The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-08-09
FLOATING PALACES OF THE
 ALABAMA IN EARLIER DAYS

The following is the second of the series of articles entitled 'The Floating Palaces of the Alabama or de Good old Times in Dixie,' written years ago by the late Judge Fleetwood Foster, who for years was editor of the Wilcox Banner The story follows:
 With the close of our first chapter upon this fascinating theme we gave a promise to continue it and hope to produce a trustworthy sketch of the eventful careers of many famous officers, and in order to interest the present generation we will try and recall some of the lady passengers who made annual pilgrimages to the old city by the sea-women who were love- ly attractive and wealthy, living as they did in the elevating atmosphere of those
 good times-and who are now the moth CTS and grandmothers of many then sun- born.
 Having mentioned Jesse J. Cox as the prince of captains, it would be very re- miss not to include his charming wife and their interesting children, who were fre- quently aboard his elegant packets The Cox residence was at Cottage Bluff, a picturesque point just below Montgomery and on the same side of the river, and here everything was in keeping with the beautiful surroundings. With a salary of s10,000 per annum, the captain found little trouble in keeping the wolf from the door and the Dispatch Line thought his services cheap at that fgure-especially when coupled as running mate with that most popular of all clerks Charlie Locklin.
 Our first introduction to the tender J1o, y-t f,f (@or fatr it was pleasure to listen and whose fas- cinating manners won him, scores of friends-came about by reason of a sad little incident. On board his beautiful steamer, where the calliope, under the slxillful touch of Professor Funk, was sending forth sweet strains, the gang plank was about to be hauled in and the lines cast off, when there dashed in sight a carriage containing a young couple. On the front seat rested white casket, con tainfng the form of their only little one. There was a rule among boatmen that the body of a white person should be carried on the deck just under and aft of the ladies cabin--a place reserved for the tried and trusted servants who usually ac- companied their owners. To this place the young mother, with tears, objected and Captain Cox, observing some trouble came from the upper deck and approached the distressed woman, who implored him not to separate her from her baby-where | it was there she must be also. Turning to ene of the cabin boys the captain said. order the chambermaid to prepare a stateroom in the ladies' cabin for this lit- tie one Under these circumstances we
 have no rules And he himself assisted the bereaved mother up the narrow stair way. Throughout his captaincy he was ever the thoughtful, gentle officer Brag
 nor bluster had no companionship with him. I afterward learned that the young couple above referred to were strangers to him.
 After the late war. in which he bore a conspicuous part as captain of calvary. he labored to restore his famous line. and while undergoing great physical strain in his efforts to raise sunlxen steamer during fearful spell of weather. he con tracted pneumonia and died in the citv of Mobile berore his wife and children could reach his bedside.
 That his was not in later years the gentle character that we knew before the war, we can only offer the exc,,se that may apply to many who have siYnila .lv erred, and we ask the reader to consjd or the great change that the south under went-ma gnihcent estates swept away. great corporations swamped and the pride or the rivers gone, and only tramp steam CTS swarming from the western rivers. which like the carpet baggers sought the spells and departed herewith: Jesse Cor died as nearly all of his fraternitv ba d done. poor, after making fortunes and never has there been fraternity more given to charity. from the earliest down to the! present day.
 Capt. Bob Otis was in nearly every way tne reverse of Captain Cox. Starting