USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 34
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I left it for Philadelphia, now Alahshehr. It was gratifying to find at last some surviving fruits of early zeal ; and here, at least, whatever may be lost of the spirit of christianity there is still the form of a christian church,-this has been kept from the hour of temptation which came upon all the christian world. There are here about 1000 christians, chiefly Greeks, who, for the most part, speak only Turkish ; there are twenty-five places of public worship, five of which are large, regular churches; to these there is a resident bishop, with twenty inferior clergy. A copy of the modern Greek Testament was received by the Bishop, with great thankful- ness.
I quitted Alah-shehr, deeply disappointed at the statement I received there of the church of Sardis. I trusted that in its utmost trials, it would not have been suffered to perish utterly, and I heard with surprise, that not a vestige of it re- mained. With what satisfaction, then, did I find on the plains of Sardis; a small church es- tablishment : the few christians which dwell a- round modern Sart, werc anxious to settle therc and erect a church, as they were in the habit of meeting ai each other's houses, for the exercise of religion. From this design they were prohib- ited by Kar 'Osman Oglu. the Turkish govein- or of the district, and in consequence, about five years ago, they built a church upon the plain, within view of ancient Sardis, and there they maintain a priest. The place has gradually ris- en into a little village, now called Tartar-Keny; thither the few christians of Sart, who amount to seven, and those in its immediate vicinity, re- sort for public worship, and form together a congregation of about forty. There appears then still a remnant, "a few names even in Sar- dis," which have been preserved. I cannot re- peat the expressions of gratitude with which they received a copy of the New Testament in a language with which they were familiar. Sev. eral crowded abont the priest, to hear it on the spot; and I left them thus engaged.
Ak-hisar, the ancient Thyatira, is said to con- tain about 30,000 inhabitants, of whom 3000 are christians. all Greek, except about 200 Armeni aus. There is, however, but one Greek church, and one Armenian. The superior of the Greek church, to whom I presented the Romaic Tes- tament, esteemed it so great a treasure that he earnestly pressed me, if possible, to spare ano- ther, that one might be secured to the church, and free from accidents, while the other went a- round among the people, for their private read- ing. I have therefore, since my return hither, sent him four copies.
with deep regret, that the resident clergy wer's totally incapable of estimating the gift I inten- ded for them ; I therefore delivered the Testament to the lay vicar of the hishop, at his urgent re- quest, he having assured me, that the bishop would highly prize so valuable an acquisition to the Church; he seemed much pleased that the benighted state of his nation had excited the attention of strangers.
Thus I have left, at least, one copy of the un- adulterated word of God, at each of the seven Asiatic churches of the Apocalypse, and I trust they are not utterly thrown away; but whoever may plant, it is God only who can give the in- crease; and from his goodness, we may hope, they will in due time, bring forth fruit some thirty, some sixty, and some an hundred fold !
CORRESPONDENCE.
Mike Fink.
Mr. Cist:
In your paper of January 22d, there is an ar- ticle from your pen, entitled "The last of the Girtys," in which you say Morgan Neville has done more than justice to Mike, by classing him with that portion of the keel boat men of his day who were intrusted with the property of others. There is no doubt but that Mike has had charge of many keel boats, with valu- able cargoes; and a friend of mine, one of the oldest and most respected of the commanders of steamboats in the Nashville trade, related to me, ,within the last four days that, in 1819, he was employed to leave Pittsburgh, and go down the Ohio in hunt of Mike and his car- go, which had been detained by some unac- countable delay. At some distance above Wheeling he found the loiterer lying to, in company with another keel, apparently in no hurry to finish the trip. Mike did not greet our envoy in very pleasant style, but kept the fair weather side out, knowing that my friend was able to hoe his own row. Mike was determined not to leave good quarters that night, and all went to bed wherever they could. In the night my friend was awakened by some noise or other, and before falling asleep again, he heard Mike say in a low voice, "Well, boys, who's going to still to-night?" This question drew his attention, as it was something he did not understand. Watching for some time, he saw Mike take a tin bucket, that had apparently been fixed for the purpose, with a small pipe inserted in its bottom, about the size of a com- mon gimblet. This was taken to a cask of wine or brandy, and a hole made in either cask, the pipe put in, and then a couple of quarts of water turned into the bucket. Then the "still" began to operate, as they drew from the head of the cask until the water in the bucket disap- peared.
The Church of Pergamos, in respect to num- bers, may be said to flourish still in Bergamo .- The town is less than Ak-hisar, but the num- ber of Christians is about as great, the propor- tion of Armenians to Greeks nearly the same, and each nation also has one church. The Bish- op of the district, who occasionally resides there, Thus they obtained the liquor, and the cause was at that time absent; and I experienced, of their long detention ascertained. The very
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casks of wine thut Mike drew from, were re- turned to the merchant in Pittsburgh, more than a year afterwards, having soured.
Thus you see Mike did have charge of mer- chandize, and to considerable extent.
But I did not intend to defend Mike from the charge you have made against him, for in truth, he was all that was "worthless and vilc." I in- tended to tell you an anecdote that occurred about the year 1820, just below the mouth of the Muskingum, in which Mike was prominent. There had several keel boats landed there for the night, it being near the middle of Novem- ber. After making all fast, Mike was obser- ved, just under the bank, scraping into a heap, the dried beach leaves, which had been blown there during the day, having just fallen, from the effects of the early autumn frosts. To all questions, as to what he was doing, he returned no answer, but continued at his work, until he had piled them =p as high as his head. He then separated them, making a sort of an ob- long ring, in which he laid down, as if to ascer- tain whether it was a good bed or not. Getting up he sauntered on board, hunted up his rifle, made great preparations about his priming, and then called in a very impressive manner upon his wife to follow him. Both proceeded up to the pile of leaves, poor "Peg" in a terrible flut- ter, as she had discovered that Mike was in no very amiable humor.
. "Get in there and lie down," was the com- mand to Peg, topped off with one of Mike's very choicest oaths.
"Now Mr. Fink," (she always mistered him when his blood was up,) "what have I done, I don't know, I'm sure -- "
"Get in there and lie down, or I'll shoot you," with another oath, and drawing his rifle up to his shoulder. Poor Peg obeyed, and crawled into the leaf pile, and Mike covered her up with the combustibles. He then took a flour barrel, and split the staves into fine pieces, and lighted them at the fire on board the boat, all the time watching the leaf pile, and swearing he would shoot Peg if she moved. So soon as his splinters began to blaze, he took them into his hand and deliberately set fire, in four dif- ferent places, to the leaves that surrounded his wife. In an instant, the whole mass was on fire, aided by a fresh wind, which was blowing at the time, while Mike was quietly standing by enjoying the fun. Peg, through fear of Mike, stood it as long as she could ; but it soon became too hot, and she made a run for the river, her hair and clothing all on fire. In a few seconds she reached the water, and plunged in, rejoiced to know she had escaped both fire and rifle so well. "There ," said Mike, "that'll larn you to be winkin at them fellers on the other boat."
There are many occasions of this kind, where Mike and Peg were the actors, all going to show that Mike was one of the very lowest of mankind, and entirely destitute of any of the manly qualities which often were to be found among the bargemen of his day. K. Cincinnati, Feb. 11, 1845.
The Early Steam boats of the West. Mr. Cist :
Dear Sir-In your paper of this day, you state that, "The first steamboat that ever navigated the Ohio and Mississippi, started front Pittsburgh in 1812." I have seen the same or similar statements published several times, and as I know they are incorrect, will you suffer me to correct them ?
In the fall of the year 1811, after the embar- go was laid on English vessels, and before the earthquakes of Dec. 1811, my father was resi- ding on the Ohio river, nearly opposite General Harrison's farm at North Bend. The family was one day much surprised, at seeing the young Mr. Weldons running down the river much alarmed, and shouting, "the British are coming down the river," There had of course been a current rumor of a war with that power. All the family immediately ran to the bank .- We saw something, I knew not what, but sup- posed it was a saw mill from the working of the lever beam, making its slow but solemn pro- gress with the current. We were shortly after- wards informed it was a steamboat. I think it was about an 150 ton boat.
I know I sm correct as to the time, for in April 1812, my father sold his farm, and with his family, removed to the Big Bone lick, of which date we have ample proof in the family,
With respect, P. S. BUSH.
Covington, Feb. 5, 1845.
Scenes at an English Election.
What a scene electioneering is! I shall nev - er forget what I have seen of it. I was prevail- ed upon to go with a friend to witness his heing elected, but it is the last scene of the kind in which I shall ever take a part. There was, however, in it, a mixture of the serio-comic, of the intriguing, of the marvellous, and of the ri- diculous. There must certainly be a great charm in being a member of parliament; otherwise , would men condescend and drudge, flatter. fawn, and cajole, stoop to all ranks and to. all humours to gain that point? A candidate is the most affable, the most accommodating charac- ter in the world; but it cannot be expected, after such rebuffs, thar, when chosen, the same pain- ful part should be acted to the end.
The rivalry at the election of which I have spoken, was excessive : and John Bull was more than ordinarily brutal. Yet so supple was one of the candidates, that he considered a stone thrown at him only as a striking proof of John's regard, and he "hugged the greasy rogues" as
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though they had been his dearest friends. There wore family anecdotes, and private vices, per- sonal defects, and even personal misfortunes, made the broad thome of vulgar clamour, and bandied from side to side in order to annoy the opposite party. I was so ignorant of these mat- ters, that I inveighed against such disgraceful practices, as a dishonour to the representatives of a great nation, and an indelible stain on the people who committed these excesses. But I was informed that it was all according to an- vient custom, that a broken head or the receipt of a dead dog in one's face, was only the pot- luck on these occasions; and that elections are the Englishman's carnival, or rather his satur- nalia; for, in the former, insults are given and received under the mask, and are of course less gross and degrading; but, in the latter, they are warrantod by privilege and usage, and are as- sumed as it by charter.
One of the candidates becamo a complete cat- echumen to his constituents elect; and it was laughable to hear how like a good boy he answer- cd all his catechisers. My friend, however, took it easier; he had represented the city before, and knew the temper of his constituents. The corn bill was thrown in his face, but he swallowed it. The Habeas Corpus Act he took the liberty to parry ; and as he had no pension, he got off scot free on those heads. What most astonished me was, that a very proud and a very indolent man should so demean himself for a vote, and bestir himself with such activity in order to aecom- plish his purpose. His memory too, appeared to me prodigious. He recollected every man's name, his avocation, his weakness, his circum- stances, and his interest .- "IIa, Thomas," it was to one, "how well you look! why, you've shaken off your ague!" .Ees,' says Thomas, .I've been shaking long enough, but they shan't shake my politics.' "Well done, Thomas! 1 honor thee ; give me thy hand (the dirtiest I ev- er saw, covered with mannrc.) Then thou'lt stick to the old Orango interest?" [Thomas] .Noah-I have had much better offers t'other sido. Beside, I think we hau't well used by the king's men; daug it, they are too proud; they treads the poor all as well as dirt under their feet.' -"Oh! fie; oh! fie, my dear Thomas."? My friend stepped aside with Thomas: what he said to him I don't pretend toknow ; but thrice they shook hands; and Thomas shook his sides with laughter. He went off grinning, and said, 'Will, ye bid to get the plumper.' He next met an old man, "Ilow sorry I was, friend Barnacle, for the loss of your cattle (this circumstance he had learned a few minutes be- fore.) I wish you had written to me; but I think I have a plan for you. By the by, how many sons have you who are freemen ?" .Four, your honor.' "And how are they doing ?" __ .Mortal bad; and the young one, I can't do nothing with.' "That's a pity, friend Barnaele. I should think the Blue Coat school would not be a bad thing for the young one; and the two el- dest must manage your affairs." '-Ecs-> ".And I should think that Jack-" Ilis name is James, your honor.' "Ah ! true- James would make a rare exciseman ; he's a keen dog, friend Barnacle." 'Ah! that ho be.' "And Bob -_ " 'Bill, your honor.' "True! how can I be so foolish -- Bill would make a good clerk." .Ecs, the lad writes a scholardly hand.' "Well,
I say, iny servant shall bring you a pound of rare stuff, which I brought you from town." .I thank you kindly.' "There, go up to the hustings! take the four boys. All plumpers, I hope." "Ees.' After which my friend bought a pound of common snuff, and sent it as though he had brought it from London.
Coming to a smart, well-dressed fellow, he said, "Are you out of place ?" .I am, Sir.' "But you have kept your vote ?" .I have, Sir.' "Well, we must get you into place." Yes, Sir, I should like a place under government, I am tired of service." "Surely! well, we must see to that." (The man had been a footman!)
Disengaged from him, my friend was attack. ed by an old woman, who abused him must vi- olenily for breach of promise, for voting against the interest of the country, for neglect, and for a long list of sins. His gentleness and adroit- ness got the better in the end : and after endu- ring much, he prevailed upon her to allow her sun to split his vote betwixt him and the oppo- site party.
"Honest Mr. Shambles!" exclaimed he next, "Why, you did'nt give me a call when last you came to Smithfield." 'Yes, your honor, I did; but your pert jack-anapes of a French valet almost shut the door in my face, and said as how you was not visible.' "A rascal !" said the member, "I must turn him away, Shambles; he offends every body; he does not know how to discriminate between my real friends, and a parcel of intruders. But I say, that's a mighty pretty woman-your second wife?" .Tol lol, your honor.' " And what do you think of do- ing with your heir-a fine lad too-your only son, I think ?" .Ifc is sir. Why I think of ma- king a doctor of him (fine lessons of humanity he must have learned from you, thought I to myself,) but he prefers being a parson ; and as I can afford to give him the first of neddyeations, it don't matter. He's a bright boy ; he'll got on; and I can give him some thousands .?- "Right, my honest friend ; and I know a family which has high church interest. But we must not talk of that now, at another time we will. He'll make a capital bishop; he speaks well, don't he?"" 'Oh! aye, your honor; he has the gift of the gab; you'll hear him by and by tip 'em a bit of a speech for your side of the ques- tion.' "Bravo! but Shambles, why don't you make him a lawyer? I could give him a lift there : I vow, I should not be surprised to see him Lord Chancellor yet." The old butcher was so delighted with this dream of ambition, that he went off resolved to strain every neive for my friend, and swore, that if his next door neighbor, who had promised his vote for the Blue, as ho called it, did not break his word and change sides, he would arrest him for his bill due for meat. We lastly called at a school master's who had seven children. These my friend called Cherubim and Seraphim. Indeed all the elector's children whom he met, wero the finest children in the world. In each of their hands he put a guinea. But this was no bribery; for it is cloar the poor children had no vote, and the fathers did not see the money giv- en, neither could they be accountable for oth- ers. On our road to the hustings, I asked him if he had such extensive interest as to give away all the things which he had led his friends to expect. He answered me in the negativo. I inquired what then he could give them? which he answered me by putting the two following
do you take as much snuff as ever?" .Ees, your honor, I likes it as well as ever; but its waundy dear.' "Come, give me a pinch, and I questions :-- "Can our physicians cure one tenth
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of the maladies incident to man, or restore all | his wants, and worth at one time tweive thou- their patients to health? Can they always give sand dollars, and a Judge of the Court, died in our city hospital, and was buried at the public expense. I have seen him once and again pre- siding at public meetings. them even relief?" "Decidedly not.' "Neither can I provido for all these people. Indeed I don't think that I can provide for any of them; but there is one thing which I can give them, and so can the physician to his patients." -- "What is that ?' "Hope!" I was now quite sat- isfied with the solidity of his promiscs.
Ups and Downs of Life.
It is useful as well as interesting to notice the changes for the better or worse, which ten or fifteen years aerve to operate in a community.
I know a business man on Main Street refus- ed credit in 1830, for a stove worth twelve dol- lars. He is now a director in one of the banks, and worth 150,000 dollars at least. Every cent of this has been made in Cincinnati during that period.
I know another business man, also on Main Street, who was refused credit in 1825, by a firm in the drug line, for the amount of fire dol- Jars. In 1830 that very firm lent that very man fire thousand dollars upon his unendorsed note.
I know an extensive dealer in the city, now worth 100,000 dollars, and who can com- mand more money on a short notice, for sixty, ninety, or one hundred and twenty days, than almoat any man in Cincinnati, to whom I, as clerk for a grocery house here in 1830, sold a hogshead of sugar, with great misgiving and re- luctance, under some apprehension of not get- ting the moncy when it became due.
I know a man whose credit in 1830, was such that when I trusted him for a keg of saltpetre, my employer told me I might as well have rolled it into the Ohio. Since that period he was worth fifty thousand dollars, then a bankrupt, worth in 1837 one hundred thousand dollars, again a bankrupt in 1841, and now worth twenty thou- sand dollars.
I know a man good for thirty thousand dol- lars, who ten years ago exhibited a monkey through the streets of Cincinnati, for a living.
I know a heavy business man --- a bank direc- tor who sold apples in a basket when a boy through our streets.
I knew one of the first merchants in our city in 1825, who could at that period have bought entire blocks of the city on credit, a director in one of the banks, who within ten years of that period, died insolvent and intemperate.
Another influential man of that day, whose credit was unlimited, being president of one of our insurance companies, and also a bank direc- tor, diod within five years, insolvent and intem- perate.
Another individual who was considered in 1837 worth half a million dollars, has died since, leaving the estate insolvent.
The founder of the Penitentiary system, in Pennsylvania, and well known in that State and elsewhere as a public man, died a pauper in the Commercial Hospital in this city. I have scen him addressing the Legislature of that State, at Harrisburg, and listened to with the attention and deference that would have been paid to John Quincy Adams, or any other pub- lic man of this age.
I know a lady, the descendant of a distinguish- ed governor of Massachusetts, who supports her- self by her needle, and the niece of a governor of New Jersey still living, who washes for sub- sistencc.
I know a lady, who thirty years ago in the city in which I then lived, was the cynosure of all eyes, one of the most graceful and beautiful of the sex, and moving in the first circles of wealth and fashion, now engaged in drudgery and dependence, at one dollar and fifty cents per week. All these reside in this city.
What are the fictions of romance writers, com- pared to some of the realities of human life ?
Cincinnati in 1812.
The following document speaks for itself. It is one among many evidences of what is famil- iar enough to thousands yet living, how unpre- pared the United States was for war, when the country was placed on the 18th June, 1812, in its "armor and attitude." It seems by this docu- ment, that hardly more than thirty years ago the mercantile establishments of our city conld not produce 200 pairs blankets, for the supply of the 400 volunteers, just entering the public service for the defence of the frontiere.
I suppose Cincinnati at this period, could sup- ply the equipment with blankets for an army of 50,000 men, without rendering it necesenry to call on families to part with the article.
A CALL ON THE PATRIOTISM OF CINCINNATI.
The situation of our country has compelled the government to resort to precautionary meas- ures of defence. In obedience to its call, 400 men bave abandoned the comforts of domestic life, and are here assembled in camp, at the dia- tance of some hundred miles from liome, pre- pared to protect our frontier from the awfal ef- fects of sarage and of civilized warfare. But the unprecedented celerity with which they have moved, precluded the possibility of properly equipping them. Many. very many of them, are destitute of BLANKETS; and without those indisponsible articles, it will be impossible for them to move to their point of destination .----
Another individual, of credit equal to all his | CITIZENS OF CINCINNATI! this oppeal is made to:
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you-let each family furnish one or more BLAN- KETS, and the requisite number will be easily completed. It is not requested as a boon : the moment your blankets are delivered, you shall receive the full value in money-they are not to he had at the stores. The season of the year is approaching, when each family may without in- convenience part with ONE.
Mothers! Sisters! Wives !- recollect that the men in whose favor this appeal is made, have connections as near and as dear as any which can bind you to life. These they have volunta- rily abandoned, trusting that the integrity and patriotism of their fellow-citizens will supply ev- ery requisite for themselves and their families ; and trusting that the same spirit which enabled their fathers to achieve their INDEPENDENCE, will enable their sons to defend it. To-morrow ar- rangements will be made for their reception, and the price paid,
R. J. MEIGS, Governor of Ohio.
Cincinnati, April 30, 1812.
Cooking Stoves.
How rapid as well as radical are the changes in every department of living, which the last thirty years have made! It may be presumed, within that period, and indeed within half of it, that the modern discoveries in Science and the Arts, with their application to practical purpo- ses, have enabled the community to support in a given bounds, fifty per cent. additional popula- ton upon the same resources, by the economy of means and materials on one hand, and the en- larged supply of products on the other.
Take one article as an illustration. Thirty years ago, cooking was universally performed in the chimney, to the great waste of fuel and sa- crifice of strength and comfort to our mothers, wives, sisters and daughters, devoted as they thus were to the flames. The Cooking Stove was invented. The blessings of millions of suf- fering women will forever hallow the inventor's name. By this improvement on the old fashion- ed ten plate stoves, cooking, washing, heating irons, boiling, steaming, &c., are now perform- ed without that exposure of a delicate or feeble female to the scorching fire or stifling smoke of a chimney, which they were once compelled to endure.
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