USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 35
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But the first Cooking stove was like the first Steam boat, the application of a principle mere- ly, leaving to later projectors the honor as well as benefit of bringing out of the invention by further improvements, the perfection in econo- my and comfort of which it might be found sus- ceptible.
The latest improvement, perhaps the greatest ever made in these stoves is STRAUE's Flame en- circled oven Cooking Stove.
This is a stove that claims to combine all that is valuable in the existing Cooking Stoves, with certain improvements peculiar to itself, which unite in a remarkable degree the equalization of
heat throughout the whole baking department, with an economy of fuel which I have noticed in no other article of the kind.
This stove is constructed so as to poss a flue entirely round the oven; the heat being thus used twice, once under, and once over the oven. With an enlarged air chamber through which all the heat must pass, consequently every part of the oven must be heated alike. It is this mode of applying the flame and heat which produces the saving of fuel also.
I regard Mr. Straub, as having solved a diffi- cult and long sought problem,-the passing the heat twice round without impairing the neces- sary draught of the stove. This is effected in the enlargement of the air chamber, which af- fords increased space for the rarefaction of air and compensates for the usual disadvantage of a circular draught.
I have one of these stoves, a No. 2, in use which ] find by reference to dates, burns no more wood in six days than its predecessor, a No. 3 Cincinnati cooking stove did in four. It must be recollected that a No. 2 stove is of a greater capacity by fifty per cent, than a No. 3, and of course, the difference is still greater in favor of Straub's stove than merely the economy of fuel, cooking one third more as it does.
The plates of this stove are thicker than most others, which enables them to retain heat a lon- ger period, as well as to cool more gradually. I deem this a valuable improvement.
Seasoned fuel, fit for stove use, costs four dol- lars per cord. My annual wood bill heretofore, is for thirteen cords, say fifty-two dollars. The saving in this stove over some of its competitors of the same capacity would therefore pay the price of a new stove for a family of fifteen to twenty persons in two years; and as long as it lasted, prove a yearly saving of eighteen or twenty dollars to its purchaser.
A loaf of wheat or rye bread as it comes fresh- ly baked from this stove, would prove a luxury to millions, who even in our own land, have never tasted a first rate article.
MARRIAGES.
ON Wednesday, Febuary 5th, near Louisville, Ky., by the Rev. Mr. Breckenridge, Major DAVID GWYNNE, of Cincinnati, to Miss SOPHIA W., daughter of Capt. Tal- bert.
In this city, on Sunday, 9th inst., by Etder Wm. P. Stratton, Mr. WILLIAM H. HECKELEY to Miss MARY B. LACONEY.
On same day by the same, Mr. JEREMIAn W. MALINEE to Miss ELIZABETH SIMPSON.
DEATHS.
IN this city, on Sunday, Febuary 9th. ROBERT MOOR. READ, M. D.
In Newport, Ky., on Buaday, 9th inst., JOSHUA La-
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Indian Warfare -- Lewis Wetzel No. 3.
Some time after Gen. Harmar had crected a fort at the mouth of the Muskingum river, he employed some white men to go with a flag a- mong the nearest Indian tribes, to prevail with them to come to the fort, and there to conclude a treaty of peace. A large number of Indians came on the general invitation, and encamped on the Muskingum river, a few miles above its mouth. Gen. Harmar issued a proclamation, giving notice that a cessation of arms was mu- tually agreed upon between the white and red men, till an effort for a treaty of peace should be concluded.
As treaties of peace with Indians had been so frequently violated, but little faith was placed in the stability of such engagements by the frontiersmen; notwithstanding that they were as frequently the aggressors as were the Indians. Half the backwoodsmen of that day had been born in a fort, and grew to manhood as it were, in a siege. The Indian war had continued so long, and wasso bloody, that they believed war with them was to continue as long as both sur- vived to fight. With these impressions, as they considered the Indians faithless, it was difficult to inspire confidence in the stability of treaties. While Gen. Harmar was diligently engaged with the Indians, endeavoring to make peace, Lewis Wetzel concluded to go to Fort Harmar, and as the Indians would be passing and repassing be- tween their camp and the fort, would have a fair opportunity of killing one. He associated with himself in this enterprise, a man by the name of Veach Dickerson, who was only a small grade below him in restless daring. As soon as the enterprise was resolved on, they were impatient to put it in execution. The more danger, the more excited and impatient they were to execute their plan. They set off without delay, and arrived at the desired point, and sat themselves down in ambush, near the path leading from the fort to the Indian camp. Shortly after they had concealed themselves by the way-side, they saw an Indian approaching on horse-back, running his horse at full speed. They called to him, but owing to the clatter of the horses feet, he did not hear or heed their call, but kept on at a sweeping gallop. When the Indian had nearly passed, they concluded to give him a shot as he rode. They fired; but as the Indian did not fall, they thought they had missed him. As the alarm would soon be spread that an Indian had been shot at; and as large numbers of them were near at hand, they commenced an immediate retreat to their home As their neighbors knew the object of their ex- pedition, as soon as they returned, they were asked what luck ? Wetzel answered, that they
had bad luck -- they had seen but one Indian, and he on horseback -- that they fired at him as he rode, but he did not fall, but went off scratch- ing his back, as if he had been stung by a yel- lowjacket." The truth was, they had shot him through the hips and lower part of the belly .- He rode to the fort, and that night expired of his wound.
It was soon rumored to Gen. Harmar, that Lewis Wetzel was the murderer. Gen. Harmar sent a Captain Kingsbury, with a company of men to the Mingo Bottom, with orders to take Wetzel, alive or dead-a uselcss and impotent order. A company of men could as easily have drawn Beelzebub out of the bottomless pit,as take Lewis Wetzel by force from the Mingo bottom settlement. On the day that Captain Kingsbu- ry arrived, there was a shooting match in the neighborhood, and Lewis was there. As soon as the object of Captain Kingsbury was ascer: tained, it was resolved to ambush the Captain's barge, and kill him and his company. Happily Major M'Mahan was present to prevent this ca- tastrophe, who prevailed on Wetzel and his friends to suspend the attack, till he would pay Captain Kingsbury a visit, perhaps he would in: duce him to return without making an attempt to take Wetzel. With a great deal of reluctance they agreed to suspend the attack till Major M'Maban should return. The resentment and fury of Wetzel and his friends, were boiling and blowing, like the steam from a scape pipo of a steamboat. "A pretty affair this," said they, "to hang a man for killing an Indian when they are killing some of our men almost every day." Major M'Mahan informed Captain Kingsbury of the force and fury of the people, and assur- ed him that if he persisted in the attempt to seize Wetzel, he would have all the settlers in the country upon him ; that nothing could save him and his company from massacre but a speedy return. The Captain took his advice, and forth- with returned to Fort Harmar. Wetzel consid- cred the affair now as finally adjusted.
As Lewis was never long stationary, but ran- ged at will along the river from Fort Pitt to the falls of the Ohio, and was a welcome guest, and perfectly at home wherever he went, shortly af- ter the attempt to seize him by Captain Kings- bury, he got into a canoe, with the intention of proceeding down the Ohio to Kentucky. He had a friend by the name of Hamilton Carr, who had lately settled on the island, near Fort Har- mar. Ilere he stopped with the view of lodg- ing for the night. By some means which never were explained, Gen. Harmar was advised of his being on the island. A guard was sent, who crossed to tho island. surrounded Mr. Carr's house, went in, and as Wotzcl lay asleep he
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was seized by numbers; his hands and feet sc- curely bound, and he was hurried into a boat, and from thence placed in a guard-room where lic was loaded with irons.
The ignominy of wearing iron handcuffs and hobbles, and being chained down, to a man of his independent and resolute spirit, was more painful than death. Shortly after he was con- fined, lie sent for Gen. Harmar, and requested a visit. The General went. Wetzel admitted without hesitation "that he had shot the Indi- an." As he did not wish to be hung like a dog, he requested the General to give him up to the Indians, there being a large number of them present. "He might place them all in a circle, with their scalping knives and tomahawks-and give him a tomahawk and place him in the midst of the circle, and then let him and the Indians fight it out the best way they could." The Gen. told him, "that he was an officer appointed by the law, by which he must be governed. As the law did not authorize him to make such a compromise, he could not grant his request." -- After a few days longer confinement, he again sent for the General to come and see him; and he did so. Wetzel said "he had never been con- fined and could not live much longer if he was not permitted some room to walk about in."
The General ordered the officer on guard to knock off his iron fetters, but to leave on his handcuffs, and permit him to walk about on the point at the mouth of the Muskingum; but to be sure and keep a close watch upon him. As soon as they were outside the fort gate, Lewis began to caper about like a wild colt broke loose from the stall.
was well acquainted with the country, he made for a dense thicket, about two or three miles from tho fort. In the midst of this thicket, he found a tree which had fallen across a log, where the brush was very close. Under this tree he squeezed his body. The brush was so thick that he could not be discovered unless his pur-
suers examined very closely. As soon as huis escape was announced, Gen. Harmar started the soldiers and Indians in pursuit. After he laid about two hours in his place of concealment, two Indians came into the thicket, and stood on the same log under which he lay concealed; his heart beat so violently he was afraid they would hear it thumping. He could hear then hallooing in every direction, as they hunted through the brush. At length, as the evening wore away the day, he found himself alone in the friendly thicket. But what should he do ? His hands were fastencd with iron cuffs and bolts, and he knew of no friend on the same side of the Ohio to whom he could apply for assistance.
He had a friend who had recently put up a cabin on the Virginia side of the Ohio; who he had no doubt would lend him every assistance in his power. But to cross the river was the difficulty. He could not make a raft with his hands bound, and though an excellent swim- mer, it would be risquing too much to trust him- self to the stream in that disabled condition .- With the most gloomy foreboding of the future, he left the thicket as soon as the shades of night began to gather, and directed his way to the Ohio, by a circuitous route, which brought him to a lonely spot three or four miles below the fort. He made to this place, as he expected guards would be set at every point where he could find a canoe. On the opposite shore he saw an acquaintance, Isaac Wiseman by name, fishing in a canoe. Not daring to call to him, as he could not know whether his enemies were not within sound of his voice , he waved his hat for some time to attract the notice of his friend,
He would start and run a few yards as if he having previously induced him to direct his eye was about making an escape, then turn round that course by a gentle splashing in the water. This brought Wiseman to his assistance, who readily aided his escape. Once on the Virginia shore, he had nothing to fear, as he had well wishers all through the country, who would have shed blood if necessary, for his defence. It was not however, until years had elapsed, and Gen. Harmar returned to Philadelphia, that it became safe for Wiseman to avow the act, such was the weakness of civil authority, and the absolute su- premacy of military rule on the frontier. A file and hammer soon released him from the heavy handcuffs. After the night's rost had recruited his energies, he set out for fresh adventures; and join the guards. The next start he would run farther, and then stop. In this way he a- mused the guard for some time, at every start running a little farther. At length he called forth all his strength, resolution and activity, and determined on freedom or an early grave. He gave a sudden spring forward, and bounded off at the top of his speed for the shelter of his beloved woods. His movement was so quick, and so unexpected, that the guard were taken by surprise, and he got nearly a hundred yards before they recovered from their astonishment They fired, but all missed ; they followed in pur_ . suit; but he soon left them out of sight. As he his friend having supplied him with a rifle, am- munition and blanket. He took a canoe and went down the river for Kentucky, where he should feel safe from the grasp of Harmar and this myrmidons.
Subsequently to Wetzel's escape, Gen. Hat- mar removed his head quarters to Fort Wash- ington-Cincinnati. One of his first official acts
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there was to issue a proclamation, offering con- siderable rewards, for the apprehension and de- livery of Lewis, at the Garrison there. No man, however, was found base or daring enough to attempt this service.
Brother Bailey of the Herald.
Dr. Bailey, the editor of the Herald, has a temperament, so kindly and pleasantly made up, that it is a pity that he should experience any . thing else but trouble,-he bears it so grace- fully.
His last difficulty was the reception of a let- ter-but let him tell his own story :
.
The other evening we received a letter, en- dorsed "important," on which we kad the pleas- ure of paying postage. We tore it open, some- what curious to learn the important news. It was from a subscriber, owing about four dollars on our weekly paper, and thus tke epistle ran: "Dear Sir :- You have been in the habit since you were away down South, of threatening and bullyragging those that are in arrears to a few dollars for your excellent paper. You learnt it when you were down South, from the slaveholdt ers to their slaves. Bad examples are more easily imbibed than good ones. I came from away down South myself. I understand all the wiles of the slaveholders, for I have been one myself. I will not, I cannot, and I shall not, bear the insults and dictation from any man or set of men. Inever did beg my life of man or men, and I hope I never shall. So soon as you shall receive this letter, stop sending your pa- per to me, for 1 hope to be able to pay you before very long what I owe you, and then we will be even. Making them that owe a few dollars pay two dollars, and them that do not, one dollar a year, shows justice between the rich and poor. Poverty now a days is nothing but a curse to church and State. Deny it if you can. I have been in the habit of taking newspapers, more or Jess, the greater part of my life. I never did cheat an editor out of a cent in my life, nor do I intend to cheat you. I never had one before to be bullyragging, dictating and exposing me before. You may have your choice, to stop my paper, at this time, or let me have it for one dol- bar a year, for I do mean to pay you as soon as I can.
What do christians think of to bring Moses' writings to prove slavery ? I thought we were as this time called christians.
You may, if you think proper to continue sen- ding on the paper at one dollar the year, or let it alone, as it suits you best, for I hardly care a straw about it. I want to know if you receive this letter or not.
I am respectfully yours,
JOHN NOEL."
That is what we call the sublimity of inde- pendence. Nevertheless, we would remind our friend John Noel, that under both the Jewish and Christian dispensations, men were bound to pay their debts, although St. Paul showed unto them a more excellent way, which was, never to owe any thing.
Of the last paragraph, I would say, it is a problem, whether its humor or good humor is the finest. It is, however, but one specimen among a thousand equally remarkable, of the Dr's characteristic vein of pleasantry.
William Polis
Mr. Tefft an extensive autograph collector of Savannah, Geo. has recently received from a friend at the North, an original manuscript let- ter of Wm. Penn, which he regards as one of the most valuable autographs in his collection. Letters written by this distinguished man are extreme rarities at the present day, Mr. Tefft having hitherto never been able to procure more than a bare signature, cut out from some parch- ment-document. This letter is precious on more than one account,-not only as being a verita- ble original from the hand of the far-famed Qua- ker, but as exhibiting the characteristic quali- ties of the man. We see in it his downright sim- plicity-his quaintness of style-his remarkable force of mind-his rare mingling together of religious humility with a bold and decided line of policy. The reader may be reminded that Penn, at the date of the letter, was forty-two years of age. Only four years previous, he had purchased, settled, and visited his colonial es- tablishment in America. Ile had now returned to England, and had taken lodgings near the court of king James II., to exercise his intlu- ence with that monarch in behalf of his philan- thropic schemes. In this situation it seems he had heard of some unhappy disorders that had disturbed his infant colony in America. The letter before us is chiefly occupied in suggesting measures to suppress them.
Thomas Lloyd, to whom the letter is address- ed succeeded William Penn as President of the Colony. Ile appears to have been an unsala- ried officer. Judging from several of Penn's ex- pressions, we should conjecture that he was dissatisfied with Lloyd's want of energy in sup- pressing the disturbances, though he shrinks from preferring any direct complaint. His mind certainly seems to liave wrought up into a sad gust of perplexities and anxieties. But for the letter itself. The orthography, &c. are exactly transcribed.
WORMINGHURST, 17th 9 mo. 1685.
Dear Tho: Lloyd :
Thyn by way of new york is with me, & first I am extremely sorry to hear that Pennsylvania is so Litigious, and brutish. The report reaches this place with yt *disgrace, yt we have lost I am told, 15000 persons this fall, ma- ny of ymt men of great estates yt are gone and going for Carolina. O that some one person would in ye zeal of a true Phinias & ye meek- ness of a Christian spirit together, stand up for our good beginnings, and bring a savour of righteousness over that ill savour. I cared not what I gave such an one, if it were an 100 € or more out of myn own pocket, I would and will do it, if he be to be found, for ye neglect suchi a care of ye publick might draw on his own af- faires. But I hope to be ready in the Spring, my selfe, and I think, with power and resolu- tion to do ye Just thing, lott it fall on whom it will. O thomas, I cannot express to thee ye grief
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yi is upon mefor it. but my private affaires as well as my publick ones, will not let me budge hence yet ; tho I desire it with so much zeal, and for yt reason count myself a Prisoner here.
I waite for answer of yt about ye laws; for yt of ye money, I am better satisfied, tho' Quo warrantos at every turn have formerly threaten- ed. I hope some of those yt once feared I had to much powr will now see I have not enough, and yt excess of powr does not ye mischief yt Li- centiousness does to a State, for tho ye one op- presses ye pocket, the other turns all to confu- Blon, order and peace with poverty is certainly better. It almost tempts me to deliver up to ye K. (King) and lett a mercenary Gover'r have ye taming of them. O where is fear of god and common decency. pray do wt thou canst to ap- pease or punish such persons, & if in office, out with ym, forthwith. If J. White and P. Rob- son be of ym, displace them immediately .-- Thom. think not hard of i! because of charge in comeing. being and goeing. I will be accountable for yt, if thou please but to do yt friendly part. lett T. Hor : J. Har : J. Clap, R. Tur: J. Good : T. Sim, see this & who else thou pleasest. If you have any love to me, and desire to see me and myn with you, o prevent these things that you may not add to my exercises. If a few such weithty men mett apart & waited on god for his minde and wisdom & in ye sense & authority of yt, you appeared for ye honour of god, ye repu- tation of ye governour & credit and prosperity of ye Country, to check such persons, calling ym before you as my ffds (friends;) men of cred- it with me; & sett your united Shoulder to it, methinks it may be better. to ye Lord I leave you saluting you all in endless Love, being & remaining,
Your true and loving ffriend Wm. Penn.
Salute me to thy Dr wife, tell her she must remember her name in my busines. also to thy children.
give my love to ye #Gover'r &c. P. S.
Ffor Balt. & Sas-quhanagh (Susquehannah) I have not ended, being otherwise stopt too, I waite my time, but doubt not being upon good terms. lett none be brittle about my not being there yet, I come with all ye speed 1 can; tho I must say, twere better all were in another or- der first; for these disorders -- strike ym back I have had some regard to in staying; which is a sad disappointment to me & ye country.
The East Jersey Prop'rs believe thy report a- bout my letter to yee. I am not with ym ofce in two months. they meet weekly. they arc very angry with G. Lowry: Salute me to Fids There away, old Lewis and wife; also to Capt. Berry, I have sent his letters as directed. press about land for me in East Jersey. I shall fall heavy on G. L. if I live, for denying him in my wrong till all be taken up yt is desirable. Speak to G. L. thyself about it, for wt he has done will be overturned (I perceive) by ym here & he served. Vale.
Myn salute yee.
*That. +Them.
[Who this Governor was, it is difficult to imagine .-- The historical records of Pennsylvania mention no pre- siding officer as being there at this time, except Thomas Lloyd himself. He is designated, however, as "Presi- dent," and there may have been a magistrate subordin. ate to him with the title of Governor .- [S. Rose.
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I copy the following from the New York Tribune. The idea towards the close of the article, of the hieroglyphics is irresistibly comic : The Court of Texas.
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The advertisement that "Osage City," con- taining one hundred and twenty six acres of land, one store-house, twodwellings, and sundry out-building, is for sale, reminds us of some incidents related by a gentleman who went to Texas before that renowned empire had ac- quired its present unparalleled celebrity. At that time the capitol of Texas, Washington was pretty much in the condition of Osage City, in some respects. Mr. L. the gentleman who gave us the narrative of his adventures, travelled from the coast to the capital of Texas . in private conveyance, travelling facilities not being very numerous. He had formed in his mind certain images of what his reception would be at the court of Texas, charged as he was with a petty diplomatic errand, which, however, warranted him to believe that his re- ception would not be altogether "bare .and beggarly," Texas was then younger by several years ıhan at present : her gigantic resources were undeveloped; the fame of her sons had not filled every ear, and the United States had not courted her very valuable alliance, as they have done now, to their shame be it said.
Mr. L-had no particular difficulty in ar- riving in the vicinity of the capital of Texas. Alive with sanguine expectations as to the beauty of Washington, as his humble equipage entered the city he peeped out, and looked cautiously around. Six small shingled houses greeted his eyes-this was the glory of Texas, the capital of that celebrated empire. This, thought Mr. L. is the suburbs. His doubts were soon dispelled in "thin air;" these six shingled houses constituted the entire domain. Our traveller was set down at the tavern, and forgot his surprise at the diminutive area of the Texan capital over a good supper of "corn- dodgers" and "chicken-fixins."" There still floated before him, however, visions of Texas diplomatic corps, the stately American minister, his reception-his excellency would nod, he would endeavor to do something of the same sort-his excellency would scrape and bow, he would follow suit. Such plentiful compliments, such insinuating smiles, such remote and deli- cate diplomatic insinuations, these things ran in Mr. L-s head, assisted in their flight, perhaps, by copious drinks of "corn" whisky, strong enough to scrape a man's throat like a fish-bone.
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