The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1914-11-15
Ante-Bellum Floating Palaces
of the Alabama River and the
Good Old Times In Dixie
No. Ia

In the fall OF 1876. finding the steam
ship Alabama plying between Mobile and
New Orleans, via the Mississippi. and
never having approached the Crescent
City by that route. though often desir-
ing to see the grand country lying below
that city, we took passage with the ul-
innate purpose OF interviewing the veteran
John Duncan In the interest Of heirs OF
Texas lands, ceied to Mr. Daniel Fowler
a brother-in-iaw of Captain Duncan, and
the father-in-law of the writer. Captain
Duncan is said to have commanded the
nrst steamboat that ever piled the rivers
Of Alabama
Leaving Mobile, we reached the many
outlets ot the great "Father of Waters
at an hour which afforded us full view
of this magnificent opening, and some
four or nve miles out from land we met
the murixy waters of the great stream as
It mingled with the deep blue waves of
the guh, a line as distinctly marked as
where the shore meets the river. We
there beheld the black Jumps that rise
and disappear with the force Of currents,
and they are the dread of all pilots, en-
tering or leaving. These humps form In 30
or 10 feet of water often rising some
four or five feet above the surface: are
as soft and slick as velvet and as black
as the ace of spades" A vessel can
plough through them at moderate rate,
but win receive quite a shock II run
against them at top speed.
The jetties, the work of Captain Fades,
are too well known to require descrip-
- -
forts of this yreat engineer have saved
the commerce of our greatest southern
city, for where vessels usually went fast
In IA and 16 feet of water they now sail
over % or 30 feet,
The lands on either side for 10 miles
up to tho city are as level as a billiard
table, and levees are built to the very
mouth for protection. Great sugar mills
dot the lands as far as the eye can
reach; cane was just ready for cutting
and orange orchards spread out before
us, one in particular We were about 30
minutes in passing, the trees set out with
such regularity as to resemble a well
kept garden.
The steamer maGc several landings and
with much surprise we saw as healthy
looking women as are to be found in
the mountains of Alabama We passed
through a territory of only 100 miles,
lying on both sides of the river, but
capable of sustaining the commerce of
city with its produce of sugar, molasses
rice and fruits
Landing at the city wharf just before
sunset, we spent the night there and
early next morning crossed the river
and took the train for Morgan City, pass
ing through fine territory for more than
SO miles, and so miles back from the gulf
the land is perfectly level.
Taking one of the steamers OF the Nor
gan line, at that city, we sailed down
Berwick Bay, and entered the gulf, reach
ing Galveston the next morning. These
vessels were small to many plying the
gulf, but handsomely equipped for pas
sengers. They We're provided with iron
hulls, but did not draw more than ID
or IL feet, thus allowing their passage
over the bar at Galveston at low tide,
and also enabling them to reach Indian
ola. which was the limit of their run,
and the end of the writer's voyage by
water.
We reached Galveston after breakfast
and it being our first visit to the Island
City, we decided to stop over a day
and take the next vessel of the line ia
Indianola. Our first surprise was at the