USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 27
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The first race of boatmen were the spies and scouts, whose employment ceased when Wayne, at the battle of the Fallen Timbers and the treaty of Greenville, gave repose and safety to the settlers of the West. Most of them had become unfitted for the pursuits of agriculture-a few followed the chase for subsistence when they could pursue the savage no longer as an occupation, but of the mass, part had imbibed in their intercourse with the Indians, a sympathetic contempt, as well as disrelish, for regular and steady labor; and the others were like the refugees to King David, at the cave of Adullam, being either in distress, or in debt, or discontented with the state of things form- ing around them. A boatman's life was the very thing for such individuals. From the nature of their movements, they felt themselves scarcely re- sponsible to the laws, as indeed they actually were not, except at New Orleans, where the motley crew, whether residents or strangers, have always been kept with the curb bit in the mouth and the rein drawn tightly up.
With these men were gradually incorporated fresh accessions of recruits, most of whom were bankrupt in character as in purse-whose conduct had made them liable to the whipping-post and the jail, in some cases even to the gallows, in their for- mer residences. These were a race of younger individuals, who served to keep the ranks full as the veterans dropped off in the service. The graphic pen of Morgan Neville has given celeb- rity to Mike Fink, one of these river characters, to whose exploits as a marksman, Mr. Neville has done justice; but to whose character otherwise, he has done more than justice, in classing him with the boatmen to whose care merchandize in great value was committed with a confidence which the owners never had cause to repent .--
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This was true of those who had charge of the ) On one of my visits, I told him that I had heard boat .; but did not apply to Fink, who was noth- some imperfect accounts of an adventure he had in Natchez, and would like to have the facts accu- rately, upon which he gave me the following nar- rative : ing.more than a hand on board, and whose pri- vate character was worthless and vile. Mike was in fact an illustration of a class of which I have spoken, who did not dare to show their faces in their carly neighborhoods or homes .- Just such a fellow as Bill Lloyd in the narrative which follows, in every respect but his courage. Mike's whole history in Missouri, proves this, and especially is it made manifest in the closing scene of his existence. He takes the life of an unarmed youth, whom he had raised from a child, in a drunken fit of jealousy, probably without cause, and when reproved indignantly for his conduct, by one of his comrades, draws his rifle to his shoulder to kill him also, provoking the quicker movement, which, in self defence, deprived him- self of life.
The following narrative, for which I am indebt cd to one of our steamboat captains, a man of strict veracity, gives an incident in the story of one of these early boatmen, JAMES GIRTY by name. My informant, as will be seen, had it from the narrator's lips.
Girty was a native of Western Pennsylvania, nephew to the Girtys, Simon and George, famous and infamous, as renegades from the whites to the Indians, and instigators of many of the atrocities committed on the frontier settlements, as well as on the defenceless prisoners who fell into the hands of the savages. The name of Guthrie, a very general one in Scotland and Ireland, pro- nounced Guttrey in the western part of Pennsyl- vania, and corrupted still farther in the case of this family, into Girty, was the name of his forefathers. The neighborhood of Pittsburgh, across the Alle- gheny river, was the stamping ground, as the early settlers called it, of the Girtys, and the scenery of that neighborhood still attests their for- mer residence. Girty's Hill is some four or five miles north of the city, and Girty's Run flows along its base. A wilder country, in its natural features, within even twenty years, would hardly be found in any part of the State.
JAMES GIRTY was a man, said my informant, of about the usual height, of uncommon strength, activity and courage. What in ordinary men, is made up of ribs, in his case was a broad as well as thick sheet of bone. I had heard of this as a fact, and verified it myself, during a trip I made with him, in which he took a fit, and it became necessary for me to rub his chest and sides with whiskey, salt, and pepper, the only remedies the boatman's medicine chest supplied. During the whole period referred to, as the era of barging, I do not recollect him out of employment, either as captain or patroon of a barge. He was never known to have a hand unless he first ascertained whether he could and would fight. As to him- self, although he sought no quarrel, he felt him- self able to fight any man that could be found any where, and was never known to have been whipt.
The last boating he did, was steering a boat for me from the mouth of Cumberland to Nashville. During this voyage he was attacked with sickness, under which he finally sunk, dying at Nashville in 1820, under my care. He appeared conscious, as I was, from the first, that he would not recover.
--
" In the year 1814 I was captain of the barge Black Snake, belonging to the Poyntz's at Mays- ville. I started with the barge, about two thirds loaded, for New Orleans, in the latter part of November. When I reached the mouth of Cumberland, I found a considerable quantity of arms belonging to the United States, which had been despatched from Pittsburgh for the troops engaged under General Jackson, in the defence of New Orleans. They had been taken down thus far, depending on an engagement made with Ben Smith of Cincinnati, under which he con- tracted to deliver them within a given time at New Orleans. The government agent had been wait- ing some days for Smith, who had not yet made his appearance ; and finding an opportunity offer- ing, and fearing they would be needed, immedi- ately decided to send them by me. I made all possible despatch, and happily succeeded in reach- ing New Orleans with my precious freight on the 3d January, 1815. Eager to have a hand in the approaching battle, I reported myself immediately to Gen. Jackson, who gave me the appointment of Captain, with authority to impress into service the whole body of barge and keel-boat men in port. I entered on the work without delay, and with great activity and success. You know as much as I can tell you of the glorious 8th. After every thing in the shape of a red coat had disap- peared, I discharged the remaining part of the cargo and crew, for which last I had no further use until I could get a freight up the river, which I did not get until the latter part of May, when I hired a crew and started for Pittsburgh. I reached Natchez in June. It was the custom of those days to give the hands a holiday at Natchez, one at the mouth of the Ohio, and one also at Louisville or Shippingsport. It was four o'clock in the afternoon that we threw up our poles and fastened our bowlines at Natchez. The men were cager for a dance, and some would not wait even for their supper, scampering off for the dance- houses under the hill. I got my supper and went up also. I looked on until 11 or 12 at night, when finding all my entreaties to get them back to the boat unavailing, I left them, some engaged in dancing, others betting with the gamblers on the Roulettes, and went on board the Black Snake .- As the day dawned, all hands were also at their posts, but in a wretched plight, many of them hav- ing their heads badly cut and bruised.
It seems the gamblers had won all their money, and a fight ensued, in which those gentry came off victorious. After breakfast, I judged by the threats of the hands, and other circumstances, that it would be advisable to get the Black Snake under way ; but on giving orders to that effect, not a man would raise a pole, until he had had his accustom- ed frolic out, and I was compelled to give way, .. determining in my own mind, to leave at 4 o'clock, when the day of privilege would be out. When that hour came, it was of no use to propose start- ing, none of the men would budge, until they had obtained revenge; and they had privately agreed
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that they would not assist me up any further, if I joars were plied night and day till we got there. would not go with them and help them whip the gamblers.
I saw there was no alternative, and after supper, I repaired with my whole crew to the dance house, armed with knives, chopping axes and setting poles. The gamblers had expected us and were prepared with pistols, knives, and rifles, for the fight. The scrimmage commenced without ex- changing a word. At first they gave us hard usage, but their ammunition was soon spent, and they gave way, bearing three of their number off who were killed in the scuffle. One of our men was mortally wounded, who made out to walk to the boat, where he died in half an hour. We cut cable and crossed the Mississippi, worked the Black Snake three miles up the river, and came to for the night. About day-light next morning, while burying the dead man, the Sheriff of Ad- ams county and a posse of almost an hundred men, came up and made us all prisoners.
They left a man of the party in charge of the barge, and took us all down to the ferry-boat and across to Natchez, where we were brought before a judge and tried. No evidence being found against any but myself and Bill Lloyd, one of my hands, the rest of the crew were set free, while Bill and I were sent to Washington jail; my barge was sent on, and I was detained to stay in jail un- til Court, which was to sit the first Monday in October. After I had been in jail about two weeks, one of the Associate Judges of the Court by which I was to be tried, came out to Washing- ton to see me. I found in him an old Pennsylva- nia acquaintance, on whom I had some claims. He gave me poor encouragement, telling me he feared the Court would not let me out on bail. I told him I had $2,700, which I could leave with my security. Still he discouraged me. He said the evidence was point-blank against me and Lloyd, but promised he would call again, ordering the jailor to see that I did not want for anything that lay in his power to give, and bade me good- bye. In about a week, he came again, and told me he had succeeded in making it a bailable case of $3,000, and had also obtained a man to go my security. The door was opened. I gave the Judge $2,700 and the necessary security. The Judge advised me to leave immediately, and never show myself in Natchez, saying he would willing- ly pay the $3,00, if I would keep away. I told him I would be in Washington at the sitting of the Court, if I lived-on this I was determined. That afternoon I wrote a letter to a friend of mine in Natchez, who was a woman that kept a dance- house-now living and wealthy, and, of course, respectable-requesting her to get clear of the evi- dence against me. I received an answer to this next morning, assuring me I need fear nothing ; that I might make my appearance at the proper time with perfect safety, for there would be no one present to witness against me. I left Natchez the same day, on foot, for Pittsburgh, which I reached the latter part of July. I lost no time collecting money, and gathered up $1,500, and started in a large covered skiff on my return to Natchez. This was the last of August. My skiff had two pair of oars, and I took three yankees on board to work their passage as far as Cincinnati, and the
At Cincinnati I hired a man to help me the rest of the way down ; by the time we reached Louisville, however, he got tired and ran off. I went over the Falls by myself, and landed at Shippingsport in search of another hand, and the first man that met my eye was Bill Lloyd. You may guess my as- tonishment. My first words were, "Why, Bill, how did you get here ?" " Why, I walked tho most of the way." "Well, how did you get out of jail ?" "Oh," said he, "it got so d-d sickly among the thieving scoundrels in there, that the jailer was glad to open my door to get me to take charge of the sick. I opened the door for the rest, and all went out that could walk out, and then I walked off to the mouth of Tennessee, and there I got a chance to push up on that keel-boat there," said he, pointing to it. " Well, Bill, you need not fear anything while you are with me," I remarked; " I am going back to stand my trial, and I want to hire a hand to help me down. The river is low, and if I don't get some good hand to help me row, I fear I shan't get there in time." In short, I agreed to give Bill a dollar a day, and to let him off at Walnut Hills; so he came on with his horn and blanket, and we were off in a jiffy. Bill was a worthless fellow, and I knew it, but he was a stout and good oarsman. He had not been long with me, till he found out that my chest was heavy, and I watched him close. When we were near the mouth of the Ohio, he became dissatisfied, and objected to going any further towards Natch- cz, proposed to go trapping up the Mississippi, in- sisting there could be a great deal made on the Misscuri, with other suggestions of the sort. I paid little attention to his statements or arguments, keeping on down the Mississippi, and told him, if he wanted to stop, to do so; as for me, I should go on to Natchez. He said no more until we were in the bend above Beef Island, when he broke out afresh, accusing me of suspicioning him of a wish to rob me. I told him I was not afraid of him in any shape. A fight ensued, which I knew must end in the death of one or the other, with the skiff and my money for the victor's spoils. After much struggling, I put him over board. I set the blade of an oar against him, shoving him off from the skiff, then thrusting the oar to him, told him to save his life. He made no other reply, than to clench the oar and throw it back to me, telling me to 'go to hell,' and swimming about fifty yards, safely reached the head of Beef Is- land. I landed at Natchez at one o'clock, and on the morning of the first Monday in October, I left the skiff, and with my chest on my shoulder, walked up to the dance-house. My friend was still up, as were several more. I deposited my chest with her, and looking around the room, I espied the most important witness against me. I turned to her, reminding her of the promise she had made me. She told me she had been trying to get rid of him all summer ; that he was the only evidence against me left in the country, and that she would yet get him out of the way. 1 observed the time was short, and calling him forward, told him I would give him five hundred dollars to leave the place that morning, and not appear against me. He swore there was no use to talk to him, for he had braved the worst of the yellow-fever
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for the purpose of remaining there and appearing against me, and I might depend upon it, he would be on the spot when called to testify. My friend said, never fear, all would be right; and as I was about bidding her and witness good-bye, proposed that we should take a gin-sling together. She mixed one for witness, one for me, and one for her- self. Having all drank, I started for Washington, and reached there by 9 o'clock. Being quite tired, I lay down on the door-step and directly fell fast asleep and did not awake until the sheriff, calling the Court awoke me. Every body seemed aston- ished at my presence. My case was the first one called. I answered to my name, and when the judge enquired of me if I was ready for trial, my counsel did not happen to be present, and I an- swered that I was as ready then as I ever should be; that I had no evidence when I was sent to jail, and had none now. The attorney for the State! directed the sheriff to call his witnesses, to see if he was ready for trial, who called 11 names in succes- sion, not one of whom was present, but some one answered, name by name, as they were called, what had become of them. Some had left the country, and some had died of the yellow fever, until the name of the one I had left in Natchez was called, and the answer was that he died that morn- ing at half past eight. There being no evidence against me, I was, ofcourse, discharged, and return- ed the same evening to Natchez. I asked my friend what had caused the fellow's death who was to have been the witness. She said she supposed it was in the course of nature, nor could I, then or afterwards, get any satisfaction from her on this point. Next day, Icalled on my security, settled my business with him, then went to my friend's house, opened my chest, and counted out $500 for her, She perceived what I was doing, and told me, if I wanted to make her my enemy for life, I could have a chance, and if I dared to offer her money, she would blow my brains out. I made several excuses to induce her to take the money, saying that I owed it to her honestly for her kind treat- ment of me, and that I did not mean anything dishonorable by it. She remained resolute, and said if I wanted to continue friends with her, I must not offer her money. I then bade her good- bye, and before dark, my chest and skiff and my- self were all on the way to New Orleans."
Such was Girty's narrative. And though such a man at this day, would not be entrusted with any important charge, in his time thousands of dol- lars' worth of property and money were confided to his care, and accounted for, to the perfect satis- faction of his employers ; nor was he ever known to break an engagement, or abuse a trustin his pe- cuniary dealings. The narrative itself is put upon record as a correct picture of the river men, and the times in which they flourished.
West. Lit. Journal.
A Pork Story.
As this is "killing time," we may be excu- sed for telling a hog story .
Some years since, B. B. who is a fine judge of hogs, and has dealt in the article, and is rather a cute chap withal, made a contract with a pack- er to furnish him a lot of fat hiogs by a given day. The day came round, and found B. on the road within 8 or 10 miles of Cincinnati with
a fine drove of fat hogs; but the price had risen since the contract was inade, and that contract was in writing. To get over it and sell the hogs at the highest price, was a job that tax ed B's. wits to the utmost; but he succeeded. Gallop- ing ahead of the hogs, he went to the pac ker, and called him out, when the following chat ensued :
'.Mr. O," says B. "you must lend me three or four hands to help in with those hogs."
O. "Why so?"
B. "Because I can't get them into town with - out; they have got so wild there is no driving them. I left the boys minding them in a field about 8 miles back, and must have some help or they will all run off.
O. "Run off! Why I agreed with you for fat hogs, to weigh so much."
B. Well they are big hogs, and will weigh that, but they are as wild as Injins. They run like all the world.
O. Well but fat hogs dont run that way .- When did you start from Hamilton ?
B. Why this morning to be sure! Did you think I was going to be a week driving them in? Come send out the h ands, and let's get them in- to town.
O. I tell you I did'nt agree to take such hogs.
B. Did'nt you agree for hogs that would weigh so much? These will do it; and if you want the høgs, just send the men out with me, and they shall be here in two hours.
O. Well but I can't take hogs that will trav- el that way. You had better take them some- where else.
B. Yes, but we have a written agreement ; and I must hold you to it.
O. I did'nt want such hogs I tell you, and we must break the article.
B. Well, if you won't have them I must sell them somewhere else; but they are mighty big hogs-only a little wild. But tear up the paper if you don't like it.
The paper was torn up, and the next morning B. drove in a rare lot of fat hogs, and sold them for a dollar a hundred more than agreed for with O .- Hamilton Intelligencer.
MARRIED,
ON Saturday, January The 4th inst., by the Rev. Thee odore Clapp, JAMES EDWARDS to Miss LUCY ADAMS, all of this city.
On the 7th inst., by Elder Wm. P. Stratton, Mr. JAMES CLARK to Miss CHRISTIANA NILES, both of Fulton.
On the 8th inst., by the Rt. Rev. J. B. Purcell, DAVID A. DONIPHAN, M. D. of Natchez, Miss., to Miss MARY ANN MEGROARTY, of this city.
On the 8th inst., by the Rev. Mr. LOWRY. HENRY A. THORP, Jr., to Mrs. HANNAH CROCKET, all of This city.
DIED,
ON Friday, January the 3rd inst., at her residence, al Beech Grove, Georgetown, Ohio, Mrs. LYDIA B., consort of Hon, Thos. L HAMER.
On the 8th inst., PRESLEY KEMPER, Esq., an old citizen of this City-and one of the Commissioners of Hamilton County.
On the 8th ins !. , Gen. RUFUS HODGES-a member of the Cincinnati Bar.
On the 10th inst., EDITH WALLACE, youngest child of A. H. Ewing, Esq.
On the 12th : JACOB RESOR, Esq., aged 61 years.
CINCINNATI MISCELLANY.
CINCINNATI, FEBRUARY, 1845.
The Sleeping Wife.
Delicious task to sit and watch
The breathing of a sleeping wife, And mark the features of that state Dividing Death from Life. How sweet her slumber! on her lids The angel -- Peace -- hath setits scal; And to her couch the guard forbids An envious care to steal.
How beautiful! She would compel The tribute of a stoic's kiss; Angelic purity might dwell In such a shrine as this.
And here it dwells -- unstained and bright, Though half concealed by modest fear ; Yes, were this soul disrobed this night, There were an angel here.
How sweet her slumber! None but those Whom Heav'n hath numbered for its bliss, Have promise of such calm repose -- Such perfect rest as this.
Unconscious of the woes and cares That weigh us down in waking hours, Her gentle spirit only wears A burden now of flowers!
She dreams! Her radiant features speak Of themes that waken deep delight,
And smiles adorn her lip and cheek - Smiles beautiful and bright. Oh! could I lift the jealous veil That doth those joyous thoughts conceal, The spotless page a sinless tale Would presently reveal.
And hark ! Her parting lips disclose Some cherished secret long repressed : Mark how her cheek with blushes glows- How heaves her swelling breast! She breathes a name amid her dream -- The soul of love is in the tone!
Her cheeks with deeper blushes teem : That name-it is my own!
Joy ! joy ! my bliss is perfect now- The boon I craved is mine-is mine; Upon my bended knee I bow, And thank thee, God Divine!
By night or day-awake -- asleep, The signals of her love I see : I know that love is pure and deep, And centered all in me.
A TENDER HEART .- A certain man in Ver- mont once said that his children were the most tender-hearted beings that he ever knew, and on being asked what made him think so, said- 'Because they always cry when I ask them to get a bucket of water.'
Ninth Ward -- Cincinnati.
This is the north east section of our city, ex- tending from Sixthstreet north, to the corpora- tion line, and Main street cast, to the First Ward, a few years since, and the largest portion of its surface was then built on. Two thirds of it is now occupied with improvements.
The public buildings of this ward, are in num- ber fourteen, as follows: St. Xavier and Wood- ward Colleges, Court House. and public office s adjacent, public school house. on Franklin st .: Jail; Baptist church, on Webster st, Episcopal, on Pendleton st, Methodist, on Webster, and Catholic on Sycamore streets, colored Methodist church, on New st., Engine houses, on Sycamore and Webster streets. Of these the Engine house on Webster street, and the Episcopal church are recent erections.
The entire number of buildings in the Ninth ward are 1212; pricks 478, frames, 732, stone 2.
Of these there were, at the close of 1842:
Bricks, 352. Frames, 663. Stone, 0
1015.
In '43, 81. 34. 0. 115.
In '44, 45. 35. 82,
478.
732 2. 1212-
On the opposite sido of the "Advertiser" will be found a general summary of the building op- erations of Cincinnati.
Investments for Capitalists.
It seems difficult to impress Capitalists abroad. with correct views of the subject of investments here. Nor is it any wonder, while there are hun- dreds here, with abundant resources, who pre- fer investing surplus funds in bank stock or in mortgages, producing them 8 to 10 per cent. per annum. A few facts which I can authen- ticate by a reference to the individuals alluded to, will set this short-sighted poliey in its true light.
A year ago the vacant corner of Walnut and Fourth streets, belonging to the First Presbyte- rian Society, was offered on perpetual lease, at public sale. The property was 99 feet on Fourth Street, by 36 on Walnut, with the privilege of air and light from a space of ten feet in the rear, to be kept open forever for the common bene- fit of the Fourth street property, and the Cincin- nati College, its neighbor to the north. It brought 10 dollars per front foot on Fourth St. Messrs. Sanford & Park, who leased 33 feet in- cluding the corner, put up two buildings, which cost when finished, 3950 dollars. They occu- py the corner with their store, counting room, manufacturing and ware rooms in the base- ment, for which space they paid on Fourth Street,
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