Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 17

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642

USA > Ohio > Muskingum County > Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals > Part 17

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Robert Leslie; pilot, John Boyd; engineer, Joseph Howland; clerk, C. Frame.

Business was very good in the river trade in About the spring of 1849. The crew of the "Newark," April 1, the "Enterprise" returned from a trip to from the captain to the smallest cabin boy, New Orleans, bringing a large cargo of sugar worked for the owners of the boat until the and molasses. The boat paid the largest toll return of the "Enterprise." The firm called on ever paid on the river, nearly $500. The Enter- the clerk for all the money and bills, the time prise then loaded for Pittsburg, taking 3,000 of men ordered made out, and while the capt- barrels of flour from the Fifth street warehouse, ain and clerk were engaged at the work the and other freight, making 600 tons. This was sheriff called and levied on the boat for indebt- the first trip for the Enterprise to Pittsburg. edness to a firm in Marietta, who held a chattel The officers on this trip were: Captain Stephen mortgage on the boat and the furniture for Bishop; mates, Monroe Ayers and John Hen- $300. None of them had been paid their wages derson; pilots, James Hahn and Jesse Smith; for a month. They clubbed together and em- engineers, David Hahn and another; clerks, ployed an attorney to secure their wages. They George Brooks and C. Frame. There were no were advised to put in their claims and buy the

HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

boat. All of them together did not have $300 and said they would return for an increase over cash, enough to pay the mortgage, so they let their old wages of $10 for the pilot and engin- the sale take place, being informed the boat, if eer and $5 for the mate per month. They all sold, was bound for their wages. It was sold returned, and the captain registered their and purchased by N. W. Graham & Co. for wages on the crew register. He also increased $300. After a number of efforts at law, the the clerk's wages $5 per month.

Three weeks' experience with a green com-

men lost their case and the amount due them from the "Newark" went to the wrong side of mander taught the owners of the boat that they their profit and loss accounts. A number of would have more cash if the boat was in charge the men worked for N. W. Graham & Co. for of experienced men. John Henderson, of many years after the sale of the "Newark."

Beverly, was employed to take charge of the

The boat was repaired and continued in the boat.

Zanesville and Marietta trade until sunk, loaded The boat had an increase of business, own- with groceries for Zanesville merchants, at ers were paid big dividends until April, 1851. Luke Chute. The "Newark" was unfortunate. Capt. Galloway and his friends purchased a

From the year 1848 to the completion of controlling interest in the boat. He came to the Central Ohio railroad, the business for Zanesville, showed his papers and again took steamboats in the Zanesville trade to Pittsburg command. He dismissed all the men on the and Cincinnati, was very heavy. All freight boat. Capt. Henderson remained on the

to and from the East and South had either to "Viroqua " until the boat left the Muskingum be carried on the steamboats or wagoned from trade. The clerk of the " Viroqua " was em- Wheeling.

ployed by N. W. Graham & Co., and his work was on the " Jenny Lind " and " Julia Deane " during the trade of 1851. About this time the

The spring trade in 1850, was good. "Jenny Lind," "Julia Deane," "Malta," and "Empress" were regular boats in the Pittsburg and Cincin- steamer "Yankee," Capt. Adam McKee, was nati trade and the "Viroqua," a regular tri-week- for a short time in the Pittsburg and Zanes- ly packet in the Marietta trade. The steamer ville trade. Nothing unusual occurred with "Viroqua" came to the Muskingum river trade this boat, except one time when detained by from Monongahela river. The boat was a high water in the Zanesville canal, the captain model packet for the Marietta trade. Robert gave a swell dinner to his Zanesville friends. Galloway was captain; Joseph McVey and Dr. It was a dinner-the best that the steward Wm. Milhouse, clerks; John Boyd, pilot. could provide, Brandy, whisky and wine Captain McVey took command of the "Julia were plenty, the guests drank freely and it was Dean" and C. Frame became second clerk of one of the most hilarious times for all that the "Viroqua." Dr. Milhouse taking charge of were present. When the boat returned to Pitts- the office. After a time, Capt. Smith, chief burg, Capt. William Koontz, the principal owner of the Monogahela City relieved Gallo- owner, made inquiry about the Zanesville feast, way of command. Meantime, Dr. Milhouse then the crew were paid and the boat was laid having gone to the "Malta," C. Frame received up. promotion to the first clerkship. Trade was very brisk in the spring of 1851.

Capt. Smith was not a river man, and he Four boats nearly new were plying between was a reformer. He claimed that the wages of Zanesville and Pittsburg, and plenty of business the pilots, engineers and mates on the "Viro- for all of them, yet the competition between qua" were too high. He reduced the pilot and the "Jenny Lind" and "Malta" was encouraged the engineer $10 per month each, and the mate until it was opposition. Captain Henry Dex- $5. They all left the boat. He got new men ter, of the "Malta," was always happy when who could not get situations on any boat, then fighting, figurately speaking, some person en- he began his experience in steamboating on the gaged in the same business. The first difficulty Muskingum river. Many persons would not in that season, when blows were struck, was on travel on the boat, and shippers of freight com- a Monday morning, at the Zanesville lock. plained their goods were not safe with the pilot The boats left the landing at the same time, and engineer. One week the boat had to pay and when they were in the bend of the canal, $300 for repairs. The business fell off, and the near the lock, they were side by side, with an captain began to see that cheap pilots, cheap excited crew on each boat. The mate of the engineers and an inexperienced commander "Malta" and carpenter of the "Jenny Lind" were were no advantage to the receipts. He directed soon on the lock wall, engaged in a contest for the clerk to visit the dismissed men and offer the lock. The mate of the "Malta" won by them their old situations. The men were seen knocking the carpenter of the "Jenny Lind"

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

down with a club. The "Malta" passed the arrested he went to Virginia, lived a few years, lock, and the captain of the "Malta" said, "I then died. The carpenter of the "Jenny Lind" will get the McConnelsville tobacco." At Gays- was a noted Pittsburg man, who had a large port, the clerk of the "Jenny Lind," who had acquaintance among the rough element. This stopped on the up trip, got aboard the "Malta." first night after the arrival of the boats at He went to the office to pay his passage, when Pittsburg, the mate of the "Malta" was the clerk informed him, "We do not charge watched by the Pittsburg roughs, and as he you." After dinner, the captain said to the was returning down the wharf to his boat, a "Jenny Lind" clerk, "As you are now working shower of stones struck him and he was more for Graham & Co., I directed the clerk to bruised than he bruised the carpenter of the charge you full fare." The clerk paid it. The "Jenny Lind " at Zanesville.

captain was in a good humor, and he said, "We Capt. Charles Gallagher, commander of the had trouble at the Zanesville lock with the "Jenny Lind," was an honorable, straightfor- 'Jenny Lind.' We got the lock when our ward business man. He soon found out the mate knocked your carpenter down with a opposition boat was paying a "bonus" to a club. Now I will be first at McConnelsville, warehouse for freight; then the amount was and get Hyatt's tobacco, for he will ship on put on the bills of lading as charges. He the first boat." The "Malta" landed at the opened a correspondence with the principal village of Malta, and while the boat was load- tobacco shippers in Noble and Washington ing some freight, the clerk of the "Jenny Lind" counties, and before the warehouse men in got into a skiff, and he was soon on the Washington were aware their acts were discov- McConnelsville side of the river. He ran to ered he had all the information of their guilt. Hyatt's office, and inquired if the tobacco was The boat landed at a large warehouse with an ready to ship. It was; the bills were made order for a number of hogsheads of tobacco. except the name of the boat and the rate; The warehouse was locked. He went to the they were inserted for the "Jenny Lind." The owner of the building who informed him warehouse doors were opened, and twenty-five that there was no freight for the "Jenny Lind" hogsheads of tobacco were in a row rolling at his warehouse. A few unpleasant words down to the steamboat landing. Captain Dex- were passed when the captain pulled out a ter came to Hyatt's office; he was excited. He package of letters from the owners of the to- said, "I'm glad you have the tobacco ready. tacco and he read them to the warehouse man Where are the bills?" "The clerk of the 'Jenny and he also informed him there would be work Lind' there has them." He looked at the for the grand jury, if his plan of shipping was shipping book, and when he saw the name, not suspended.

The warehouse was unlocked and all the

"Jenny Lind," he swore and left the office. The "Malta's" bell rang, and the boat started freight in it was shipped on the "jenny Lind" without the Hyatt tobacco, which had caused and ever after no more freight was held for the fight at Zanesville lock. The "Jenny Lind" "boodle," but a sum had to be returned to the landed at the wharf before the "Malta" was in owners equal to the amount of the extra charges. the channel of the river. There were twenty- The collectors were men above the average of five hogsheads of tobacco ready to load. The politicians at that time, but the one at Marietta clerk handed the captain the bill of lading for had some opinions of his own that did not suit the tobacco. The captain was surprised at the the river men. He was averse to being dis- success of the clerk, saying "We beat them at turbed at four o'clock in the morning to make last." The "Jenny Lind" blew a taunting "toot" out clearance papers for the boats coming from as the "Malta" passed the landing. The fight Pittsburg to Zanesville. One morning, when at Zanesville made the carpenter of the "Jenny called on by a boat clerk, he said: "My office Lind" very angry on account of the "Malta's" hours are from eight A. M., to seven P. M." He mate using a club. He said, "I'll get even refused to give the clearance. The clerk made hands to open the lock and the boat got her with the Muskingum bully when we get to his report to the captain who ordered the deck Pittsburg."

The mate of the " Malta " was an old bruiser clearance at McConnelsville. The next trip from Meigs township. He was the terror of the lock tender was ordered not to let a boat the people of his vicinity. One year after this pass unless he was shown the clearance. The event he had a fight, when drunk, with one of next trip a paper was folded in the shape of a his friends who whipped him. This angered clearance, the boat was permitted to go on its him and he shot his friend with a rifle, the ball way and another clearance was obtained at lodging in his friend's hip. To escape being McConnelsville. On the next trip out the cap-

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

tain accompained the clerk to the collector's said Blank. The party proceeded down the office. The collector was indignant, and instead stairway to the deck and they passed along of making out the papers, he engaged in a the guard until they came to the open space quarrel with the captain, who requested the aft of the boilers, where it was quite dark. "Be clerk to call George W. Manypenny, who was careful," said the keeper "or some of you will a member of the state board of public works. get kicked. This animal is not to be trifled The collector was surprised at the appearance with." Blank was close to the animal, the of Mr. Manypenny. The clearance was soon keeper was patting the animal and saying, ready and there was no more trouble with the "Whoa! whoa! be careful," and when not ob- collector at Marietta. served he gave Blank a hard kick with his

To the cabin passengers, meals, lodging, etc., foot. Poor Blank thought surely the animal were included in the charges for the trip. The had kicked him, and he left for the cabin, table was always loaded with the best and claiming he would not risk his life to see a and earliest articles of the season. The dinners "zeberry" milked. The poor fellow soon found on the packets were equal, if not superior, to he was sold, and he had to treat his friends. those of the best hotels. Business men, when After a pleasant passage the boat landed at traveling, frequently boarded on the boats in the Cincinnati wharf. Many of the passengers remained on the boat, others went to the prin- port.

The "Julia Dean" was one of the most popu- cipal hotels. The sale of tickets took place in lar packets during the season of 1851. There the evening for the concert. The unusual high was a number of excursion parties of the price was more than some of the pocket books young people of Zanesville to Pittsburg and would permit and a few young men, accom- Cincinnati. More pleasure can be had on an panied by their best girls, did not want to hear excursion on a fine steamboat than any other Jenny Lind. A few compromised with their pocket books, and paid ten cents to hear P.

Jennie Lind, the famous Swedish singer, in T. Barnum lecture on Temperance in the af- charge of P. T. Barnum was making a tour of ternoon the next day. The boat remained the principal cities of the United States, in the two days, giving the passengers an oppor- summer of 1851, and a grand concert was ad- tunity to visit many places of note, also a vertised to be held at Cincinnati. A party was trip to Newport and Covington. When the made up at Zanesville for a trip to the Queen time for departure came the load of happy City on the "Julia Dean" to hear the famous pleasure seekers were on board the boat singer and also enjoy the pleasure of a trip on ready for the home trip. All had heard Jenny the "Julia Dean." Atwood's band accompanied Lind sing. They had made the trip to hear the the party on the boat, playing at steamboat great singer; of course they heard her-such landings and at the towns on the route. There expressions were heard; yet the facts were only was a number of passengers, who went forthe fun a few had paid the high price.

public conveyance.

and to enjoy a week's vacation. The previous

This trip was one of the gayest made on a winter, a menagerie had wintered at Zanesville, steamboat from Zanesville in 1851. One of the zebras had died during that time, The steamer "Empress," commanded by and it was skinned and the hide was prepared Capt. G. W. Cox, one of the owners of the and stuffed by Mr. Elijah Ross. A Zanesville boat, engaged in the fall trade between Zanes- man was engaged to take the animal to Cin- ville and Pittsburg, and was the first boat out cinnati and sell it to a prominent naturalist. in the fall trade of 1851. The river was very The animal was placed on the boat, aft of the low, hardly enough of water for a light draught boiler, with its head toward the stern of the boat in the shoal water on the sand bars boat. But few of the passengers had seen it between Wheeling and Pittsburg. After many during the day, and only a chosen few knew difficulties the boat arrived at Pittsburg and there was a zebra on the boat, In the evening there was plenty of freight for the down river as twilight was passing away, a boy accom- and Zanesville trade. Shipping-houses were panied by the leader of the band came out of full of goods, the owners at distant places were the cabin with a tin pan. Mr. Blank's curi- writing "ship on the first boat," and there were osity was raised, and he inquired, "Where are only a few boats loading for any destination you going with the pan?" The leader said, "To and none for Zanesville. The captain informed milk the zebra." Blank exclaimed, "To milk the shippers that he was not anxious for freight, the zeberry! I did not know there was a ze- as the river was very low, and it was nearly berry on the boat." "Yes, there is, and we are impossible for a boat without freight to pass going to milk it," said the leader. "I'll go too," over the shoals at many of the sandbars in the

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

river. After remaining a few days, he agreed, and passenger rates from $1.00 to twenty-five if he could purchase a lighter, he would under- cents on freight and from $12.00 to $3.00 on take a trip. He found a flatboat, and also a passengers. The "Empress" had very light keel-boat for sale at a reasonable price, which machinery for the size of the boat, hence very he purchased. The keel-boat was covered so slow time was made. Though the boat was the freight would be protected; the flat boat very slow it made as many trips as the other was open, but on it goods were placed that rain boats -- one trip to Pittsburg and Cincinnati and sun would not injurc. Both boats were from Zanesville every week. The men used to loaded down as low as the stage of water would say the crew always had more money than the permit. The steamboat had about forty tons crew of the other boats, for they never had any of Muskingum river freight and a number of time to spend any. Nothing unusual occurred passengers. No freight was taken for any until one night in November. A heavy storm place above Wheeling. The price fixed upon was approaching from the west when the boat was SI per hundred to any destination on the was passing down the Taylorsville canal. The trip. Cabin passengers were charged $12 to pilot requested the captain to remain in the Marietta. These prices were the regular low lock until the storm passed over, but the "old man" said, "Go ahead, we have no time to lose." water rates before the days of railroads.

After working hard for seven days, thesteam- On the west bank of the river at that time, there er and its two boatsarrived at Marietta. The bot- were a number of large trees with limbs hanging tom of the river was too near the top of the water out far over the water. The boat left the lock in for rapid traveling. The chutes were passed the midst of the storm, and before the pilot by sending the keelboat in charge of the clerk could manage the rudders a steamboat was and the flatboat in charge of another officer. crashing in the timber, the chimneys falling, Then the steamboat would try to pass, drawing the pilot house with a hot stove was overturned more water than there was in the channel. The and the boat stopped by a large tree. "Fire! steamer would often grind on the bottom of fire!" was heard. The passengers in the cabin the river, and then it would stop. Spars would were alarmed. Some men who were excited be placed on both sides and after hours of hard were trying to pass a small water barrel half work the boat would be on its way to the next full of water through the scuttle hole to the shoals. Sometimes not more than three miles deck. They were so much excited that they were made in twenty-four hours. When the would first strike the cask on one side of the boat arrived at the mouth of the Muskingum passage, then on the other, and in their con- river, the water was too low to float the empty fusion they were only adding fuel to the ex- steamer over the mitre sills of the lock. The citement. A young lady of Marietta, who was keelboat was run into the lock and there load- a student at the Putnam seminary, pushed the ed with the freight for up the Muskingum. One men aside, grasped the barrel and passed it pilot, the clerk and twelve Irish deck hands with a number of gallons of water in it, up the undertook a trip to Zanesville on the keel-boat. passage, apparently without any effort. By After twelve hours' hard work the boat arrived this time the fire from the stove had caught the at Lowell. In early days Cat's creek furnished wood, and if it had not been for the success of many of the most robust keel-boatmen on the the young lady in getting the water on deck, Muskingum. The pilot soon found a new there would have been one steamboat less on crew of experienced men, then the first crew the Muskingum river. The boat remained at were paid and they returned to Marietta. In the place in the timber until morning. The three days from Lowell, the boat arrived in chimneys were flattened and broken in the Zanesville. This was the only boat of the kind fall, the pilot house was scattered on the that has come from Marietta, propelled by deck, the pilot's wheel was turned on its side Cat's creek machinery since the completion of and it was as the old man said: "Here is a the locks in 1842. As soon as the goods were beautiful muss." About ten feet of the chim- unloaded and the bills collected, the pilot and neys were enough straightened to stand, the clerk started on the stage coach for Wheeling, pilot's wheel was put in place and the men This was a called the boat "stumpy." It went to McCon-

where they met the "Empress." profitable trip for the owners of the boat. After nellsville, the pilot standing at the wheel in full all expenses including the purchase price of view often being covered with smoke. At Mc- the keel and flat-boats, there was a net cash Connelsville temporary repairs were made so balance of $1,700. The fall rains caused a good the wounded boat could go to Pittsburg where stage of water, boats were plenty for the trade it was repaired. and in ten days competition lowered freight In December the weather suddenly turned

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HISTORY OF MUSKINGUM COUNTY.

very cold. The boat unloaded its cargo of The destruction, November 12, 1852, of the produce at Pittsburg and hurriedly took on a "Buckeye Belle," a Zanesville packet, which load for the Muskingum. There was a large commenced running in the trade many years lot of goods for the Christmas trade, and the ago, was the greatest disaster that ever occurred merchants were very anxious to receive their on the Muskingum river. Pius Padgitt, clerk articles for the holidays. By four o'clock in of the water works board, is at present the the afternoon the thermometer registered six- only one in Zanesville who was blown up on teen degrees below zero. Some of the officers the boat, and Capt. Calvin Stull, of Beverly, tried to advise the captain not to start on the was the pilot on duty at that timc. Mr. John trip, but as he did at the Taylorsville lock, he T. Brown visited the high hill near the canal a ordered the lines loosened, the planks pulled few days after the disaster, and he was shown in and the boat backed out from the landing, brick used in lining the boilers that were and soon it was going down the Ohio river, thrown to the top of the hill.

working its way amid floating ice. After

The boat entered the lock at Beverly about worrying along about six miles the captain was half-past three o'clock in the afternoon, and on convinced that it was no use trying to go any her way to Zanesville (being one of the regular farther. The boat was again headed for Pitts- packet mail boats from Zanesville to Marietta ), burg, but it did not get there until the river she proceeded to Seeley's warehouse, just above was again clear of ice. At the foot of Bruno the locks, where she was delayed nearly an island the boat stopped, surrounded by ice. hour in taking in wheat and freight. Then she The temperature was now twenty degrees be- proceeded up the canal, and when within about low zero. Here was a dilemma with only one twenty feet of the guardgates, exploded with a horn, and that was to get the boat to the terrible crash. It is said by eye-witnesses that shore. A council was held and they decided the first shock and sight of the explosion were nothing more could be done until the next appalling and terrible beyond description, al- morning. . In the morning work was begun though at the moment its horrors were not half cutting the ice to make a channel to the Man- anticipated. All the flues and boilers collapsed chester side of the river. After hard work all and exploded, tearing everything into frag- day the boat was tied up at the Manchester ments as far back as the wheel-house, so much shore.

so that it left the noble boat a heap of ruins,

The river was again open in ten days, and the hull sinking to the bottom of the canal. boats were again in the trade, and only one Then followed a scene of horror and confusion, trip was made until another blizzard made a which beggars description. The canal and visit and the boats were again frozen in the ice. banks for some distance around were covered This time the " Empress" had arrived at Pitts- with the confused mass of the dead, dying and burg. All hands were paid and the boat was mutilated beings, fragments of the boat, cargo, in winter quarters. The captain took boarding mail, etc.

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Biographical and historical memoirs of Muskingum County, Ohio. Embracing an authentic and comprehensive account of the chief events in the history of the county and a record of the lives of many of the most worthy families and individuals, Part 17

Author: Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 642

Author:
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Chicago, Goodspeed Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 642