The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1905-07-08

Cuba, but not before he had demon
strated the efficiency Of his method OF
street cleaning and succeeded IN secur-
ing it's adoption. The Havana white
wings and their excellent service al.
ford striking demonstration Of how
far-reaching may be the work OF one
man.
Many Havana houses are OF enor-
nous size and cost immense fortunes.
Some of the finest are on the Prado,
the Paseo de Tacon, and in the Jesus
del Monte and Cerro sections, but
Havana has no exclusive residence
district. It is one Of the anomalies
th at costly house and a carpenter
shop, rich mans mansion and
shoemaker's howell may be cheek by
jowl in any part of the city.
HoMEWARD VOYAGE.
At O'Clock p. N. the editors as
sembled at the Machina wharf and
were transported in the Morgan tender
Cuba to the Excelsior, which was still
surrounded by q feet of lighters and
smaller craft. The work Of taking on
a cargo was not finished until
O'Clock, at which time the Excelsior
had been loaded with 1000 crates OF
pineapples, which was the largest
shipment of this fruit made from CUBA
during the present season. At a few
minutes after the last of the white
CARRIED officials left the steamer, the
lighters hoisted sail and slipped
quietly away to their landings, the m am
moth anchor was weighed, and with
prolonged blast OF her hoarse whistle
the Excelsior bid farewell to the de-
lighttuI Cuban capital and turned her
nose to the open sea-and America.
AS the deep thro bling under foot told
that the steamers powerful engines
were setting in motion the tireless ma
chinery which would enable the Tx
celsior to put behind her the many
weary miles across the trackless sea,
u I came an echoing throb in the
l. al OF each and every one OF the
j. eyed but infinitely happy editors
"a throb that was partly due to gem
uine regret at leaving the dear, quaint
old city where each had spent such
delightful hours, but when had for a
deeper cause the thought tn at they were
bound for the glorious land OF the
stars and stripes, for the land OF the
free and the braye-for home, sweet
home.
The colors of sea and land and
tinted houses, with the moss-grown
forts and waving palms, created an
effect which is striking at any time OF
the day, but which was particularly
enchanting as the Excelsior slowly
glided out Of the harbor of Havana
just as the shadows of twilight were
creeping over the city. The long line of
electric lights on the water front were
reflected from the water in quivering
bands and bars of radiance, the lights
OF the electric cars were seen creeping
slowly along the distant heights, and
the lantern of the Moro glowed and
dimmed and glowed again, like gil
gantic white handkerchief being waved
in farewell to the departing and home
ward bound strangers.
Soon the lights of Havana sank be-
meath the water, the Moro lantern
flashed one last goodbye and disap-
peared, and the Excelsior was alone
upon the broad, blue ocean, with the
glittering southern cross lighting up
the sky on the port bow and the faith
full north star beaming ahead like q
beacon fire to guide the solitary ship
on her homeward voyage. AS on the
trip over, beautiful weather was expe-
rienced all the way back, and not an
untoward incident occurred to mar the
perfect pleasure Of the voyage. The
mouth of the grand old Mississippi
was reached at noon Thursday, June
/, and ten hours later the Excelsior
slowly foated in to her pier at New
Orleans, bringing to an end one OF
the most delightful, successful and in
teresting excursions ever enjoyed by
the Louisiana Press Association ut
the conclusion of an annual conven-
tion Of that body.
Too much praise cannot be accorded
MAORI. nj. Lee, Jr., Major Gabe Fileul
and the other officials of the Southern
Pacific Company who made it possible
for the Louisiana editors to enjoy the
trip and who afforded the party every
comfort and convenience that could
be desired. The service on the Ex-
celsior was absolutely perfect, the
accommod atoms left nothing to be
wished for, and everything that could
possibly be done to add to. the pleas
ure and enjoyment of the excursionists
was provided with a lavish hand and
in most cordial manner. The Ex-
celsior was under the command of
Captain William Hopner, with John
Nelson and Frederick Rupercht as
first and second officers, respectively
The other officers OF the ship were as
follows: Geo. U1rich Chalaron, pur-
ser; John Curry, chief engineer; John
Boudreaux, first assistant; Emile
Flogle, second assistant; VIM. Dunn,
third assistant; Alex. Washington,
colored, steward: John Holmes. col
ored, second steward; Mrs. Zoo
Booth, stewardess; John May and
Frederick Sutherland, quartermasters