USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 6
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I recollect the effect of the solitude of the west- ern prairies, and can recall the thrill of mingled pain and pleasure which it produced by the consciousness of being alone in them. The horizon, without a tree, as unbroken as the ocean -the clear and cold moon within an hour of setting-a silence that could be felt, interrupted by the howl, at long intervals, of a solitary wolf, which scemed two or three miles distant. I nev- er thought of the line of Campbell, "The wolf's long howl on Oonalaska's shore,"without recol- lecting him of the Prairies. On shipboard there was no solitude, everything was bustle and noise. I went forward and cast my eyes over the bow, and enjoyed the dashing of the spray, as the ship's head was buried in the waves, out of which she rose like a feather, giving a powerful idea of the resistance of a fluid, which could so lightly repel a body of upwards of three hun- dred tons burthen.
Looking ahead, something, at first dimly descried became more and more distinct, and I soon found it to be a ship, approaching in an opposite direction to our course. Apprehensive that I might alarm my companions improperly, I re- mained long enough to be fully convinced of the nature and situation of the object in view, when going to a sailor who was engaged at something near me, "I said, "there is a vessel!" Jack turned to me, but made no answer. I repeated, "There is a vessel before us." Still no reply, but I heard one of the crew a little distance, ask an- other, "What does he say?" The wind was fresh, and the ship having a good deal of sail, heaved considerably, which together with her high bulwarks, and the bellying of the sails,pre- vented the sailors from seeing the approach of the stranger. I was apprehensive that the two ships would strike against each other; and sud- denly conceiving that the inattention paid to what I said might be occasioned by my expres- sing myself in a dialect not understood on board ship, I called out "a sail ahead !" The man near- est to me promptly sprang forward, and sceing hedanger, repeated my call in a voice like a trumpet, the helm was instantly clapped hard up, and the two ships, almost touching, and on different tacks, dashed by each other like the wind. The tars themselves felt it a narrow
escape, and the one whose attention I had [ me an explanation of the uses of the different roused, exelaimed, after holding his breath, until we were fairly clear, "d-n my eyes, but that was touch and go!" We suppose that we had been unnoticed by the other ship. Not a word was said on either side. Many vessels, in all probability. are annually lost by coming in col- lision with each other on the ocean.
I have never been sea-sick, but the wind was chilly, and the sea rough, and I felt a slight qualmishness that intimated to me the propriety of retiring to my couch, where I slept as well as I could expect to be permitted to do, by the pitching of the vessel, and in a situation so nov- el. When I went on deck, in the morning, I found everything in excellent regulation. The sun had risen in an unclouded sky; the gale of the preceding evening had moderated to a fine breeze, and blew from a favorable point, and the Captain. with a very good natured counte- nance, was pacing the deck, apparently pleased
" To see
The gallant ship so lustily Furrow the green sea foam."
We were out of sight of land. The sky and the sea were all that the eye found to rest upon ; end the variety consisted of the foam-crested bil- lows of the one, and the differently shaped and tinged clouds, which passed across the face of the other.
On shipboard, the character of the persons composing the family is of much importance to our comfort. I think it is Jolinson who observ- ed, that to be at sea is to be imprisoned with the chance of being drowned, excepting that, in prison you are very likely to meet with the most agreeable company. I, therefore, looked around to see how I was situated. The inmates of the cabin were, besides myself, the Captain, two mates, and an Italian gentleman, as a pas- senger. Of the latter, I recollect nothing, but that he sang agreeably, and appeared to have a tolerably favorable opinion of himself. The Captain's appearance told you that he was a sai- lor. He was about forty years of age; his idiom peculiarly that of his profession, so that at a table he would desire a person to scull that plate to him, &c. Of the mates, I at that time took little notice; I supposed them your every- day kind of sailors, with but little knowledge beyond that of their profession, but I was not a physiognomist, if I had been, I would easily have discovered in one of them, "the hand to do, the heart to dare."
parts of the rigging, and, in return, I would take upon me all the astronomical calculations ne- cessary to ascertain his longitude. He expressed himself very willing to communicate the know- ledge which he possessed of the subject which I was desirons of being acquainted with; but said it would be well not to ask questions of the sailors, who would form a very unfavorable opin- ion of one so ignorant as not to know the differ- ence between the main brace and main top bow- line. It was therefore agreed, that all my ques- tions should be asked of him, and I was so apt a scholar, that in less than a fortnight, I ventur- ed, under his particular instruction to give an or- der about some part of the working of the ship, and got through it with a pretty good tone. I was so much emboldened by this, that after hav- ing repeatedly gone aloft, begining with the main top, to which I took care at first to ascend by the weather shrouds, I had the hardihood, on the command to reef top sail being given, to make an essay to get on the main topsail-yard, during a squall, but in this essay, I found that I had over-rated my abilities; for when on the yard, as the ship pitched with great violence, it required the aid of a sailor on each side to ena- ble me to maintain my position; and when I found myself safely on deck, I made a vow to abandon all yard arms during the remainder of my voyage.
I had a great inclination to see a storm at sea. It is related of some celebrated marine painter -I might say Vernet, but am not sure it was he; and it was most probably some one of the Dutch school-that when the ship in which he sailed, was in danger, and he lashed to the mast, while the sailors beheld their situation with the greatest apprehensions, he viewed it merely as a picture, and was delighted with the effect of the scene, and engaged, in imagination, in transfer- ing to the canvass, the magnificent swell of the foaming billows. My curiosity did not lead me so far as to wish to be in any danger; I was there- fore willing to put up with a very moderate storm, and not disposed to insist on the mast be- ing carried away, or the ship left a wreck. One night, one of the officers awoke me with the in- formation that there was a fine gale of wind, and some lightning to be seen, which it was worth going on deck for. I accordingly got up. The sea did not, as we are told by voyagers it frequently does, run mountains high ; but it cer- tainly ran very lofty. The ship lay to under a stay-sail, which was the only sail set. The wind did not merely whistle, but whizzed through the rigging with such force, that, together with the roaring of the waves, it was difficult to distin- guish the words of a person exerting his voice,
I soon found that it would be useful to en- deavor to occupy myself with something, in or- der to prevent my time from hanging heavily on my hands, and I told the captain that I would like to learn how to navigate a ship, and tasked his good nature to tell me the names and give | to me; and the lightning flashed in such streams
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that, considering the artillery on deck. and the iron in all parts of the ship, it appeared to me that we should scarcely escape it. There was no bus- tle on board. The ship had been made snug .-- The rain fell in sheets; but the sailors, who were accustomed to " bide the peltings of the pitiless storm," seemed very much unconcerned in the midst of a scene which might have been suffi- cient to terrify a landsman. As for the mate, whose watch it was, he looked as if he could have said with the boatswain in the Tempest, " Blow till thou burst thy wind, if room enough ;" while, for myself, I might be excused if I
" Ey'd the shrouds and swelling sail, With many a benedicite."
I, however, felt sufficient composure, for when I went on board, aware that scenes of this kind in which there was no danger might appear to an eye unaccustomed to them in a very fear- ful light, I determined to take my tone, as much as possible, from the aspect of the sailors around me, and therefore looked to their countenances, rather than to the billows, in order to form my opinion of the risk, and seeing them very tran- quil, I readily became so myself. I cannot say much about the storm, although I believe it might be considered as a pretty specimen of foul wea- ther, " fair is foul, and foul is fair;" other voya- gers have seen much sublimer ones.
But I don't like storms, and detest tempests, which, I suppose, are in the scale of comparison, as the superlative to the comparative. I would not give one Zephyr for a thousand Austers, Eu- ruses, or Boreases.
The rising and setting of the sun, when his full orb is seen just over the horizon, is very fine; and moonlight nights are delightful. The moon has been the theme of poets in all ages, and nothing can equal the soothing and tranquilizing effects of its clear light at sea. In the dewy freshness of the night, I have gazed for hours upon its fine aspect on the waves, as they danced and sparkled in its brilliancy, which marked a broad path for the vessel to the verge of the hor- izon. Nothing can be more delightful than this effect when the weather is fine, and the wind fair; for then there is no noise of orders given or bustle to execute them, to mar your medita- tions; and the consciousness of speeding on your course, the tranquility on board, and the gentle dashing of the wave as it breaks against the ship's bows, and passes along her sides in glit- tering foam, harmonizes deliciously with the " night's regent," when "riding at her bright- est noon." At a late hour of the night, when the mid-watch had been some time on their duty, the helmsman at his post, attentively eycing the needle by which his course is directed, and which has been exquisitely compared to the sensitive heart, that
" Turns at the touch of jey or woe, And turning, trembles too,"
the officer in command, pacing the quarter deck with a regular and monotonous step; the crew silent, or the indistinctly heard voice of some one narrating his adventures, or a tale which he has heard or read, to his listening companions; all Together form a picture which I have felt very powerfully on my heart and imagination. In these fine evenings, a sailor who can tell a good story is a valuable acquisition to his shipmates, who are not, in general very fastidious about style, provided he will give them sufficient inci- dent. I was on deck late one night, all sail was set, and the wind fair on the quarter, when hearing some thing on the forecastle, which from the tone of the speaker appeared to be some tale of his adventures, I went forward, that I might be a partaker of it and stood unseen in the shad- ow of the foresail. I found the speaker whose comrades were seated around him, narrating to them a tale which he had read in the Arabian Nights; but having forgot the words he was obliged to give it in his own phraseology. He told them of the king of Persia's son, who hav- ing fallen in love with the Emperor of China's daughter, had been seperated by some malignant Ginny. Here he was interrupted by the ques- tion of what was a Ginny; this he could not tell, but supposed it tobe a conjurer. That the young woman fell sick, and her lover discover- ing her, sought to introduce himself as a "foreign doctor," who could cure all maladies, but on the nurse informing her that a foreign doctor wished to see her, the princess swore, "d-n her eyes, if he should come within a boat-hook's length of her." The story which lasted nearly an hour, was all in this style, and extremely well relished by the auditors; and by none more than myself. I wished I could repeat it to you throughout, in the manner in which I heard it.
MARRIAGES.
On the 10th inst., by A. Drury, Mr. WM. BURROWS, of Cincinnati, Ohio & Miss MATILDA CULBERTSON,of Ken- ton Go., Ky.
On the 15th inst., by the same, Mr. EPHRAIM D. MER - RELL and Miss ELLEN E. ROBINSON.
On the same day, by Rev. Mr. Orr, Mr. JOHN WIL- LIAMS of this city, and HARRIET LEATHERS, daughter of Capì. P. Bliss. of Covington, Ky.
On the 16th inst .. by Rev. James E. Wilson. Mr. THOS. J. FINCH and Miss ELIZABETH H. CARR, of Alleghany city. Pa.
On the 17th inst., by Rev. Mr. [Lowry, Mr. SAMUEL WINALL and Miss LYDIA WOOLSEY, both of this city
DEATHS.
On the 13th inst., Mrs SARAH A .. wife of John W. Sul- livan and second daughter of WM. P. Willams, aged 24 years.
At St Charles, MO .. Rev. J. H. FIELDING, President of the St. Charles Coliege, on the 15th insi.
In this etty, on the 16th inst., Mr. ERASMUS BENSON.
On the 18th inst., of the Bronchitis, in the 5th year of her age, Helen, daughter of George W. and Susan L. Phillips.
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Cisterns, and Well and Cistern Pumps.
I recollect the period in Cincinnati when the old fashioned cistern of cooper work was all that the great mass of our citizens had to depend on as a receptacle for water. The great depth and consequent expense of wells forbade a resort, in early days, to such a medium of supply. As the water works became extended over the city, the public has felt less interest in constructing cis- terns, and except along the north and west lines of our city, they are now rarely built. I hold this to be great impolicy. There is a comfort and luxury in cistern water, now that cisterns are cemented with hydraulic lime, for which nothing else is a substitute. The water is here preserved at an uniform temperature throughout the year, rendering it more acceptable, cither in summer or winter, than that which flows from the hydrant. It is, besides, a purcr and of course wholesomer article. I say nothing on the sub- ject of the protection cisterns afford families in the earlier stages of a fire, when a bucket full obtained on the spot, and at an instant, is of more value than hogsheads full at a later period of its ravages. It is well known, too, that the supply of river water is inadequate to the consumption of the city, even where hydrants exist. On occa- sions, too, that supply is entirely shut off. Un- der these considerations, it will be seen, that no family, if possible, should be without a cistern. They are now built inconceivable cheap ; as low, I learn, as ten dollars for a small one.
If cisterns are built, we necessarily want pumps. Of these, there is a variety made in Cincinnati, all more or less convenient and effi- cient. But examining, of late, the public pump, on Lower Market street, I ineline to think it among the best.
This is Van Allen's patent, and extensively manufactured by Messrs. Wardell & Atkinson, on Hopple's Alley, in our city. They are of wood, the tubes coated with a composition to preserve them, which appears as impenetrable as metal. The joints are of iron screws, which hold with a firmness that defies the strain always created in pumping, and sccures an air tightness not attainable in wooden joints. Two excellen- cies I notice in these pumps. The valve being perfectly loose, clears itself at every stroke of the piston, and the valve scat being concave, it becomes impossible for any substance to get fast- ened between the valve and the seat, as is so fre- quently the case on the ordinary principle. The importance of this will be readily understood by those who have been annoyed by gravel, &c. being carried up in pumps, and lodging in the bucket.
Mr. Wardell, in the establishment to which he belonged, in Philadelphia, I learn, has made and sold fifteen thousand of these pumps.
The Well, on Lower Market street, is 52 feet deep, and the pump there has been in constant service for the last 18 months, in perfect order all that time.
Wardell & Atkinson also build cisterns, fur- nish and set grates, furnaces and chimney pots.
Marriage Licences.
In the list of marriages of this week, there is "Marricd, by the Rev. James E. Wilson, THOM- AS J. FINCH to Miss ELIZABETH HOLMES CARR, of Alleghany City, Pa."
There is an incident connected with this event worthy of remark. I was assured by the groomsman, as he handed me in the notice of the marriage, that such was the influence of the scene on his feelings, that but for the want of a marriage license, he should have stepped for- ward and become a principal also, instead of playing second fiddle on the occasion.
This confession speaks volumes, and deter- mines me to go fer the repeal of marriage li- cences, as soon as I can get time to agitate the subject. Here is a youthful pair, fitted to orna- ment society in the family relation, ready to plight their vows, and the State steps in, like the Dutch Squirc, in Pennsylvania, with "vare ish mine tollar?" banishing all the romance of fond affection, compelling the impatient lover to wait " the law's delay,"and interposing a veto from the exercise of which even Old Hickory, in the plenitude of his iron will, would have shrunk. Here are two congenial spirits sepera- ted, perhaps never more to meet, who, but for the pre-requisite of these hateful licences, might have 'like kindred drops been melted into one.'
On these and other considerations, I go for the repeal of the marriage license system. What right, I would seriously ask, has society to inter- pose even the slightest obstacle in the shape of expense or delay to the establishment of that re- lation on which its whole well-being depends?
Millerism.
This delusion has been producing here as else- where, its appropriate cffects. Friend Eshelby knocked off on Saturday, declining to take any more measures. Those of the brethren who are carpenters have locked up their chests of tools, and other mechanics have laid down work also. As the day approaches, to which they look for- ward as the consummation of all earthly things, the faithful adventists continue nearly the whole time, day and night at the Tabernacle, corner of John and Seventh sts. What the consequences will prove when the 23rd shall have passed away and the 24th dawn upon us, it is fearful to con- template. These believers have been gathered out of every Christian church in the land, and yet I have no doubt, a majority of them will be brought when they behold the fallacy of their
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calculations, to the awful conclusionthat the Bible ( has crossed to shoot him; there is, therefore, only is a lie. Well was it prophesied of such, "They one bullock remaining, he will give the garrison about four days' provision. be blind leaders of the blind," and both must fall into the ditch.
One of the brethren whose wife did not hold the same views, caine into the breakfast room and said he believed he should not work any more, and should employ the few days that re- mained in preparation for the great event. Af- ter sitting some time and seeing no signs of break- fast, he inquired how soon it would be ready, when his wife replied, that she thought as he did, and concluded to cook nothing more , partic- ularly as the apostolic injunction to the church was, "If a man will not work neither shall he eat." He hesitated a little while and then add- ed, If you will get me some breakfast I will go to work again.
Relics of the Past.
The following letter from Capt. Armstrong, to General Wilkinson, derives much interest from the incidents relative to Lieutenant, now Gen- eral Gaines, refered to therein. The last letter of Wilkinson's published, desires Armstrong to advise Gaines, then Ensign, of his promotion to a Lieutenancy. By this it will be seen that General Gaines has been more than fifty-two years in continued service, a length of time which perhaps has no parallel in military his- tory. He is probably the only commissioned officer who survives of Wayne's army of the west, and undoubtedly the only one still on the military roll.
FORT HAMILTON, June 1, 1792.
Dear Sir :- Your letter of the 24th May, came duly to hand, I am pleased with the idea of hav- ing much of your company this summer. I have happily anticipated your wishes. I have a cellar adjoining the well, and in part of it a cistern that contains about four hundred gallons, which I fill with water once every day, which serves to keep the cellar cool,and answers the purpose of a fish pond. The pleasing idea of being re- ceived into the arms of friendship in Philadel- phia must, in some measure, lessen the fatigues of the long journey your lady is about to under- take. 1 sincerely wish her a pleasant and safe passage.
Will you come and eat strawberries with us? if we had a cow you should have cream also Green peas we have in abundance; if you could spare some radish seeds, their produce would hereafter serve to ornament your table. Four of the cattle left for the supply of this post, broke from the drove some days since, took the road for Fort Washington, and could not be overta- ken by the party on foot who pursued them as far as Pleasant Run. One other this morning swam across the river, and is so wild that Mr. Ewing
You will, no doubt, receive by this express a letter from Lt. Gaines,inclosing two orders ref- ative to the - of this garrison. Should he inclose you the orders of the 25th and 31st of May,any thing that may appear ambiguous there- in, will be explained by the following relation. I had filled the cistern already spoken of in the evening, in order to give the water the night to settle, for the use of the troops next day. Mr. Gaines drew the plug and emptied it, As the drawing three or four hundred gallons of water is attended with much fatigue, by way of rep- rimand I observed to Lt. Gaines, that if directing him to attend the filling and emptying it would have any other effect than to hurt his feelings, I would direct his attention thereto for a month. His reply was, that he would disobey such an or- der, the issuing of which will be the cause of a complaint. Heis young in service, and will learn better. I have read him this part of my letter, and referred him to the 18th chapter of the Bar- on's instructions.
From the list of appointments accompanying your list, I see there are but three brigadiers ap- pointed. I think the law says four, and I hope means yourself.
Respectfully, Your ob't Serv't, JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Brig. Gen. JAMES WILKINSON.
Benjamin Franklin.
I have, in my possession, a file of the Penn- sylvania Gazette, for a series of years, beginning at 1744, just a century since. The earliest years bear the imprint, "Philadelphia, printed by B. Franklin, Post-Master, at the new Printing Office near the Market." The first number bears date August 16, 1744, and displays the effigy of the British Lion with the motto, " Mercy, Justice." Every thing about the paper is remarkable. Ne- gro women and men are as freely advertised for sale, as they would be in a Louisiana paper of the present day. Dutch and Irish servants are advertised in some places for sale, and in others, as runaways from their masters. Other adver- tisements equally characteristic of the times, abound. But the great leading topic for thought is, "Here is a newspaper, published in the then principal city of the United States, extending its circulation over half the inhabited continent, and the composition, press-work, editing, and even the mailing -- for these papers bear his well known writing on the address-all performed by one man; by a man, who, by the force of his un- aided energies, became identified with the his- tory of his age and country, in politics, science
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and literature." And the paper, a weekly shcet, only one fourth the size of the " Advertiser," but adequate, probably, to the wants and desires of the age. What a wonderful revolution has the press wrought in later days!
Fuel .-- Coal.
As the season of laying in Coal for the winter consumption is at hand, I wish to call public at- tention, once more, to the fact, that we have, in the Pomeroy Coal mined, in our own vicinity, an article which ought to superccde the highly bit- uminous coal of Pittsburg and Wheeling-first, because it affects the lungs much less, and sec- ondly, because it does not disfigure our house fronts as much as the rival articles. I press this matter with great earnestness, from the strong desire I have that the great and increasing con- sumption of Coal, as fucl, here, should not be- come the means of staining and discoloring our fair city. This is a matter, I hold,in which the whole community has a deep stake, and one by which our prosperity, as well as our pride, are affected-much of the rapid growth of Cincin- nati resulting from its beautiful appearance, which is constantly attracting strangers to settle in the place.
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