The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1916-02-17
Memories of Southern Cities.
New Orleans to San Antonio.

New Orleans in June. 1857, en- route to
San Antonio, Texas. When attending
the Lewiston Falls Academy in Auburn
Major Henry Prince, cousin of my
fathers, tb N an army paymaster sta
toned in San Antonio, offered me the
appointment of paymaster's clerk; and
it is hardly necessary to say that, my
parents consenting, l accepted; and that
is why | was in New Orleans, where |
was met by Major Prince. My first
official duty was to accompany him to
the mint on Esplanade street to get
money to pay the troops on the frontier.
There was no paper money in those days
and the greater part of the $50, 600 we
were to take to Texas was in twenty
dollar gold pieces. There was some sill
ver-dolIars and halves-and SIS, 900 in 5
and 10 cent pieces, which were counted
by what, for lack of a better word, l
must call a machine. The silver was
put into hopper and the turning of
crank sent it out through spout and
each coin in passing through was regis
tered. The money was put in stout can
vas bags and placed in the bottom of the
carriage, which was open at the sides,
SO that the bags were in plain view. We
drove first to the St. Charles Hotel, and
leaving me in the carriage Major Prince
went into the hotel and was gone some
time. | have always wondered why
some one did not come up behind the
carriage, reach in and grab bag and run
for it. | was not armed at that time,
and could have done nothing if l had
been But no enterprising thief ap-
peared and we reached army headquart-
ers with the money and it was placed i'll
a small safe in the office of the quarter
master to await its transportation to
Texas.
The Major was in no hurry to leave
New Orleans, nor was his clerk We
visited at the clubs, the places of amuse-
ment and did considerable shopping"
Ny purchases included pistol, for which
| paid $40 "Trantors Improvement on
Dean, Adams & Dear" "a six shooter,
self-corker ard a very handsome weapon,
carving ball of large caiber- 1t was
carried in holster attached to a belt
and was an inseparable companion for
many day-and night, Later, when in
A. frln tn 10
frontier posts, we slept with belts on
and a Sharps carbine beside US. But
that is another story.
Finally the day came for departure.
The safe containing the $50, 900 was put
on board the steamer Charles Morgan,
on which we had engaged passage, and
placed in care of the purser, and at 9
2. NJ the lines were cast off and we
started on the voyage. 1t is 100 miles
from New Orleans to the mouth, or
passes, as they are called, of the Missis-
sippi river, and quote here from letter
written at the time: at was very
warm. The sky was of a soft blue,
dotted with fleecy, white clouds. Soon it
changed to denser blue, and dark
clouds sailed slowly about overhead.
Then a heavy mist rose before US, OBJ
securing the river banks. Then the rain
came down in torrents, and lightning
flashed across the sky, followed by
heavy, booming thunder, Then the sun
would peer out and all would be calm;
then rain and thunder and lightning
again, and this was repeated all day.
We saw as we sailed large groves of
orange trees laden with unripe fruit,
and now and then herd of cattle feed
ing. We crossed the bar at p. M,
leaving the muddy water of the Missis-
sippi for the clear, sparkling waters of
the Gulf of Mexico. The sea was calm,
not even the slightest swell disturbing
its smooth surface.
The next morning was beautiful. A
large school of porpoises followed the
ship, racing alongside for some time,
but finally we left them behind and could
see them tumbling about in the little
waves made by the ships wake. We
saw many flying fish, passing through
large schools (or fiocksO of them, the
fish flying away on each side, dipping
into the water now and then to wet
their wings, as it was said they could
not fly when their wings were dry.
eve crossed the bar and arrived at
Galveston at 10 p. m. the next morning.
The town (as it was not then city, is
on an island in Galveston bay, the land
nearly level but sloping gradually to the
water. For land perhaps l should say
sand, which was ankle deep in the
streets. We spent the day here, and
luncbing in a restaurant | ate broiled
oysters for the first time. The oysters
are large and we'll adapted to broiling,
but are too large to eat raw and are not
equal in flavor to the oysters of Chesa-
peake bay and its tributaries. The wa
termelons raised here are considered the
finest grown anywhere. heard gen.
tleman say: ''Texas is good for nothing
but to raise watermelons" Someone