USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 19
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Here we parted from the Liverpool ships. "If,' said Ramsdell, "we are to be treated thus by every British ship of war we mect, merely be- cause we are in their company, we had better cut the connexion, and have nothing to do with them."
On the following morning we fell in with a brig from Boston, bound up the Mediterranean ; with the commander, who wished to keep in our company, Ramsdell was acquainted. The next morning we saw a vessel standing across our course, which when she approached to with- in about two miles, appeared to be reconnoiter- ing us, upon which the ship laid to for her to come down. When she came within long gun shot, she showed Spanish colors ; and fired a gun which we answered by showing our colors and firing a gun to leeward. We now found her to an armed ship, of eighteen guns, apparently full of men. She again stood towards us, and camo to at about half gun-shot.
I was leaning on the quarters looking at her, when Ramsdell took me by the arm, and said, walk forward a little, the fellow will try and throw a shot between the main, and mizen, just over the place where you stand. Directly a gun was fired, the shot of which struck the water close by our stern, and the ship then came along side of us, and sent her boat aboard. Our men were all at their quarters, I had taken my old station, and while their officers went into the cabin to look at the ship's papers. some of the Spaniards from the boat were suffered to come on deck. One of them asked a sailor, in very broken English, for some tobacco. "Here's my tobacco box," said the sailor, with a very sour phiz, taking a musket which stood by him, and striking the butt of it against the deck. "Is not this," asked the other, "the ship that had an action with two French privateers in the straits, about two months ago!" "Why do yon ask ?" said the sailor. Because, I know her; I was on board of one of the privateers." "Ah ha! ship- mate," said the tar, "if you know her so well you had better advise Jack Spaniard to keep a greater offing."
The officer had not been long in the cabin, before we heard some high words. It appeared, that on examining the ship's papers, he thought, or affected to think, that there was some defi- ciency in them, and talked of taking the ship in to Alicant. "The less you say on that subject the better," said our Captain, bundling up his pa- pers; "Come, sir I must go on deck ; I can't be detained here any longer by you;" on which he came from the cabin, very angry,and very uncere- moniously leaving the other to follow. The of- ficer, who was in high wrath at such cavalier treat- ment, went to his boat uttering something in Spanish, which I took to be a string of oaths, & saying something in broken English to Rams- dell, which he understood as a threat of firing in- to us. In the meantime, they in the Spanish ship had obliged the captain of the brig to go on board with his papers, which they detained, but suffered him to go back in his boat to the brig.
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In this situation the Captain of the brig hailed, / sing she would cross the stern of our ship, sta- and said that the Spaniard had detained his pa- pers,and was going to take the brig into Alicant. Ramsdell ordered four men to jump into the boat. "What, sir," said the first mate, shall I do, if they detain you ?" "You can fight your
tioned some men so as to wear round at the mo- ment she should do so, by which she would find herself along side instead of astern of us: but at the moment this was expected, she ran along side close aboard, and hoisted an Eng- ship, Mr. Bennet! "Oh, then I know what to| lish flag; but before the flag was displayed, do," said Bennet; and as soon as the Captain was and while she was ranging alongside, our sailors said, she is an English brig. She hailed, "Where are you from? Where bound to? What brig is that in company? Have you seen any Frenchmen?" And on receiving an- swers to these questions, she went off without making any further examination. I afterwards asked one of our sailors. "How did you know that to be an English brig?" "Oh, no French- man would run alongside of us as she did."- Well how did he know our ship to be an Amer- ican? We might have been a French ship, and had a person who spoke English, on board to answer his questions." "Yes, that is very true; but he knew we were an American, for no French ship of our force, would have laid to for him to come alongside of us." I might men- tion in justification of our men's opinion of the rigging, that on our hailing to know what brig it was, we were answered the Mondovi, which from the name was probably a French built one. on board the Spaniards, he ordered the main- topsail to be filled, and ranged along side, with-| in twenty yards of the Spanish vessel, all hands at the guns, and a fellow who could play on the fife, piping Yankee Doodle. We learnt after- wards, that the Captain, on going into the cab- in, saw the brig's papers on the table, and seiz- ed them without any ceremony. There were several officers, whoattempted to stop him; but he drew his cutlass, and forced his way on deck. Here we saw a great bustle, and a number of muskets presented at him, and at the same time heard him hail, "Mr. Bennet, fire a broad side right where I stand." Bennet in a minute would have obeyed the order, but we supposed that some of the men who were hemming him in, understood what he said; for they gave way in- stantly, and he jumped on board the boat, and was rowed to the ship. As soon as he reached the deck, he hailed the brig -- " Capt. Davis, I have got your papers; make sail, and if this scoundrel offers to prevent you, I will sink him." Davis was very alert in obeying the directions of his friend: no impediment was offered, and both vessels stood on their former course.
The conduct of the Spaniards, appeared to be very unjustifiable. The papers of both the ship and brig were all very full and fair. A number of Frenchmen were observed on board the Spaniard; and some of our men suspected it to be a French vessel; but in this I think they were mistaken. She was well armed, and some of our men, who were stationed in the tops, coun- ted upwards of an hundred men on deck,- The conduct of Ramsdell, may be considered rash, but it was successful, and success is some- times the only difference between the hero and madman.
At another time, we were chased, very perse- veringly, the wind right ahead. from daylight till noon, by a corvette built ship. She tacked whenever we did, and outsailed us. The cap- tain and supercargo of the brig in company, din- ed that day on board of the ship. By the time we sat down to dinner, the superiority of the vessel in chase could be fairly ascertained from the deck." The fellow will be up with us by (dark," said Ramsdell, "whether Frenchman or not." However that need not spoil our dinner ; we should fight none the better with empty stom- achs." After dinner we went on deck ; the chase was about a league from us. The captain said to our guests, "Gentlemen, you had better go on board your brig -- kcep a good distance to wind- ward; and if you do so, and this should prove to be a Frenchman, though he may take us, I think we will put it out of his power to take you. At the rate we have gone, he would be alongside of us in the night; we cant avoid that; but as I like to see what I am about, I will save him the trouble of any further chase, and stand down to speak to him while we have daylight." Our guests went away in their boat ; but the boat di- rectly came back with the four men who had rowed it, and desiring to speak to the Captain, they told him, that with the permission of Cap- tain Davis, they had come to offer their services on board, in case the ship in chase should prove to be an enemy. "You are honest follows, stout
There were many cruisers in our way up the Mediterranean, and I had several opportunities of observing the spirit of our crew. One day we discovered a sail standing for us. In a lit- tle time, she was ascertained to be a brig-of war, of 18 guns. From her rigging the sailors said she was French. Ramsdell hailed the brig in company, and told her to get a considerable off- ing, in case the vessel coming down on us should prove an enemy. Ile then took in sail and hove to for her, all the men at their quar- ters. In this situation, the strange vessel ma- nœuvred as if to run asteru of us. No colours were displayed on cithier side. Ramsdell suppo-| sailors, and true yaukecs." said hc; come on
Suatu, und ...... your stations, at the guns, we may have need of all the aid we can get before the day is over." All things were ready for action, and the ship under topsail stood down towards the chase. When we ranged alongside she proved like the former one, an English ves- sel ; but we were told she had been taken from the French, and retained her original spars and rigging. An officer came on board from her, and seeing our men at their guns, turning round to the captain, and said, "surely sir, you did not intend to engage our ship with your force."- "Certainly, I did," said the captain, "but you know I did not think it one of his majesty's ships that we were running down upon."
One morning at day light, we found ourselves close by two armed cutters. They were smart looking black little things, exactly alike, of ten guns each, and full of men. They hoisted En- glish colours. The one nearest hailed with a trumpet large enough, at least with a tone loud enough, to have belonged to a line of battle ship. "Ho! heave your main-top-sail aback, till I send my boat aboard of you !" Ramsdell, who was standing beside me looking at them, somewhat nettled by being hailed in that man- ner by a vessel of the size, imitating the pro. vincial twang, generally supposed to belong to some of the eastern people, and drawling his words, replied,-"Ho! what's that you say neigh- bor?" Our neighbor who appeared to under- stand the derision intended, again hailed with a still deeper roar than the former one, "heave your main top-sail aback, or I'll fire a broad side into you!"' "Why, now, I guess, cried Rams- dell, still drawling in his former tone, "that would be very unkind of you; for you might cut away some of my rigging, and then you would see who would pay the piper." By this time the other cutter hailed in a more respectful manner, and Ramsdell said, "Well, my little fellow, as you appear to know how to behave yourself, you may come on board."
On the 3rd of November, we arrived off Leg- horn, where we we were brought to by the Brit- ish frigate Mermaid, and informed that the French troops were in Leghorn, which rendered it impossible for the ship to enter, in conse - quence of which it was judged prudent to put into Elba till information could be obtained of the situation of Leghorn; the ship therefore bore away for that island, since celebrated as the short residence of the modern Charlemagne. On the evening of the 5th we came to in the outer harbour of Porto Ferrajo, with the small bower anchor; but that not holding, in consequence of heavy squalls, we let go the best bower also; notwithstanding which the ship began to drive, and before daylight, being almost on the rocks, under the light house, we were obliged to hoist
both anchors, and get the ship under weigh in order to take a station higher up in the harbour, where the bottom might be better holding ground. It blew in violent squalls, and we were obliged to tack from point to point, making lit- tle or no headway. Just at day light, the fort fired a gun, without shot; we supposed it to be a morning gun, and paid no attention to it : but in a few minutes afterwards, as we were tacking ship, two or three more, shotted, were fired in quick succession at us. We could not heave to; the ship was in the greatest danger of going on the rocks at the time, and the stupid fellows in the fort appeared to think that we were esca- ping out of instead of trying to get into the har- bour. In this dilemma, I told the captain that it he would order some men into the boat, I would endeavor to stop the firing on us. The men were sent into the boat, and I jumped in after, and told them to row right up to the battery, on arriving at which, I was directed to go round a point higher up the harbour, to the officer of the port. This I did, and told him who we were, and what was our difficulty. I was treated with great politeness, and asked if I wished any re- freshment; 1 requested some coffee and break- fast for my men, and was admiring the prompt- itude and alacrity with which my request was granted, when a guard of soldiers entered the room and told me rather roughly, that I and my men, must go with them, which I did without hesitation, thinking that they wished to conduct me to the governor or some superior officer of the place, instead of which, they led us to a ve- ry uncomfortable looking mansion, whose interi- 'or did not belie its outside, consisting of one large room floored with brick, and desiring us to walk in, fairly turned the key on us. The gra- ting of the lock made me whistle a long whew, and called forth other exclamations from my companions. My anxiety was shortly after ve- ry much increased by hearing several cannon fired in the direction I supposed the ship to be. I was utterly unable to conjecture what was the cause of this, and remained in great uncer- tainty and anxiety for an hour or two, when one of the men peeping through a crack in the door saw an English naval officer nt a little distance, which he informed me of, and knocking at the door, I desired the sentinel to call him to me. He was the Captain of a fri- gate, then lying in the harbour. I told him who I was, and the awkward situation in which I was placed. Make yourself easy, sir, said he, you shall be here but a very few minutes. He left me, and directly after the British consul came, who told me that I and my men were at liberty, and desired me to accompany him to a hotel near his home, where I would find all the accommo- dations I might want. From him I learnt that
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our ship had been in great danger of being driv- en on the rocks, which was the occasion of her firing several guns, as signals of distress. She had let go her anchors, but.drifted with them all ahead, in consequence of the extreme violence of the squalls, and was obliged to cut her cables. A number of boats had gone to her assistance, among which were four from the British frigate, Sancta Theresa, the master of which had got on board of her, but being unable to gain his boat, had been taken out tosea. "But," said he, "she will soon be back, and in the mean time command whatever is in my power to procure you." I felt very grateful for such kindness from a perfect stranger, and proffered in a situation where it was so much needed.
The next day came, and the next, and the next, but no ship came with them. I ascended the highest ground several times a day, and looked out for her with great solicitude. On the evening of the third day, while I was pacing backwards and forwards on the pavement before the hotel, hearing the rapid approach of horses, I looked up, and behold, the Captain leaped from a horse and seized me by the hand. "Why, Ramsdell! where did you come from? where's the ship?" At Port Lougone, two leagues from this, where having lost all our anchors, and twen- ty times escaped the rocks, we at last brought the ship up with a couple of guns instead of anchors. You'll see the master of the frigate, whom we took along with us, and he'll tell you that he never had such a jaunt in all his life .- But here is a bundle of your clothes; I thought you would want them, and be rather uncomfort- able till you knew what had become of us, therefore, as soon as the ship was secured, I got these rags, and that fellow who can't understand a word I say to him, and we have come here like a couple of flying proas."
From this place a few days afterwards, I cross. ed in a sparonaro to Piombino in Tuscany.
Poor Ramsdell! he was an excellent seaman, possessed of the greatest presence of mind, of the most determined courage, and the most affec- tionate heart, I frequently delight in recollec- ting him. It is that feeling which induced me to write this narrative of the events which oc- eurred while I was in his company , and in which I have been obliged to mention myself oftener than I would have done, could I have avoided it.
I say poor Ramsdell! The next voyage was his last. He had command of a ship, and is sup- posed to have been lost in a severe gale of wind in the Atlantic. Neither vessel nor crew were ev- er heard of.
I know nothing of his parentage or connex- ipn, except, that they lived in Nantucket. R.
Dying Operations.
This is one of many descriptions of business carried on in Cincinnati, the importance of which is underrated because the public at large is not familiar with its actual character and extent, it being usually considered merely the redying of stained or faded articles of dress of small value, enabling many persons thereby, to preserve ap- pearances at a trifling expence.
The dying business of this city employs eigh- teen hands in some twelve establishments. I propose by way of illustration of the whole bu- siness to sketch the dye-house operations of WM. TEASDALE, the most extensively engaged in this line of business.
His establishment is at the corner of Gano and Walnut streets, and employs five to six hands constantly. It is one of the oldest dye-hous- es in Cincinnati, and Mr. T. has resided on Walnutstrect some ten years.
There are here eight copper dye kettles, of sizes varying from 75 to 350 gallons with fur- naces to each, besides a boiler of 250 gallons capacity to supply steam for the cylinders on which the work undergoes its finishing process- es. The aggregate capacity of the kettles is 1250 gallons. These cylinders, which are cop- per, with tinned surfaces, are on a scale equally large. They are four in number, and range from 5 to 74 feet in length, with a circumference, of from 5 to 10 feet each.
The articles brought in for dying, after under- going scouring where necessary, are plunged in the dye-kettles, and after undergoing that ope- ration, are then rinsed out and taken to the dy- ing house. This is a room warmed by flues car- ried under the floors, which of course serves to warm every part of it. The dyed goods nre then taken up stairs where they are carefully examined and if found perfect are wetted and spread upon the cylinders, where under the contractile influence of heat the work is finish- ed. Lastly the goods are taken to the presses where they are disposed between press papers as book work sheets from the printing office.
I have said that it is a mistake to suppose that it is the dying of second hand articles, which constitutes the principal, or indeed any impor- tant part of this business, although such an impression is generally prevalent. Large quan- tities of silk, woolen and cotton goods which have been discolored by keeping or accident, or have become unfashionable in color or pattern are redyed, being sent by storekeepers, not on- ly in Cincinnati, but from cities and country towns abroad, extending as far off as Clesveland to the Lakes; Pittsburg to the east, and Nash- ville, St. Louis and New Orleans to the west and south-west, with all the intermediate places .
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The redying of merchandize injured by casual- ] burgh, did not spend much time with them; di ties to steamboats alone is a heavy item in the business. It is a great mistake which prejudi- ces the public mind on this subject, in suppo- sing that these fabrics are usually dyed in the raw material. Silks are so undoubtedly, but it is rare that either cotton or woolen goods are dyed otherwise than in the web or cloth, al- though various artifices are resorted to on this point to deceive purchasers.
Mr. Teasdale's dye stuffs, soap, &c. cost him annually more than one thousand dollars. His consumption of stone coal during the same peri- od is more than 2500 bushels.
Every lot of goods-not each piece, but all that is left at one time, which is occasionally ten or fifteen pieces, is numbered and delivered by that number on the production of a ticket given the owner on receipts of the articles. These numbers extended in 1842 to 4064, in 1843 to 4641, and will this year exceed 4850.
Besides these dying operations an extensive business is carried on here in renovating or scouring by machinery, carpets for families. hotels and steam boats. During each summer season, more than 3000 yards pass through his hands for this purpose.
As to the quality of the work it is at least equal to any turned out in the Atlantic cities. Articles of his dying exhibited at the fair of the Mechanics Institute have taken the premium for three successive years. Those who noticed his sewing silks at the last exhibition will rec- ollect the richness of tint and glossy appearance of that article.
The preparations for executing job work in Mr. Teasdale's dye-house have been pronoun- ced by persons from New York and Boston, fa- miliar with the subject, to be on a scale as ex- tensive as any in the United States, and the kettles and cylinders of greater capacity than have fallen under their notice, in any similar es- tablishment.
Relics of the Past. Jas. Henry to Arthur St. Clair, Jr. Esq. DETROIT, September 12th, 1799. DEAR SIR :
I received yours of the 17th August, which gave me pleasure. I shall make it a point to give the information you request to Lafferty, &c. I have just returned from a visit to my friends in Pennsylvania; was in Philadelphia two weeks,great apprehensions of the fever-no public amusements; as I passed through the country observed many in military habits ;- recruiting parties in every village. I have a younger brother appointed a Captain in the 10th regiment, who has nearly recruited a company at Lancaster-seen all our old friends at Pitts-
vision among them since last election for Con- gress; was much surprised on my return to thia part to hear you had no circuit this Summer; often thought of you during my absence, ro gretting it so happened; asI supposed then I should not have the pleasure of secing you when at Detroit. I now anticipate that satisfaction in the Spring, when, with the assistance of a bot- tle or two of wine, and a quantum sufficit ot segars, we will settle the interests of the con- tending parties in Europe, not forgetting to ge- cure those of our own country. The parties in Pennsylvania are indecd making every exertion each to secure the election of its favorite candi- date. I hope for the honor of the State, that Mr. Ross may be elected. I was almost &- shamed to acknowledge myself a Pennsylvani- an, after the second insurrection in Northampton county.
We jog on here at an easier gait than we of late have been accustomed to-not so much cav- illing and disputing : you will have the pleasure of seeing Col. Strong and Mr. Sibley, who will give you our domestic news.
Do, when you have a leisure moment, write to me; it will give pleasure to a man, who high- ly esteems you. Make my respectful compli- ments unto your father, and believe me, dear Arthur, Always yours, &c.
JAS. HENRY.
Levels in the West.
The following levels may be useful to refer to, as exhibiting the general surface of the West, and I have, therefore, put them on record in this shape!
Lake Ontario is 282 feet above tide water. .
Erie 283 do
Huron 296
do
Superior 314 do
Beaver, Penn. 127 feet above lake Erie.
Akron, Ohio, 395 do
St. Mary's, O., 398 do
Fort Wayne, Ind., 181 do
Lockport, Ill., 30 do
Ft. Winebago, W.T. 144
do
The general fall of the Ohio River, ts thus pointed out :
Low water in the Ohio, at Pittsburg, 140 feet above Lake Erie.
Portsmouth, 94 feet. Cincinnati, 133 feet. Evansville, 245 feet -- all below Lake Erie .- This is of course a fall in the River Ohio, from Pittsburg to Evansville, of 385 feet, in 792 miles, equal to but six inches in the mile. This is a descent much less than is really supposed to be the fact, but these are the results of actual sur- veys and measurements, in the Surveyor Gen- eral's office for this District.
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Relics of the Past.
"I have received lettere from Gen. Wilkinson Gen. Anthony Wayne, to Col, John Armstrong. of the 4th March, by which it appears that Arm- strong has resigned. I conceive in case of va cancies, the officers clearly entitled to those va- cancies are to fill them as soon as they occur."
The following letter speaks for itself. I attach a fac simile of Wayne's signature as a specimen, not merely of the penmanship, but as a sign manual, that corresponds exactly with the bold and dashing character of the writer .
CAMP HOBSON'S CHOICE. May 12, 1793.
DEAR SIR :
I have been favored with a copy of a correspondence between you and Gen. Wil- kinson, also with your letters subsequent there- to of the 28th March, 2nd ultimo and 7th in- stant.
I sincerely lament the loss of an officer of known bravery and experience, especially at this crisis when we really are in want of many such.
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