Democratic Sentinel, Volume 4, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 April 1880 — MICHIGAN CITY LETTER. [ARTICLE]

MICHIGAN CITY LETTER.

Ed. Sentinel: Dear Sir: Now that we have at last reached the “city of sand and sights”, and enjoyed an abundance of both, (the former especially, in ears, eyes and month), we will, hoping that it may be of interest to the readers of the Sentinel, give you a brief synop sis of the sights we have seen since our arrival here af'w weeks since. Chief and foremost among these is Lake Michigan, in all its magnificent splendor. A lovely sheet of water extending as far as i he eye can reach, dazzling the gazer with its brilliant colors varying from the pure crystal to the “deep, dark, ocean” blue, is as beautiful in its calm, as it is glorious in its wrath. Rising from the sandy beach, and frowning down upon the dimpling, surging waters, is “Hoosier Slide” in all its glory. A ponderous sand-hill of huge dimensions, flanked on the left by '“Yankee Slide” and numerous smaller hills, and on the right by the harbor which the Michigan City peo pie are so fond of praising. The harbor is truly a fine one, notwithstanding the fact that two vessels were wrecked here a few weeks since. They hailed from the lumber regions of Michigan, and coming in during the fearful gale on the night of the 28th

ult., failed to make the harbor, and were beached. One vessel was a total wreck, and the other greatly damaged. The loss of lumber, with which they were freighted, was comparatively small. Hundreds of people visited the pier next day to view the wiecks, which were truly a grand sight as they lay there swaying this way and that, in their helpless cap tivity, groaning under the weight of the great snow-capped billows as they ruthlessly dashed upon them,creating a roar equaled only by the voices of a hundred angry lions. It is everywhere—sand I mean “Up stairs, and down stairs, and in the ladies’ chamber.” It accumulates on the rail road tracks, and dozens of men may be seen at almost any time shoveling it off' It flies in clouds through the streets, settling everywhere in general, and in our eyes in particular. But then, after a rain it behaves very nicely, and almost makes one forgetits pranks, it is so preferable to mud. For mud here is a thing unknown—we have not enough during our stay in the city to fill a Jasper county gourd. The next sight to be seen is the Prison, and its inmates. The building is situated southwest of the city, one mile frem the depot. It is an imposing structure, suggestive of durability. grandeur and elegance. Surrounding it is a massive wall, and the sight of this and the cruel bars is enough to make the bravest heart grow faint. Once within the walls we find everything moving harmoniously. A few men in their strange serpent-like stripes may be seen passing hither and thither throng 1 the grounds ministering to the wants of the Officers or performing errands for their taskmasters. For we have “trusties” here, as we have in political life, and they, no better than their political brothers, often give us the “slip.” One of the “trusties”, a life man, who has grown old “in the service of his country,” and who was brought here from the Southern Prison to help build this one. in his enfeebled men f al condiiior, which all f°el after a few years of con • flneinent, considers th: entire establishment under his special care, and gives orders acccordingly. These he expects every one, our genial Warden Murdock not excepted, to promptly obey. Tne officials generously humt r his whims, and can always bring him to terms by threatening to lock him out. On the whole we think the prison and its inmates the most interesting feature of this very interesting city. But to appreciate, one should see for himself. One short letter does not allow of space to touch upon half of the features of interest, much less to describe them. Yours very trulv,

FANNIE F. MILLER.

Michigan Citv, Ind., 4 —lß 1880.