USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 36
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Onr diplomatist arose next morning with pleasing anticipations of accomplishing the objects of his mission in a manner at once dig- nified and complete. His first inquiries were for the American minister near the court of Texas; the minister was not then in the city, but resided about six miles out of the metrop- olis, on the plantation of Col. W. Ah! thought Mr. L. very right in the general, he has re- treated to some gentleman's park in the neigh- borhood to escape from the dissipation of the capitol. Before visiting the minister, Mr. L- resolved to visit the officers of the cabinet. Hc sallied forth, therefore, and saw above one door a sign, "Treasury Department."
It was a small one story- house, shingled with what they eall "shakes,' all over the West and Southwest. Mr. L. approached and knocked,
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The secretary was not in. He then tried some of the other offices, but finally discovered the chief clerk of the treasury department, a young man who occupied an apartment by himself, a bed at one end and a table in the middle. This important officer was chiefly remarkable for his intensely green spectacles. On the table in the room, there were three little bundles of paper. One was labelled Galveston, another Matagorda, and another Velasco. These were the archives of the department. Mr. L. after some agreeable conversation with the chief clerk of the treasury department, again took to his vehicle, and drove out to the plantation of Col. W. to visit the American minister. Du- ring his drive he endeavored to frame a speech, not very long, but immensely important, just necessary to introduce his subject with becoming gravity. yet not so altogether elevated as to be revolting.
After an agreeable drive, the boy who con- ducted our diplomatist, stopped at a pair of bars.
"What's this ?" said Mr . L.
"This place is the Colonel's," replied the boy ; "he's about as wide awake as a bear in a Jiniary thaw !"
After taking down the bars and walking through a considerable cow-yard, Mr. L- ap- proached a double log-house, of an ancient fash- ion, about the door of which was the usual ac- cumulation of pigs, dogs, hens, and chips. An elderly farmer was seated on a stump, smoking a powerful fragrant pipe.
"Is this Col. W's plantation ?" said Mr. L.
"Yes," replied the smoker-puff-puff -- puff.
"Is Col. W. at home ?" asked Mr. L -.
"Yes! I'm him," was the reply -- puff-puff -- puff.
"Does the American minister reside here," inquired Mr. L-
"I reckon," was the reply-puff.
"Will you be so kind as to say that Mr. L. diplomatic agent from the United States would be happy to see the American minister near the court of Texas?" said Mr. L -.
Upon this the elderly farmer slowly screwed himself up off his seat, and poking his head into the door of the log .hut, eried out-"Gineral !"
Soon afterward another elderly gentleman made his appearance at the door, dressed in a picturesque guise, with a pair of pantaloons that were not only seedy, but which had every appearance of having been threshed out.
"Is this Gen. M -? " said Mr. L -- , in his most dulcet tones.
"Holler, my old chip." said Col. W-,"he's deafer than a mud turtle with three holes punch- ed through his back."
"Is this General M -? " said Mr. L --. The American minister near the court of Texas, heard the question, and asked Mr. L -. in .- The American minister's suite of chambers com- prehended one apartment ; one end of this room was covered with an immense American flag, with all its stars and stripes revealed in their original glory; the General's cocked hat and sword hung on a peg ; suspended from the rafters were various legs of bacon, some rifles, and bunches of seed corn and red peppers. After a few remarks, the general took up an old felt hat, of a most remarkable size and shape, and holding it up before him, said, "Now ain't that a little the most remarkable sombrero, a little the moat conscientious flap, a little grain the richest
crack-but never mind the hat, let's go out and look at my pony."
The general slowly marehed out, Mr. L. fol- lowing, and after going through a pair of bars, and across a yard, they came to the one-acre lot, where the pony was imprisoned. The general stopped and directed a look of infinite regard at the pony.
"Now," said the general, "just look at that ar pony, he can't run, nor he can't trot, nor he can't canter, nor he can't walk, but-how he can rack ! He'd liek lightning a hundred yards in a mile, and, give it two the start. He'd be perfect pisen to a locomotive with the steam up to bustin' pint, and the screechin' whistle screwed down. Jist walk round and examine the article."
Upon this the general got over the fences, and they approached this raeking apparatus with the caution of Minerva ; and here let us remark that it is customary to brand the owner's name on the haunelies of the horses in that region.
"Look here," said the general, "I've heard a great deal about Gliddon's lectures on hiero . glyphics, fresh from some pyramid or other, as if they were stamped in yesterday. I've heard of mystery, but just look at them marks, of all these singular phenetie performances there is the screamer, what shades of brands them are, I'll lay my head there ain't a man among 'em all from Champollion up to Sham the son of Noah, who ean decipher the hieroglyphies on that po- ny's rump!"'
Good heaven, thought Mr. L --. have I ven. tured all this way, on this great diplomatic ex- pedition, to be entertained at the court of Texas by the American minister with disquisitions such as these.
Value of Cincinnati Property in 1845.
The western half of a lot, belonging to Mrs. Hall on Fifth street, east of Elm, was sold a few days since at 200 dollars per front foot, cash down. The property sold is 16} feet front, by 90 feet deep. I understood that price was of- fered for the whole lot, but the owner declined selling more than the half, retaining the residue for her residence.
I learn also that the property at the north- east corner of Walnut and Front atreets, has been leased to Mr. Merrill at 15 dollars per foot front, facing on Front street, being 6 per cent. per annum on 250 dollars per foot
What is the world coming to?
One of the most ridiculous propositions in the world, is being treated seriously in the New York papers. It is gravely proposed to make a second story street in Broadway-id est, to erect iron pillars at the curb-stone, and on them build a covered railway for cars, as a substitute for the omnibuses that now vex that main artery of old Gotham. What nonsense! We agree heart and pen with the correspondent of the Evening Mirror, when he says :-- We are walled in on all sides by private brick and mortar- mother earth ia jammed down, suffocated and walked over by corporation stone; and that is enough. Leave New York "open at the top!"' We have no smell of earth-no sight of green fields -- nothing of God'a make, as he made it, to look at, but the eky. Leave us the atrip of blue, and the small alant of sunshine. Give us a chance to see the stars.
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CORRESPONDENCE.
Usury Laws.
MR. CIST :- As the subject of Usury Laws is up before our State Legislature, I will give you my views on this subject.
Competition is the soul of trade, giving life, vigor, and activity to its operation. By causing commodities where scarce to flow in, and where too abundant to flow out, it brings all things to their level of value, and becomes the great reg- ulator of prices. Now the interest of money under a system of free competition, would inlike manner regulate itself, and we should never see money continuing abundant in one part of the country at 5 per cent, and scarce in another at 10, any more than we should sec flour remain- ing at $10 per barrel in New Orleans, when it could be had for $5 in Cincinnati.
Usury laws paralyze the trade in money ; they destroy competition, and discourage invest- ments. The law of Ohio taxes money at inter- est, and allows but 6 per cent. to be recovered. The market value of money in this city, ranges from 9 to 12 per cent. and were these rates re- coverable, competition would soon bring them down. But the law enables a dishonest man who contracts to pay 12 per cent. first, to de- fraud the lender out of one half the interest, and then force him to lose the other half in lawyers' fees for collecting. Under these dis- couragements, Eastern capitalists have refused to lend their money here, and even our own cit- izens have sought investments in other States, where the law allows the recovery of 10 per cent. Thus capital, ever sensitive, flies from persecution to seek a dwelling place of greater security.
A bill is now before the Ohio Legislature, which, if it becomes a law, will enable any man who may borrow at more than 7 per cent. not only to cheat the lender out of the whole interest, but to subject him to a pecuniary pen- alty besides.
The law offers a handsome premium for the encouragement of knavery. The honest man gains nothing by it, for he makes it a rule to ful- fil his contracts.
As the interest is limited, one man cannot of- fer a higher rate than another, and the competi- tion will be, not in the rate, but in the strength of the security. Men of great wealth will be accepted, and persons of moderate means reject- ed. Thus the poor man who cannot give as good security as his wealthy neighbor, and who is prevented by the law from over-bidding him in the rate of interest, and thereby obtaining the preference, is forced to sacrifice his property, and his more fortunate neighbor becomes the purchaser.
If the bill passes, all who have money lent at. more than seven per cent. will demand immedi- ate payment. Mortgages will be foreclosed, judgemnts and executions will sweep over the land, and half the State will be up at Sheriff's sale. Buying property at such sales will then become more profitable than money lending.
It is the duty of Government to enforce the performance of contracts, instead of offering a reward for their violation. The general princi- ples of law, justice, and morality, alike demand their fulfilment when made in good faith, where there is neither fraud nor imposition, nor any undue advantage taken of the weakness or cre- dulity of the contracting party. 0.
Early Steamboats in the West .-- No. 2. I continue my list of early steamboats, in the order of their being built.
The next boat was the FRANKLIN, of 150 tons, built at Pittsburgh by Shiras & Cromwell; engine by George Evans, left that place in December, 1816, was sold at New Orleans, and then put in the New Orleans and St. Louis trade, being the first steamboat that ever made her appear- ance at St. Louis. Was sunk at St. Genevieve in 1819, while under command of Captain Reed, and on her way to that place.
The CONSTITUTION, originally the OLIVER Ev- ANS, of 75 tons, was the next; and was built by George Evans, on his patent; left Pittsburgh also . in December 1816 for New Orleans. In April 1817, she burst one of her boilers, near Point Couper, by which eleven persons, principally passengers, lost their lives. This was the first steamboat accident involving the sacrifice of life in the Western waters.
The twelfth in order was the HARRIET of 40 tons built at Pittsburgh; owned and constructed by J. Armstrong, of Williamsport, Pennsylvania .- She left Pittsburgh in October 1816 for New Orleans; crossed the falls in March 1817, and was the first vessel on the Tennessee river ply- ing between New Orleans and the Musclo Shoals.
. The KENTUCKY of 80 tons was the 14th. She was built at Frankfort Ky. for the Louisville trade, and was owned by Hanson & Boswell.
Next was the PIKE, of only 25 tons, long, and still a favorite steamboat name. She was built by J. Prentiss, of Henderson Ky., plied first be- tween St. Louis and Louisville, afterwards in the Red river trade was lost on a sawyer, in March 1818.
The next was the Gov. SHELBY, of 120 tons, built at Louisville by Messrs. Gray, Gwathmey and Gretsinger .- Bolton & Watt's engine,-for the Louisville trade.
Next was the NEW ORLEANS, of 300 tons, built at Pittsburgh in 1817, by Fulton & Living-
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slon, for the Natchez trade. Near Baton Rouge, she was sunk and raised again and sunk in N. for the Louisville trade.
Orleans in February 1819, about two months af- ter her sinking ncar Baton Rouge.
The next was the GEORGE MADISON, of 200 tons, built at Pittsburgh in 1818, by Messrs. Voorhees, Mitchell, Rodgers & Todd, of Frankfort Ky., for the Louisville trade.
The OHIO, built at New Albany Ind. in 1818, by Messrs. Shreve & Blair, for the Louisville trade comes next. This boat of 443 tons was the largest built -- up to this period.
Next was the NAPOLEON, of 332 tons, built at Shippingport in 1818, by Messrs. Shreve, Miller, & Breckenridge, of Louisville, for that trade.
The next, and the twentieth in order, was the VOLCANO, of 250 tons, built at New Albany in 1818, by John & Robeson DeHart, for the Lou- isville trade.
The GEN. JACKSON, of 200 tons was the next, being built in Pittsburgh in 1818, and owned by R. Whiting & Gen. Carroll, of Tennessee, for the Nashville trade.
We come at length to the EAGLE, of 70 tons, as the first boat built at Cincinnati. She was owned by James Berthoud & Son, of Shipping- port Ky., for the Louisville trade. She was built in 1818.
Next was the HECLA, also of 70 tons, built at Cincinnati in 1818; owned by Honore and Bar- baroux, of Louisville, and employed in that trade.
The HENDERSON, of 85 tons, built the same year at Cincinnati came next. She was owned by Messrs. Bowens, of Henderson Ky .; built for the Henderson and Louisville trade.
The JOHNSON, of 90 tons, built at Wheeling in 1818, by George White, and owned by Messrs. J. & R. Johnson, of Kentucky; for the Louis- ville trade, was the next.
The CINCINNATI, of 120 tons, built at Cincin- nati in 1818, and owned by Messrs. Pennywitt & Burns, of Cincinnati, and Messrs. Paxson & Co. of New Albany, is the 26th on the list ; built for the Louisville trade.
The next was the EXCHANGE, of 200 tons, buil: at Louisville in 1819, owned by David Edwards, of Jefferson County Ky., for the Louisville trade.
The LOUISIANA, of 45 tons, was the next; she was built at New Orleans in 1818, and owned by C. Duplissis of that City, for the Natchez trade.
Next was the JAMES Ross, of 330 tons, built at Pittsburgh in 1818, and owned by Whiting & Stackpole, of :hat place. This boat made in 1819 the quickest trip then known, being only 16 days from New Orleans to Shippingport, with a cargo of 200 tons.
by Voorhees & Mitchell, of Frankfort Ky .; built
The TAMERLANE, of 320 tons, built at Pittsburgh in 1818, for the Louisville trade was next; and was owned by Messrs. Boggs & Co., N. York.
The CEDAR BRANCH, built at Pittsburgh in 18- 18, and for the same trade, was owned in Mays- ville Ky.
The last I name is the EXPERIMENT, of 40 tons, built in Cincinnati, in 1818, which was the next and the first one owned entirely in this city.
It seems that thirty-two boats had to be built, beforo we could furnish capital and enterprise to own one.
Twistification.
There are black sheep in every flock. Not long since, I gave some specimens of Quaker ingenu- ity in disposing of difficulties. By way of bal- ance, I will state an incident which occurred in a Scotch Irish neighborhood inthe West, which I am reminded of in this hog-killing region and period.
A dealer in hogs of this description of people, called on a countryman of his, who was putting up pork some years since, to engage a lot of hogs. The pork packer, after ascertaining the probable weight, and arranging the other fea- tures of the bargain, inquired, are they mast or corn-fed hogs?" "On ay", replied the contrac- tor, "they are a' corn fed. Sorra the ane else." The contract was closed accordingly ; the hogs in due time delivered, and paid for, and it was not discovered until some time after, that they were nothing but mast-ted animals. The packer was of course greatly incensed at the imposition, and when his countryman made his appearance again in town, reproached him bitterly, and ask- ed him how he dared tell him such a lio. "Sor ra the lee I tauld ye; I said they were awcorn- fed hogs, and so they were. Diel the haet else, they ha fed on but awcorns.
I knew some years sinco an individual ia Western Pennsylvania, who possessed this twis- tifying talent in high perfection. Ilis business, as far as he had one, was that of miller, or more accurately miller's man, and his name was John Lock. Many amusing stories of his faculty of shifting have been told me of this worthy. I recollect but one.
In that part of the country, a dry season dut- ing the summer, is apt to, occasion great difficul- ties in grinding, most of the mills being run by water power. Atsuch periods, the mills in a given neighborhood are beset with crowds gath- ered from a great distance, as far sometimes as twenty miles. Here every person who brings a grist has to wait his turn, and in this state of things, the careless and improvident are some -. times put to great straits for the purpose of keep=
The FRANKFORT, of 320 tons, built at Pitts- burgh in 1818, was the 30th. She was owned, ing their families in meal or flour. Lock being
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out of flour and meal, had put a bag of grain one Monday morning on a horse,, and was ri- ding on it to mill, when he passed an acquain- tance. "Going to Slippery Rock mill, I suppose" heobserved. This wastwelve miles off. "No," said Lock, "I am going to Ziegler's." This was a short mile. "More fool you for that," retorted his friend. "I have had a bag there a week, and don't expect it ground till Thursday." "Well," said Lock, "I knew I shan't wait till Thursday. for I mean to stay and see mine ground." His acquaintance simply laughed at him, and they parted. In abont an hour or two however, Lock made his reappearance with the grist .- This excited great curiosity in the village in which he lived, to know how he contrived to get his turn before it was due. He had the telling the story himself, which seemed to do him as inuch good. if not more, than the time he had gained with the grist.
At the mill he had found Ziegler himself, with Mike his miller. "Mr. Ziegler " said Lock, "I am badly off for meal, and have brought you a bag of corn to grind." Ferry well John, but it here, nnd you shall haf yourdurn. You know de rule." "Yes." said John, "I have tended mill long enough to know it. But I can't go by rules, and you won't ask me when I tell you my case. Next Saturday a week will be twelve days since my family have had a bite of bread about the house." "By sure," said honest Ziegler, "dat ish doo bat,"" the tears filling in his eyes. "Here Mike but dis pack in te hobber, und let Lock off as soon as bossible." As this was Monday morning, the reader can calculate for himself how long Lock's family had been without bread, and so could Ziegler have donc, had he not been put off his guard, by Lock's distressed face.
The Vote on the 24th iust.
On reference to the Mayor's proclamation in this day's " ADVERTISER," it will be seen that the project of purchasing a lot for city purpo- ses has at length assumed a distinct and tangi- ble shape. One thing I would desire to point out to the voters who are opposed to the pur- chase of ground for public buildings. They will of course vote nay, but let them not ne- glect to add, " Shires', " "Jones', " " Starr's," or "College," as their preference may be, so that in case the project of purchasing finds a majority to approve it, their vote then will not be lost. This they have the right to do, and it will serve to secure a fuller vote and a more sa- tisfactory result.
As regards the lot itself, there seems to be a great diversity of opinion. Those who are go- verned by centrality of position merely, will of course prefer the Starr property, while these who desire a seite and building of a description which shall be sufficiently spacious for all time to come, will naturally prefer Shires'.
Relics of the Past.
Captain John Armstrong, to Gen'l James Wil- kinson.
FORT HAMILTON, 27th April, 1792.
DEAR GENERAL :-
My letter of last evening, sent by express, carrying the despatches from Fort Jef- ferson, I hope arrived safe. If the building ordered to be erected here, should not be fin- ished as soon as you expected, permit me to ob- serve, the fault is not mine. Carpenters were sent forward without tools to work with, or the necessary means of hauling timber. Every ex- ertion in my power has been called forth to complete the business in question. I expect one of the buildings will be finished early next week-which when completed, will contain the provisions already sent forward. Additional ones must be made, and I dread the conse- quence, as my small command will not enable me to furnish a sufficient party to cover the workmen from the enemy, should they appear in force. When the oxen arrive, I shall pro- ceed to the completion of this business, and use all the industry and precaution in my power. I hope the Steel Carpenters and Armorers tools will be sent forward, as without them your or- ders cannot be carried into execution. You must be tired of the repeated applications made for them. What is become of my former cx- press? I fear he did not reach you.
I feel for the party under Maj. Shaumburgh. Should those Indians, mentioned in Capt. Shays letter, meet him, his party must be cut off. This is an important suggestion. I wish you might think proper to furnish two good woods-men for this post, who might carry dispatches without confining themselves to the road. I have no such characters in my command.
MARRIAGES.
IN this city, Feb'y 11th, Mr. Daniel J. Morrell, of New York, to Susanna L. daughter of Mr. Powell Stackhouse.
On Thursday, 13th inst, at Pleasant Hill, by the Rev. J. C. White, W. T. Colburn, of this city, to Miss S. E. Thomas, of Pleasant Hill.
On 13th inst, by the Rev. Mr. Thomas, Mr. Edward D. Brannegan to Miss Elizabeth Luck.
On the 13th inst, by the Rev. S. W. Lynd, Mr. Clement Dare to Miss Rebecca Jane Penton.
On the 13th inst., by the Rev. Dr. Brooks, Edmond Pendleton, Esq., of Buchanan, Va., to Cornelia M. Mor- gan of this city.
DEATHS.
IN this eity, on Saturday the 8th inst, Miss. Sarah Agnes Kendall.
In Springfied, on Sunday. Feb'y 9th, Samuel Ayres. Sen., of this city.
In this city, on Wednesday: 12th inst, Mr. Jolin Robert- son.
On same day, Ephraim Robins, Esq.
On Saturday, 15th inst, Mrs. Harriet D. Jordan.
On Sunday, 16th inst, Mr. George C. Saunders.
On same day, Chatles Telford, son of M. R. and Eliza beth W. Taylor.
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Indian Warfare -- Lewis Wetzel .-- No. 2.
The next incident in the history of Lewis was his attaching himself to a body of scouts, which set out in pursuit of Indians. A party of the savages in the spring of 1787 had crossed the Ohio river at what was called the Mingo Bottom, three miles below the present town of Steubenville. Here they killed a family, but as they did not penetrate into the country, and retreated for some reason or other immediately, they made their escape with impunity. This in- road took the settlers by surprize; the Indians not having crossed the Ohio in that neighbor- hood for the previous twelve or eighteen months, and filled them in their unprotected state with fearful apprehensions.
A subscription was drawn up, headed by those who were in easy circumstances, for the purpose of stimulating the young and active, which pledged more than one hundred dollars as a bounty to the scout who would bring in the first Indian scalp. Maj. M'Mahan, who frequent- ly led the hardy frontier men in those perilous times, soon raised a company of about twenty men, among whom was Lewis Wetzel. They 'crossed the Ohio, and pursued the Indian trail with unerring tact, till they came to the Mus- kingum river. There the advance or spies, discovered a party of Indians far superior to their own in number, encamped on the bank of the river. As the Indians had not yet discov- ered the white men, Major M'Mahan retreated with his party to the top of the hill, where they might consult about their future operations .- The conclusion of the conference was, "that discretion was the better part of valour"; and a hasty retreat was prudently resolved on. While the party were consulting on the propriety of attacking the Indians, Lewis Wetzel sat on a log, with his gun laid across his lap, and his tomahawk in his hand; he took no part in the council. As soon as the resolution was adop- ted to retreat, it was without delay put in exe- cution, and the party set off, leaving Lewis sit- ting on a log. Major M'Mahan called to him, and enquired if he was going with them. Lew- is answered, "that he was not; that he came ont to hunt Indians; they were now found, and ho was not going home like a fool, with his fin- ger in his mouth. He would take an Indian scalp or lose his own before he went home." -- Arguments were without avail. His stubborn unyielding disposition being such, that he never submitted himself to the control or advice of others, they were compelled to leave him, a sol- itary being, in the midst of the thick forest, sur- rounded by vigilant enemies. Notwithstanding that this solitary individual appeared to rush in- to danger with the fury of a madman, in his | his force, impelled by revenge, he sent the blade
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