USA > New York > Onondaga County > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 35
USA > New York > Onondaga County > Syracuse > Past and present of Syracuse and Onondaga County, New York : from prehistoric times to the beginning of 1908 > Part 35
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"On the 7th of June I left the village of Manlius, as well for the purpose of viewing the canal as to accept an invitation to an excursion upon the first packet boat on her preliminary trip. I found lads and lasses, old and young, pour- ing in from all quarters, to profit by the same invitation. It began to rain as I arrived, and we all pressed into the long narrow cabin, packed to its greatest capacity. In a short time, however, the shower abated, the artillery of heaven ceased its incessant and terrific peals, the vivid flashes of lightning disappear- ed. . . As soon as the rain ceased, the cabin began to disgorge its load. The gallant swains handed up their lasses, and spread the deck with chairs and benches, which were filled by a happy, joyous crowd, full of life and hilarity. I had observed some distance in advance a bridge that seemed unusually low, and watched our rapid approach to it with some anxiety, although relieved from apprehension by the feeling that the officers of the boat kuew and would dis- charge their duty in watching the safety of the passengers. My alarm and
agitation increased to the utmost intensity when I perceived that we were only two or three rods from the bridge, that no notice was taken of the danger, and that inevitable destruction was impending over the whole happy and unsuspic-
ious mass. I cried out in the highest pitch of my voice-"Down! down! off the deck !" Fortunately the boat had a considerable space between the eabin and gunwale, and into these gangways the greatest proporton precipitated them- selves, while the rest tumbled into promiscuous heaps in the narrow spaces at the bow and stern. In another instant the chairs and benches were crushed into atoms with a tremendous crash, the fragments flying in every direction. To the astonishment of us all, upon regaining our feet, after the passage of the bridge, we found that not a person had been injured. It turned out that the captain was engaged in administering at his bar, and that the helmsman was an ignorant novice."
The "low bridge" was the great peril of the "raging eanawl," and will be mentioned again. The Rev. Jedidiah Morse has left us an account of an early trip :
"In May, 1820, the time I was on it, it was finished 96 miles, from Utica to Montezuma, with a branch of a mile and a half, to the salt works at Salina. In this distance are nine locks, each 90 feet long and ten feet wide, and one un- broken level of 67 miles, a fact probably unparalleled in any other Canal in the world. The width of the Canal 40 feet on the surface of the water, 28 feet at the bottom, and four feet deep."
"The passage from Utica to Montezuma, 96 miles, is made in 36 hours, the whole expense, provision as in steam-boats, $4. Our passage was more leisurely in the boat named Montezuma, commanded by Capt. Buss. This boat is 76 feet long, by 13 feet wide; will carry 60 or 70 tons, is well fitted for the accom- modation of passengers. by night as well as by day. We passed a raft of 446 tons of timber, coming down the Canal, drawn by three horses, at the rate of 18 miles in a day and a half. The expense was estimated at $50; while the transportation of the same quantity by land, would be $1200."
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In 1820 it was ordered that the Salina canal, then terminating on the south line of Salina village, should be connected with Onondaga lake and Seneca river. This eventually became the Oswego canal.
Joshua Forman and James Geddes had been prominent in canal matters and the former was chosen as speaker at the grand canal celebration in 1825. There was an earlier one in 1820. Clark said that "the first packet-boat on the canal, named the Montezuma, arrived at Syracuse on the 21st of April. 1820. It was built and fitted up by a company of gentlemen at Montezuma, from a model furnished by Comfort Tyler." It will be seen that Watson is made to speak of one at Manlius two years earlier, in his journal, but internal evidence makes it 1820, thus corresponding with other accounts. Clark also described the 4th of July celebration of 1820 as the first one held in Syraense, adding that "invitations had been extended to the friends of the canal throughout the State, particularly in the Western Distriet." He enumerated among the guests, "Gov. Clinton and suite, General Van Cortland, Myron Holley, Thomas J. Oakley, and John C. Spencer, Judge Van Ness adjourned the Circuit, then in session at the Court-House, and the Conrt and Bar attended in a body. Thad- deus M. Wood, Esq., presided on the occasion. The Declaration was read by N. P. Randall, Esq., and the Oration delivered by Samuel Miles Hopkins, Esq., to more than two thousand people." There was a procession, escorted by the Salina band, and the exercises were in a pine grove in the rear of the Townsend Block.
This was but a preliminary fete. The great one came November 1, 1825, when the boat bearing Governor Clinton and his suite passed through Syracuse, on the first passage from Buffalo. As president of the village Judge Forman made the address, Governor Clinton replying. Judge Forman went with the party, attending the ceremony of mingling the waters of Lake Erie with those of the Atlantic, off Sandy Hook.
Line boats, in early days, carried emigrants as well as freight, and had sleeping accommodations. Packets were long and narrow, with berths put up and taken down, much as in sleeping cars now. While this was being done, or tables set, men were usnally sent on deck. Horses were ready for relays, and went at a brisk trot, usually about five miles an hour. It was a delightful way of traveling, perfectly safe if one looked out for low bridges, which occa- sionally hurt a careless passenger.
There are many stories told of those bridges. Several are of the identifi- eation of persons once employed on-canals. If there was a dueking at the sound of "Low bridge!" it was enough. One is of an abolitionist who was bothered with straw votes, in which he made no show. Ile saw his chance. The boat approached a low bridge. At the critical moment he shouted, "All those in favor of Birney, down!" The vote was unanimous.
That inimitable impersonator of a past generation, Winchell, used to tell a canal story ; first as an old Scotch lady, who thought the Americans the most gallant people in the world, they so often named their states, towns and vil- lages after women. There were Mrs. Sippi and Miss Soury, Mary Land and Louisa Anna, Sall Ina and Sarah Kuse, ete. Then an accident happens to a .
-
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Frenehman, who complains because they tell him to look out when he should look in. It is a case of "low bridge." The doctor comes with swelling cheeks and pompous air, to be instantly succeeded by a lean faced Yankee, asking anx- iously : "Say, doctor! where's the critter smashed ?"
Bishop Huntington, on his first arrival in Syracuse, was much interested in canal life from its novelty, but may have not heard a parody on his brother- in-law's song : "A Life on the Ocean Wave." The local version had this . chorus :
"A life on the Erie Canal, a home on the tow-path side, Where the horses go up and down, and sail against the tide."
There came enlargement, free'canals, double headers, steamboats, and now we are to have a barge canal, much of it on natural lines. A statement of the work follows, as far as it applies to Onondaga.
The section known as the Syracuse contract extends from Oneida lake to Mosquito point, a distance of forty-three miles, and the work is to cost three million five hundred thousand dollars. It begins a mile east of Brewerton, and the lake and river are to be deepened to a point a mile west of that place. That village will become a harbor, with one thousand feet of pile docking on the north side east of the river bridge, and six hundred and fifty feet of crib docking on the south side, west of the railroad bridge. The highway bridge will be raised about seven feet in the center, and three feet at the ends. Several cut-off's will reduce the distance from Brewerton to Three Rivers from twenty-three to ten miles.
The first will leave the river a mile west of Brewerton, reaching it two miles west of Caughdenoy, and will be about four miles long. The famous eel weir at the latter place will be destroyed, and a new dam built there. There will be a small eut-off near Oak Orchard, where the old dam and lock are to be removed, and a new bridge built. The dam and lock will be replaced by a lock of seven feet lift, at the lower end of the first cut-off. A mile below Oak Or- · chard will be another cut-off, reaching the river again less than a mile east of Three River point, and saving a distance of five miles.
From Three Rivers to Baldwinsville there will be little lessening of the river distance, on account of intervening hills. The work will be deepening the chan- nel. At the Cold Spring bridge will be a short cut-off, making an island of seventy-five aeres where the river makes its greatest southern bend. So near will the main line of the barge canal approach Syraense, which, however, is to have a harbor.
At Baldwinsville the canal will take the south side of the river, instead of the present route on the north. Just west of the highway bridge a lock with an eleven foot lift will be built, and the dam will be raised three feet. Like the proposed dam at Phoenix, this will involve serious questions of land damages. Between Baldwinsville and Jack's Reefs there will be two small cut-offs, most of the work being dredging. and excavating soft rock. At Jack's Reefs the river
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will be left, and the State Ditch, four thousand feet long, will be greatly en- larged. There the material thrown out in the early excavation was heaped up on either side, and must be removed. The remaining work is in shaly rock, and a much greater depth must be reached. When the long excavation of the river bed was made at Jack's Reet's fine specimens of alabaster were found.
Leaving this the canal passes Cross lake, following the river to Mosquito point. The channel will be dredged and the bridge raised. At Brewerton the channel will be two hundred feet, but generally one hundred and fifty feet, with a depth of twelve feet everywhere. All the cut-offs will be seventy-five feet wide. Antiquarians, naturalists and geologists should be on the watch for inter- esting finds. The work will require about four years, the contractors being Stewart, Kerbaugh & Shanley. Should the state barge canal be changed to a national ship canal, as seems just and wise, the route may remain essentially the same.
The formal celebration at the opening of the Erie canal was too novel and picturesque to be slightly passed over. A new mode of telegraphing had been arranged, cannon being placed at intervals of a few miles all the way from Buffalo to New York. The first one was fired when Governor Clinton's boat entered the canal at Buffalo at ten A. M., the last at New York at eleven twenty. Then the reports went back to Buffalo. Three boats left Buffalo with the official party, the Seneca chief being fitted up in sumptuous style. The Superior and Buffalo were the other two. "Noah's Ark" fell into line, having on board a bear, two eagles, and other birds and beasts, with two Indian boys in native costume. The Niagara joined the party at Black Roek. At length the fleet reached Roch- ester, where eight uniformed military companies greeted them. They were met by the Young Lion, a Rochester boat, and this dialogue followed :
"Who comes here ?"
"Your brothers from the West, on the waters of the great lakes."
"By what means have they been diverted so far from their natural course." "By the channel of the great Erie canal."
"By whose authority and by whom was a work of such magnitude accom- plished ?"
"By the authority and by the enterprise of the patriotie people of the State of New York."
The fleet entered the canal basin and a grand time followed. Of what happened at Syracuse, Colonel Stone said :
"The floating procession reached this place at 2 P. M. of the 20th. The Honorable Joshua Forman, in behalf of the Syracuse committee, addressed in highly appropriate terms the distinguished guests on board, and he was replied to by Governor Clinton in his usual felicitous style. The guests were then escorted to Williston's Mansion House, where a large number partook of an excellent dinner. and drank many good toasts. Immediately after dinner the guests were escorted to the boat, which proceeded on her voyage under the dis- charge of cannon, and Judge Forman here joined the committees as a represen- tative of the village of Syracuse to New York."
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It is also gratifying to know that Manlius "celebrated in a praise-worthy manner." It was a wonderful trip all the way, with a still grander culmination when a great fleet went down New York bay to Sandy Hook for the ceremony of mingling the waters of Lake Erie and the Atlantic.
In her account of the Malcolm family Mrs. Dillaye said: "A packet boat containing passengers went through twice a week, and afterward daily, stopping for a few moments at the canal basin, opposite my father's store. This was a great event. and when the dock bell rang out annonneing its arrival, the news spread that 'the packet boat had come.' "
The weigh-lock at Syraense hardly has its original importance, since tolls are no longer levied on boats or cargoes, but it is useful in determining the weight of cargoes for all concerned. The weight of each canal boat is registered in the Collector's office. When the cargo is to be weighed the boat is run into a slip behind the weigh-lock house. The gates are closed and the water passes ont by a tunnel into Onondaga creek. The boat is left high and dry on a eradle. ready for weighing. This also serves as a dry dock for disabled boats.
It would be easy to quote many accounts from delighted early travelers of their impressions and experiences of this novel. safe and pleasant mode of travel. They are found abundantly from 1820 to 1825. The first charm wore off but the travel long continued. The introduction of steam on the canals added a new feature. and even pleasure boats more or less frequent their waters. Artists will not soon forget the famous Arkell excursion.
This chapter may well conclude with an advertisement of 1820, before the completion of the canal but while the "long level" was in use.
"Boats for the accomodation of passengers 100 miles on the canal, are now in operation by the 'Erie Canal Navigation Company.' They sail every Monday and Thursday morning from Utica, at 9 o'clock, and arrive at Canistota (Lenox) at 7 P. M., proceed next day at 2 A. M. and arrive at Montezuma at 7 P. M.
"Returning-Sail from Montezuma on Mondays and Thursdays at 8 o'clock a. m., arrive at Syracuse (Salina) at 7 p. m., proceed next day at 2 a. m., and arrive at Utica at 6 p. m. Price of passage through the route, including pro- vision and lodging, $4. Way passengers three cents per mile. A small advance to be made on the price of passage when the Toll and Lockage are established. Baggage at the owner's risk. For passage apply to Doolittle & Gold, or at the Stage Office, Utica. To Richard Smith, innkeeper, Montezuma, or the captains on board."
A word may be added on one or two events of 1907. The Erie canal passes over Onondaga ereek, and at this spot successive breaks occurred late in the summer, tying up navigation for several weeks in the busiest season. These were at last temporarily repaired, and completely so when the usual closing came. The eanal also passes over the New York Central railroad, where a similar break would have disastrous consequences. The Central officers took no chances, and in December commenced rebuilding the tunnel in a thorough manner, at an estimated expense of one hundred thousand dollars, though the franchise runs but a few years more.
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CHAPTER XXX.
ONONDAGA WRITERS.
To give anything like a full account of the writers of Onondaga. who have done creditable literary work, would take large space, for every town and period has produced those who have affected thought and produced tangible results without being strictly literary people. Our lawyers, physicians, clergymen. editors and teachers are doing such work all the time; work which elevates instructs, refines. improves and entertains, yet is not preserved in permanent form. Judicial opinions are expressed in the clearest and most concise way; sermons are written and delivered in the most forcible and eloquent manner; addresses are made which stir the heart; editorials are written which shape public policy ; papers are elaborated which prevent disease and promote sani- tary reforms ; and yet a weak poem, going on unequal feet, a story with little plot and poor expression. may pass for inspiration. In the following list of writers. it will be seen that a large number of our publie men-men who write well-do not appear. The fact that they write for a definite business purpose will explain this. They are too busy for literary rambles. and rarely publish books. It is fortunate that many others, of culture and taste, are willing to please, instruet, console or aronse men in a different way.
Some years ago Mrs. Marlette made a list of about ninety Onondaga women who did more or less writing for the public: some of it very good indeed. Others have been added since, for history, art, and literary elubs have furnished a stimulus less felt by men.
Rev. John W. Adams, D. D., lived in Syracuse, 1826-50, and was buried in Oakwood cemetery. He planned a work to be called "Annals of Onondaga Valley," some extracts from which were published. His collected materials went into Clark's "Onondaga." Much of it he gathered before 1834, and the following receipt will show how long he carried on this work :
"Syraense. April 17, 1847.
"Received of Rev. J. W. Adams, on contract for services in obtaining materials for History, four dollars. J. N. T. TUCKER."
He himself published two sermons: "The Ministry we need," and "The Crisis,"
Patriek H. Agan, born at Watertown, June 10, 1817, was fond of historie writing as a side study. Ilis artieles on the Adirondack State Park, while editor of the Standard, helped much in its establishment.
John Albro was a popular writer of verses for city papers some years ago, and some will recall his humorous prose. Later he published a volume of serious poems.
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Rev. Caleb Alexander, first principal of Onondaga Academy, published several educational works, and died at the Valley in April, 1828, aged seven- ty-two years.
Mrs. William S. (Mary R.) Andrews, mentioned by Mrs. Marlette in 1894, is now a successful writer of stories. Among these are "Kidnapped." 1895; "Vive l'Empereur." 1902; "Bob and the Guides," 1906; "Militants," 1907.
Judge Elliott Anthony was born of Quaker parentage in Spafford. June 10. 1827. and afterward became a lawyer in Illinois. Among his legal treatises were the Law of Self Defense; Trial by Jury in Criminal Cases; New Trials in Criminal Cases; The Story of the Empire State.
Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock. D. D., whose tragie death so shocked his friends, published in 1901. "Thoughts for Everyday Living," and "Letters from Egypt and Palestine" in 1902. He was a man of fine abilities, and a friend gathered fragments for a recent book.
Miss Helen H. Backus, with Miss Helen D. Brown, wrote "Great English Writers," some years ago, and was on MIrs. Marlette's list.
Charles B. Baldwin was born in Syraense, October 26, 1858, becoming editor of the Baldwinsville Gazette in 1888. In 1894 he wrote a bright poem for the Centennial celebration at Baldwinsville. At the same place he read a fine paper on the battle of Windmill Point. at the onting of the Historical Associa- tion. June 6. 1900, afterward issued in pamphlet form. His jubilee number of the Gazette was a valuable contribution to local history.
Charles W. Bardeen was born in Groton, Massachusetts. August 28, 1847, but has long lived in Syracuse, founding the School Bulletin in September. 1874. As editor and publisher he was led to write many works on education. Some of these are the Public Mannal of School haw; Roderick Hume, Song Budget, The Little Old Man, Dictionary of Educational Biography. Manual of Civies, etc.
William Barnes, born in Pompey, May 24, 1824, was a noted compiler of insurance statistics, and assisted his father at Baldwinsville and Syracuse, 1843-44. in the first teacher's institutes held in the state of New York.
George Barrow, of Skaneateles, found leisure in his earlier law practice to write for the Atlantic and other standard magazines, and his daughter. Bessie, has published two novels.
John D. Barrow, his elder brother, was born in 1824, and died in Skanea- teles, December 7, 1906,. Ile was an artist with literary tastes, and made the centennial address there in 1876. A pamphlet of twenty-nine pages was devoted to Skaneateles Lake in 1902, and an earlier one to Charles L. Elliott, the artist. Just before his death he selected thirty of his occasional poems for publication, and these became a handsome memorial volume, labeled "Around Skaneateles Lake." which is the general theme. It was edited by his old friend. Rev. Dr. Beauchamp in 1907.
L. Frank Baum has written popular children's story books, as "Life and Adventures of Santa Claus." 1902; "Enchanted Island of Yew," 1903; "Mar- velous Land of Oz," 1904, etc.
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CLINTON SQUARE, SYRACUSE.
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PAST AND PRESENT OF ONONDAGA COUNTY
Miss Rosemary Baum was credited by Mrs. Marlette with "That Box of Cigarettes, " and other plays.
Mrs. Elizabeth T. Porter Beach was the daughter of James Porter, one of the pioneers of Skaneateles village, where she was the wife of John C. Beach. She wrote "Pelayo: An Epic of the Olden Moorish Time.". This pleased the Queen of Spain, and she sent her one of her own jeweled bracelets. The Em- press Eugenie also sent her a gold medal, with the inscription, "To Mistress Elizabeth T. Porter Beach." In 1866 this poem was adopted as a text-book in Packer Institute, Brooklyn. Mr. E. N. Leslie gave a spirited lyrie by her, entitled "The Last Broadside." and founded on the sinking of the Cumberland in Hampton Roads. She was going down when Lieutenant Morris called out : "Shall we give them a broadside as she goes?" A verse follows:
"Shall we give them a broadside once more, my brave men ? "Aye, aye!" rose the full, earnest cry.
"A broadside! A broadside we'll give them again ! Then for God and the Right nobly die!"
Miss Mary E. Beauchamp. of Skaneateles, was born in England, June 14, 1825, and died June 23, 1903. In 1839 her father published her first little book, the Memento, and thereafter she wrote a great deal, both in prose and verse, as the "Filia Ecclesiae." mostly for religious journals. Her poems showed taste and feeling. While in England in 1854 she wrote a Handbook of Wells Cathedral. published by her unele there. In 1867 she published "The Emigrant's Quest." A paper on "The Early Quakers of Skaneateles," read before the Historical Association January 11. 1897, was of great interest, and just before her death she had completed a story suggested by this, and entitled, "Thee and Thou."
· Rev. William M. Beanchamp, S. T. D., was born in Coldenham, New York, March 25, 1830. In his school days, at Skaneateles, and later, he wrote some songs which were vigoriusly sung on sundry occasions, but has repented of these sins of his youth. Ile also ventured on some short stories, with which weightier matter soon interfered. He has long been a contributor to local, reli- gions, seientifie and historieal journals, and for some years largely employed in preparing archeological bulletins for the New York State Museum, not only popular here but often quoted in Europe. There are thirteen of these. amply illustrated, and a volume on Iroquois mythology and folk lore is in preparation. Among other publications have been the Iroquois Trails and Indian Names in New York, and he is contributing to the "Hand Book of the Indians."
Miss Virginia Beauchamp, daughter of the above, was born in Skaneateles. but has long been a teacher in the Colorado Springs High school. In 1896 she published "The Creed of Lucius Annoeus Seneca," and has for some time been vice president. for the state of Colorado, of the Western Classical Association.
Among Mrs. Jennie Z. Belden's stories are "Antonia" and "Fate at the Door." She also edited the Genealogy of the Belden Family, 1898.
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Miss Jennie M. Bingham, formerly at Syracuse University, has written a life of Lord Shaftesbury and some religious poetry. Also, "All Glorious With- in."
The Rev. Artemas Bishop was born in Pompey, December 30, 1795, and sailed for Honolulu in November, 1822. He was at Kailua for about twelve years, and translated much of the Bible while there for native use. For twenty years more he was on the island of Oahu, where he translated Pilgrim's Progress, etc., dying there in 1872.
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