. and
-a1 y . h.
horrors OF the Revolutionary war. Some
had opposed the war from principle. But
among these there were comparatively
few Of the adventurous class. They were
as rule, men who were leaders, socially
and politically, in their own country, and
upon their arrival naturally took the lead
ership in affairs. Those who are accus-
toned to leadership imperceptibly come
to the front, no matter in what field they
may be, and those who know their own
incapacity as naturally make way for
their superiors. Thus the country be-
came peopled with French, Spanish. and
English aristocracy. all wealthy and ill.,
telligent. Their descendants intermar-
RED. and for succeeding generations have
lived upon the same magnificent planta-
tons, and in the same ancestral pal
aces in the city. For all these wealthy
planters had fine mansions in the city.
The descendants of these early settlers
have never emigrated, and consequently
the population of NatcheZ is less cosmo-
politan, perhaps, than that Of any other
city in the United States 1t now numbers
about 10,Oco-having increased 80 per cent
within the last generation.
The adjacent country is picturesque in
hills and beautiful dales covered with lux
nd nv +
tie streams. This fertile country extends
for twelve or fifteen miles back Of
Natchez and up and down the river, with
the magnificent Mississippi before it,
about 200 feet below the city. The rich
settlers obtained generous grants of land,
and consequently there were few poor
people or small planters in the country.
Their plantation residences were built on
the colonial plan of the Southern type
wide verandas, spacious rooms, high cell
ings, and white Corinthian pillars. These
spacious mansions so dotted the country
as to give it the appearance of a village.
1t was the custom TO give to each plan
tation a name-historic, romantic, or po-
etic, according to the fancy of the propri-
etor. The mansions, as a rule, were
models of architecture, and were sur
rounded by gardens and groves of the
rarest flowers and prettiest trees native
TO this balmy cline. Landscape garden
ers were brought from England to de-
sign and ornament the grounds, which
were the delight OF the planters. For
their city houses they imported the fur
niture, chandeliers, table ware, choice
wines, and libraries from Europe. I'm
bounded hospitality reigned. and guests
were invited to the country-seats IN the
en-, xuhara hunting narffaa
were inaugurated and continued for
weeks.
Lafayette Bertrand, and Chataubriand
were some of the distinguished French
visitors who were entertained by the early
Natchez settlers at their hospitable man
sions. In his descriptions of the beauti-
full scenery Chateaubriand paints a
charming picture in his ''Natchez" and
Rene" Clay and Webster were the
most distinguished of the American VS.
itors.
The first college in the Southwest, JEFF
ferson College. was established at Wash
ington, a village six miles above Natchez.
Professors were brought from the North,
and here were educated the children OF
this wealthy region. Many of the most
wealthy, however had private tutors
Among these tutors was a young man
from the North, named Prentiss, who
came without money and without letters
OF introduction. In a few years he be-
came a leading lawyer, and was sent
20 the United States senate. S. 5. Prem
tiss was perhaps the most brilliant mem
Der OF the United States senate. even in
those days OF intellectual giants. His re-
mains lie in a neglected grave in the
Prentiss burying ground. at "Longwood. J."
he ffre+
capital Of this territory and II was there
that Aaron Burr was first held for trial.
He had been arrested few miles below,
al Bruensburg, where. half a century la
ter, the Union army crossed IN the flank
movement on Nicksburg. Andrew Jack
son, afterwards odd Hickory" owned
an undivided interest" in a general
store" at Bruensburg az the time. and
was supposed to be operating with Burr.
During the first half Of this century
NatCheZ was the largest and most pros
porous town n the state. Her merchants
established cotton congresses, and char
tered a line OF sailing-vessels for the
Shipment OF cotton 20 the East and 70
English ports. The first steamer to nayi-
gate the Mississippi from New Orleans 20
this place was named the Nstchez. and
there have been as many as six sailing
vessels at this port AZ one Tune ioadinS
with cotton for European ports. The
merchants accumulated colossal fortunes,
and lived in royal splendor. Their fami-
lies yearly visited the Eastern cities, and
occasionally crossed over 70 the other
side" which was a great event in those
days. About the time OF the invention OF
the railroad. Natchez took thu lead, or
was among the first IN IS3s hve-foot-
gauge railroad was built from Nstchsz
10 Jackson. distance Of forty miles. Il
was built on level grade. as It was not
believed that a steam engine could go
IN hill TIE next Tear q smau narrnE-