USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 3
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"Twenty-five in all," he said, in a low whis- per. "We can take off a third at least with one fire, and then rush in on them," and he looked to Jenkins who nodded approvingly.
In hurried whispering the plan of attack was regulated, each having an Indian assigned to his rifle. During this brief pause every heart trembled lest the accidental crackling of a twig or a tone spoken unadvisedly above a whisper should attract the attention of the savages. Sud- denly, before all was arranged, one of them sprung to his feet, and looked suspiciously in the direction of our little party. At the same instant. another sprung toward the prisoners, and with eyes fixed on the thicket where the pursuers lay, held his tomahawk above the start- led girl, as if to strike the instant any demon- strations of hostilities should appear.
ing over his betrothed, and fired. The Indian fell dead.
Immediately a yell rang through the forest -- the savages leaped to their arms, a few dashed into the thicket, others rushed on the prisoners. the most sagacious retreating behind trees. But on that whoop a dozen rifles rang in the air, and half a score of the assailed fell to the earth, while the borderers, breaking from the thicket, with uplifted tomahawks, came to the rescue .-- A wild hand-to-hand conflict ensued, in which nothing could be seen except the figures of the combatants, rolling together among the whirl- ing leaves; nothing heard but angry shouts, and the groans of the wounded and dying. In a few minutes the borderers were victorious.
Leper had been the first to enter the field .-- Two stout savages dashed at him with swinging tomahawks, but the knife of Leper found the heart of one, and the other fell stunned by a blow from the but end of his father's rifle, who followed his intended son-in-law a step or two behind. A second's delay would have been too late.
Fortunately none of the assailants were kill- ed, though several were seriously wounded .-- The suddenness of the attack may account for the comparative immunity which they enjoyed.
How shall we describe the gratitude and joy with which the father kissed his rescued chil- dren? How shall we tell the rapture with which Leper clasped his affianced bride to his bosom ? We feel our incapacity for the task and drop a veil over emotions too holy for exposure. But many a stout borderer wept at the sight.
Soda Water Factory, Steam Putty, &c.
One of the summer luxuries of large towns and cities, great and little, is Soda Water. Of this the consumption in many places, is incon- ceivable to those who forget how extensively and frequently, men need, or fancy they need the refreshing influence of cooling draughts .- There are two soda water manufacturers in Cin- cinnati, where the article is made, and the foun- tains charged fit for use. My notes refer how- ever only to that of J. S. Glascoe, the more im- portant of the two establishments.
Soda water is made by impregnating water with carbonic acid gas, in the proportion of 5 parts in bulk of one, to twelve of the other, the gas in a fountain of the capacity of 17 gallons, being condensed into a volume of one twelfth its natural space. It is the expansion of that gas when discharged for use, which creates the ef- fervescence in the tumbler, and the pungency of the soda water when drained at a draught.
The following is the process of manufacture. The gas is generated in a strong leaden vessel by the action of diluted sulphuric acid on mar- ble dust-carbonate of lime. It is passed into two gasometers holding 75 gallons each, and thence forced by steam power acting on three air pumps into the fountain, compressing ninoty five gallons of carbonic acid gas into the space
The children clung to their sisters, side with stifled cries. The moment was critical ; if the proximity of the pursuers was suspected their discovery would be the result. To wait until each man had his victim assigned him, might prove ruinous; to fire prematurely might be equally so. Br+ Leper forgot every considera- tion in the peril of Mary, and almost at the in- stant when the occurrences we have related were taking place, took aim at the savage stand- J of seven gallons in the course of three minutes.
A safety valve is in connection with the ma- chine which indicates a pressure of 85 lbs to the square inch in the fountain. I learn that Mr. Glascoe fills fountains for. Maysville, Covington and Frankfort, Kentucky; Lawrenceburg and Rising Sun, Indiana ; and Dayton, Ohio, as well as great numbers in our city. As only one dollar for each filling is charged by him, the old method of filling by hand, equally inconve- nient and dangerous, has been generally aban- doned. He tells me he filled last year more than 1100 fountains, the number of which he expects will reach this year to 1500.
Mr. Glascoe also manufactures putty by steam power, producing at the rate of four hundred thousand pounds per annum, equal to 8 000 kegs of 50 pounds each. In this process he has been enabled to reduce the price from 12} to 4 cts. extending his sales in all directions to a distance which controls the markets of the west, the south-west, and the region along the lakes to the north . This is effected by machinery which crushes the whiting, previously dried by hot air, under a huge roller of 1200 lbs., the mass being turned up again under the action of plough sheares, so that no part of it escapes pul- verising. The oil being then poured in on the mass, the process of grinding and crushing is renewed and carried on until the entire massis thoroughly mixed and rendered fit for immediate service.
The whole process is well worth a visit to the manufactory.
Modern Buildings.
The progress of the arts as well as of wealth and cultivated taste, is introducing improve- ments in house building, of which our predeces- sors had no conception. We of Cincinnati, can- not of course build houses which shall com- pare in luxury and extravagance, with some of the palaces in Boston, New York, and Phila- delphia. Still, we are erecting houses as fine as any people ought to build, and some equal in substantial and simple elegauce, to those found anywhere. One of the latest of these is that of J. M. NILES, on Eighth, between Walnut and Vine streets. The mouldings, stucco work, &c., of the parlors are very rich, indeed.
In another class of these buildings, such as Messrs. PARKHURST, PROBASCO, S. S. SMITH, on Fourth street, bath houses and other conven- iences are introduced to great extent. In Mr. PROBASCO's the doors are all made in the style of cabinet work, and of our richest and most beau- tiful native woods. This is the introduction, or rather the revival of a highly ornate feature in architecture . I say revival, the oldest house
in this city-Mr. WADE'S, on Congress street -- being built in this style. All the wood-work except the floors being of black-walnut, a wood whose beauties cannot be duly appreciated un- til the lapse of time has brought them out to view.
Relics of the Past!
FT. HAMILTON, June 21st, 1792. DEAR GENERAL :
Agreeable to the directions con- tained in your letter of the 11th inst, five of the scythes were sent forward to Major Strong, and with the remaining six I commenced work on Monday, and have already cured five cocks of hay, which in my opinion, is little inferior to timothy. It is so warm on the Prairie that it is cut, cured, and cocked the same day; conse- quently can lose none of its juices. An addi- tional number of scythes will be necessary,in or- der to procure the quantity you want. I can find no sand as a substitute for whetstones-per- haps some might be procured among the citizens. One, two or three, if more cannot be had, would be a great relief. The window glass, iron and hemp came forward, but not of the other arti- cles wrote for.
I have allowed the mowers one and a half ra- tions per day, and both them and the hay-ma- kers, half a pint of whiskey each. This I hope will meet your approbation. I have also prom- ised to use my endeavors to procure them ex- tra wages. As the contract price of whiskey is about 16 shillings per gallon, and this extra li- quor cannot be considered as part of the ration ; would it not be well to furnish it as well as the salt in the Quarter Master Department. I am sure you will conceive that men laboring hard in the hot sun require an extra allowance, and it may be brought here at 15s. cost and carriage. Lt. Hartshorn returned last evening with his command, and will no doubt report to you. He is of opinion there is a camp of Indians not far distant from this, on the west side of the river. I shall employ his cavalry as a covering party to the hay makers, &c., which will make the duty of the infantry lighter-the many objects we have to attend to makes their duty very hard .- The want of camp kettles to cook their moat in is a great inconvenience. Inclosed you have a return for articles we cannot well do without. The want of clothing for the men is also a sub- ject of complaint. I am told there are a num- ber pairs of linen overalls in store at head quar- ters. I wish you would think proper to send them here, with some shirts to cover our naked- ness. Indoed I should feel much relieved by a visit from you. Permit me here to suggest the necessity of furnishing grass hooks for the horse,
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and indeed the contractor's men ought to liave them also.
representation to the President on the subject . | and took off the other shoe, he constantly call-
The officers of the 2d regiment contend with me for rank, and I believe are about to make a As I filled Captain Mercer's vacancy, and was myself the bearer of his commission, and being appointed by a different act of Congress, I feel no uneasiness with respect to their claims. But the want of my commission may be some in- convenience. I addressed Gen. Knox on this subject in March last-having received no an- swer, I fear from the multiplicity of business in your office at that time he overlooked my request, and have therefore to solicit your influence with him for a copy of my commission to support my claims.
Respectfully yours, JNO. ARMSTRONG, Capt. Commandant.
GEN. JAS. WILKINSON.
FORT WASHINGTON, July 6th, 1792.
DEAR SIR :
I have only time to tell you that you must forward by the convoy, ifit has not reach- cd, the enclosed letter, or if it has, by two of your runners-it being of moment. Keep a good lookout for "poor Jack" or Charley may burn the hay. Adieu.
Yours, &c.
JAS. WILKINSON, B. Gen'l.
N. B. I send a nag for your particular atten- tion. She is my favorite, and is very poor .
J. W.
J. ARMSTRONG, Esq., Capt. Com'dt.
Ferocity of a Bear.
The following remarkable instance of fero- city in a bear is related as having occurred at Bridgeport, Maine, nearly forty years ago. It is seldom that the black bear manifests so much ferocity when met with in the forest of New England. This one, however, was accompanied by her cubs, and her courage and rage were stimulated by the love of her offspring :
"Benjamin Foster, son of Maj. Asahel Fos- ter, of Bridgeton, being on his way through a thicket of woods, was suddenly alarmed by the growling of a bear. He soon discovered an old she bear and two cubs. The old one inimedi- ately made towards him, growling, and very fierce. He immediately took to the first tree he could find, which was about nine inches diam- eter, and about twenty feet to the first limbs; this he ascended with all possible speed, and having reached the limbs, he called to the near- est neighbor, who lived about a quarter of a mile distant, for help. The bear, on hearing his cries, retreated from the tree and hallooed also, which she repeated as often as he called for help.
The bear then returned to the tree and climb. ed up nearly to the first limbs, but losing her! hold she fell to the ground; this enraged her,
and she again ascended the tree with greater velocity, and overtook him at the lenght of a- bout thirty feet, when she seized him one foot, but the shoe coming off she fell to the ground ; recovering, she ascended the tree a third time, ing for help and finding none. Ile had now as- cended the tree as far as was safe for him to ven- ture, the bear constantly tearing his feet with her teeth, until they became a most shocking spectacle.
The bear at length fastened her jaws so pow- erfully to one of his heels as to cause the limbs by which he held to break, and he fell to the ground, the bear falling at the same time on the other side of the tree; and notwithstanding his feet was in this mangled condition, he escaped to the nearest house and arrived safe. The dis- tanee from the ground by measurement, from whence the young man fell, was 48 feet It is supposed that his repeated and eager cries for help tended to increase the rage and fury of the bear, which had her whelps with her.
Governors of the States.
Stales
Governors.
I'm exp.
Maine, Hugh J Anderson,
Jan 1846
New Hampshire, John H Steele, June 1845
Massachusetts,
*George N Briggs, Jan 1846
Rhode Island,
*James Fenner,
May 1845
Connecticut,
* William Slade, Oct 1845
Silas Wright, Jan 1847
New Jersey,
Francis R Shunk, Jan 1848
Delaware,
* Thomas Stockton, Jan 1849
Maryland,
* Thomas J Pratt, Jan 1848
Virginia,
James McDowell, May 1846
North Carolina, * William A Graham, Jan 1845 William Aiken, Dec 1845
South Carolina,
*Geo. W Crawford,
Jan 1847
Alabama,
Benj'n Fitzpatrick, Deç 1845
Mississippi,
Albert G Brown, Jan 1846
Louisiana,
Alexander Mouton, Jan 1847
Ohio,
* Mordecai Bartley, Dec 1846
Kentucky,
*William Owsley,
Sept 1848
Tennessee,
*James C Jones,
Oct 1847
Indiana, Thos J Whitcomb, Dec 1846
Illinois,
Thomas Ford, Dec 1846
Michigan,
John S Barry,
Jan 1846
Missouri,
John C Edwards,
Nov 1849
Arkansas,
Thomas Drew,
Nov 1848
TERRITORIES.
Florida,
John Branch, Aug 1847
Iowa,
John Chambers,
Mar 1847
Wisconsin,
Henry Dodge,
July 1847
*Whigs 12; Democrats 17.
MARRIAGES.
ON Tuesday, May 8th, by the Rev. D. Shepardson, Mr. JAMES M. SMITH to MISS JANE POINIER.
Thursday, May 22d, by Rev. F. Beecher, Dr FREDER- ICK H. BANKS of New Orleans, to Miss VIRINDA WIG- GINS.
Sunday, 25th inst. by Rev. J. W. HOPKINS, Mr. JOHN CLARKE to Miss SUSAN HAYMON.
DEATHS.
ON Tuesday, 13th inst, HEMSLEY A. son of Andrew M. and Elizabeth Springer-aged 3 years.
Tuesday, 20th inst. SARAII, consort of N. T. Horton.
Wednesday, 21st inst, ALBERT, son of John and Maria Sherer-aged 1 year, 11 months.
*Roger S Baldwin, May 1845
Vermont,
New York,
*Charles C Stratton, Jan 1848
Pennsylvania,
Georgia,
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Value of Property here.
I am asked sometimes, why I do not publish regularly the sales of real estate as they occur, by way of evidence abroad to capitalists of the increasing value of property in Cincinnati.
To this the reply may be made, that our city dailies keep the community advised of such sta- tistics to better advantage than a weekly pub- lication permits me. There is however a rea - son more forcible in the case. It is difficult to impress persons resident elsewhere, with the fact that these ordinary sales are any thing else than heated speculations which must burst as bubbles. They cannot understand why money for which it is difficult to obtain 6 per cent in our atlantic cities should produce 10 to 15 per cent invested here in real estate, and they nev- er will, until they become residents here, and observe with their own eyes the elements of our prospesity .
For these reasons, it is occasionally only, that I touch on the subject. Lately I gave prices of property sold at sheriff's sale, feeling that such a feature in its disposal, must remove all dis- trust as to its true value. And I will- now add a remarkable example, strictly authentic, of the perfect safety and great productiveness of judi- cious purchases in real estate here.
In the year 1839-only six years since, James Wise and Thomas Bateman purchased a block or square of the Betts' property, at $3 33 cents per foot front. In a year or two they made sales of a part successively for 7, 10, 12 and 14 dol- lars. For the whole of the residue, they have since refused thirty dollars per front ft. Just such speculations offer now as formerly, the only dif- ference being that it takes in later days, larger investments to produce the same profits.
Veneers.
This article has been extensively imported from the Atlantic cities heretofore, for our mar- ket, both for use and for sale. For the benefit of multitudes who purelase the finer qualities of furniture, ignorant that the outside wood is e veneer or facing upon some other, which is ei- ther cheaper or stronger, or perhaps both, it may be not impertinent to state that most of what they buy is of this description. In this there is however no deception, they being sup- plied with anarticle of furniture equally good, if not better, and much clicaper, than if made solid. The veneers brought to this market are Mahogany, Rose, and Zebra, of foreign woods, and Black Walnut and Curled Maple of do- mestic growth, much the larger share being of the first class. Not less than fifteen to twenty thousand dollars in value of them have been an- nually sold or used herc.
In those revolutions of manufactures which are constantly occurring, Cincinnati is now be- coming the head quarters to the west for the sup- ply of this article. Mr. Henry Albro, at the intersection of Symmes street and the Canal, has had in operation, for the last two years, a. veneering saw, and is turning out every descrip- tion of veneering from foreign and domestic woods that may be required. He has already effected a reduction of 25 per cent. in prices and is preparing the way to supply our own and foreign markets with native woods of unrivaled beauty in surface and figure.
There are no finer ornamental woods in the world for furniture, than those of American growth, the black-walnut, cherry and curled maple, for example. Fashion has heretofore patronized those of foreign countries, on the principle which governs thousands, that noth- ing is valuable but what is "far sought and dear- ly bought." But fashion, like all despots, has- her caprices, and the Rose and Zebra and Ma- -hogany are evidently declining in favor; and as- our native growth appears winning its way into use into England and France, and challenges. the admiration of foreigners, it will command a preference eventually in the domestic as well. as the foreign market.
But our American woods are not only equal' to any of Foreign growth, but the various wes- tern articles are superior for cabinet ware to the corresponding kinds east of the mountains .--- This is no doubt owing to the greater rapidity of growth incident to our more fertile soil and milder climate.
As a specimen of the value of western tim- ber for these purposes, it may be stated that black-walnut forks have been sent from St. Lou- is to the eastern cities, sawed into veneers, and sent back and sold in that shape for 12} cents per superficial foot. These veneers are so thin that it takes thirty-two to make an inch in thick- ness. they being not as thick as pasteboard's, and' the same log which furnishes boards of a given size, will saw into veneers fifteen fold. - Specimens of black-walnut, plain and curled, ·sawed here and worked up into chair-backs, cabinet furniture, and piano frames, may be seen at Geyer's, Pfaff's and Ross' chair facto- ries, M' Alpin's cabinet warc rooms, & Britting's piano factory, which cannot be surpassed any where. Mr. Albro has received an order for ve- neers of select western woods, to send to the Boston market, a portion of which is designed for shipment to London and Liverpool, by way of testing the demand there, Of that demand there can be no doubt, for it will prove not only one of the most elegant materials for use there,
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but among the cheapest of veneers, the duty un- der the late Tariff being but 25 shillings per 50 cubic feet-about 25 cts. on 500 veneers of the usual size, a rate which renders the impost mere- Jy nominal.
The parts of trees adapted to ornamental pur- poses are the forks or crotches, curls, warts, and other excrescences, which , valuable as they are for this purpose, are fit for nothing else. As these have heretofore been sawed into boards, in which shape they are not one fifteenth part as productive as in veneers. an inadequate supply only has been furnished by the saw mills. But the increased supply created by their multiplica- tion into veneers, will not only provide for our domestic markets, but furnish an extensive sale abroad in Europe, and our atlantic cities.
The domestic woods, thus far sawed at Al- bro's are black walnut, curled maple, cherry, sugar tree, oak, ash and apple, which afford when sawed up, an infinite variety of curls, dot- tings, waves, streaks and other fancy figures, some being of the most graceful and others of the most grotesque appearance. These are fur- nished at the mill, at a price as low as from three to six cents, per superficial foot, and of first rate specimens. They also saw for the own- ers of the logs if desired, and as low as at 125 to 450 cents per 100 feet. It is easy to conceive the increased demand and use, which this reduction in prices must create. Nor is it less obvious that hereafter the entire veneer supply of the West will be sawed in the West. Independent- ly of its own growth of woods, which, wherev- er it can be done, will be cut up on the spot, the foreign woods from Hayti, Campeachy, Hon- duras and other places can be imported at as little expense into Cineinnati or any other place in the West, of steamboat access, as into any of the Atlantic cities, The freight from New Orleans, which is the butt end of the expense, is only 18 cents per cwt,, and must become even less as the demand enlarges. Besides, the fi- nest veneers made east, are laid aside on the spot, for the piano and finer descriptions of fur- niture trade, and our workmen here will not be satisfied with any thing short of a first rate article when within their reach.
Mr. Albro's establishment was built by Mr. Ferdinand Walters, who possessed an equal in- terest in it. Mr. W. has the reputation of be- ing one of the most ingenious machinists in the United States, and certainly there are many ev- idences of it on the premises, the machinery be- ing greatly simplified as well as improved; one lever here serving to run the carriage back and forwards, while on most of these saw mills, two, and even three are requisite. Nor must it be
supposed that it requires no more skill or judg- ment in these than in the ordinary saw-mills, for eight or ten years in attending a veneering saw, is preparation little enough for the employment.
The veneering saw is 4} feet in diameter, and is driven with such power and velocity as to make 400 revolutions in a minute. It has the capacity to cut two thousand feet per day, but such is the severity of its service that more than half the time is occupied in sharpening it.
Mr. Albro is about to add a chair top and a scroll saw for preparing all sorts of scroll work, and sawing mahogany and other valuable woods into every needed variety of form and shape -
Any intelligent man, who will sit down and reflect a few minutes, on the extent and com- parative unproductiveness of our American for- ests, devoted hitherto merely to furnishing fire- wood and pearl ash, will discern that it is hard- ly possible, in a pecuniary sense, to overrate the importance of furnishing countries like England and France, with their supply of ornamental woods.
What the additional advantage of veneering upon our Western timber will prove, may be judged by the fact, that a single log of Massanil- la mahogany was sold at auction, in New York, notlong since, for $502 17 cents, or $1 32 cents per superficial foot.
Relics of the Last War. Fort Hamilton, Aug. 17th, 1812.
SIR :
Capt. Collins has agreed to meet the de- tachment at Lebanon as you wished. I prom- ised to them payment of his company about 10 o'clock. He has really one of the finest compa- nies I ever saw; somewhere about 100 strong; they are a fine cheerful set of fellows as can be well placed in exercise-whatever is offered them they are ready and willing to march when and where they are wanted. I expect to be in Cincinnati to-morrow. They have some tents and are preparing more. They expect orders from you for marching.
I am sir respectfully,
Your ob't, servant,
GEO. P. TORRENCE. Maj. Gen. J. S. GANO.
Marietta, June 24th, 1812, MAJ. GEN. GANO :
Sir-The Secretary at war had authorized me to draw from the Arsenal at Newport fifteen hundred stand of arms -- I request you to receive them from Major Martin, together with as ma- ny cartouch boxes. Inspect them thoroughly before you receive them. Let them be taken to Cincinnati and safely deposited in some place
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where they will not be likely to be endangered by fire. They are for the use of Ohio militia .- Please write me whether there are any tents, camp kettles, sabres and pistols &c. &c. in the Arsenal -- as I am recently called upon by the Secretary at war to establish a military post at Sandusky.
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