USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 45
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building where the hand-mill was kept, through the logs which had not been cliunked, by which they wounded one man and killed another. Of the assailants a number were killed and two scalps taken, one of which Wallace dressed and presented to General Harinar, on his return to Fort Washington. The station was particularly exposed to assault, as the houses, contrary to the usual and proper plan, presented their lower elges outside, some of them being so low that my informant stated to me he saw a dog which had been shut out of the station, leap from a stump outside on to the roof of one of the cabins. In the progress of the seige, the most active efforts. of tlie assailants were directed to setting the roofs of the houses on a blaze, both by fire ar- rows, and by carrying brands of fire. One III- dian ran with a burning brand to a building, which he had just reached as a volley stretched him lifeless. The party from Columbia was un- der the command of Lieutenant Foster, as that from Cincinnati was in charge of Lieutenant Scott Traverse, the whole being a detachment of sixty men. After remaining long enough to as- sist Col. Shaumburg in strengthening the fortifi- cations, they returned home.
In the month of June, 1791, Wallace, with his father and a lad, were hoeing corn in a lot immediately north of where the Cincinnati Hos- pital now stands; and at the same time two men named Scott and Shepherd were engaged near what is now the corner of Western Row and Clinton streets, ploughing corn. They had drawn. a few furrows across the lot, wlren five or six In- dians jumped the fence, raised the yell, and gave chase to the ploughman, but to no effect. On hearing the yell, Wallace snatched up his rifle which lay in the row before him, directing those with him to make their escape to town, as fast as possible. On stepping cautiously into the adja- cent lot, he discovered an Indian about eiglity yards from him about to enter the bushes. He shot at him, probably .without effect, as he left the ground in haste; at the same instant he saw two Indians riding the plough horses away at full speed. The party of savages left elght blan -. kets and blanket capots behind, together with a leg of bear meat, a horn full of powder and some trifling trinkets. The alarm was given and elev- en of the best woodsmen and hunters were started on foot in pursuit, followed by eleven others on horse, having all the horses in the place, each man supplied with some pone and venison wrap- ped in his blanket for both horsemen and foot- men. About sunset they encountered a severe thunder storm, accompanied with heavy rain. By the time it became dark the rear party over- took the advance on foot, and making their horses
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fast to the trees, encamped for the night. In the morning they took the trail, and found that the Indians had lain all night in a prickly ash thicket a short distance in advance, where they had eaten a part of a fawn raw, and left the rest. The enemy was pursued to the river at a point where the Indians had crossed, just above where the town of Hamilton now stands. Owing to the tremendous rains which had fallen, the river was bank full, and the pursuing party were ob- liged to return home. During the same year Van Cleve was killed near where the Hospital stands, and Cutter was made prisoner in the same vicinity.
These were the last instances in which a say- age rifle was fired within the present limits of Cincinnati, later depredations being connected with the bow' and arrow, which enabled them to destroy cattle while prowling through our streets by night without creating an alarm. On one of these visits they shot an arrow with a stone head into an ox with such force that it went en- tirely through the carcase. Stealing horses from this time until Wayne arrived in 1793, constitu- ted the principal injury inflicted by our red brethren upon their white neighbours in Cin- cinnati.
The Memphis Convention. MEMPHIS, November 15th 1845.
Owing to an uncommon scarcity of water, boats of a large class, the Diomed, Duke of Or- leans, and Andrew Jackson, all stuck fast at va- rious points on the Lower Ohio or immediately below the mouth of that river. We lost every night but Tuesday, on the Jackson from this cause, having out traveled the rise which prece- ded us, and being constrained to lay by at night at shoal places to allow it to overtake us. We passed the Steamboat Henry Bry at Randolph, snagged the night before. We reached here on Wednesday evening, and found Memphis over- flowing with population, the number of delegates alone being almost six hundred, a very large share of whom were from various points at a dis- tance. The convention organized temporarily on Wednesday and adjourned to this morning, when John C, Calhoun was appointed President, with the usual allowance of Vice-Presidents and Secretaries; J. S. Hawkins in the former capaci- ty, and T. B. Drinker in the latter, representing Ohio. There are some of the most distinguished men in Congress and the State Legislatures in at- tendance as members. Gen. Gaines, in part, re- presents Louisiana, and was received on entering, by a general rising of the convention in acknowl- ment of his gray hairs, as well as his patriotic services. Mr. Calhoun on taking the chair made an admirable address, characterized by the most
enlarged, patriotic, and statesman-like views, and widely different in its features with one or two exceptions from what had been my expecta- tion on that score. He spoke for forty-five min- utes with the entire sympathy of the assembly. I have been thus far highly gratified in this visit. The Andrew Jackson runs fast and smoothly; has a captain who makes every thin g move in its proper orbit, being himself always at his post. The table was excellent, and what is not usually enjoyed by men in this kind of traveling, the sleeping accommodations were all I could desire. I fear I shall be detained by the important and various business which will occupy the convention, longer than I had con- templated at my departure, but feel it my duty to see its necessary business transacted before I leave Memphis.
What pork is in Cincinnati, and more, is cot- ton in Memphis, because while pork is but one of our important exports, cotton is the great sta- ple here, as high as nine hundred bales having been received here this week, from the interior, in one day. What the quantity of groceries and other goods furnished to the wealthy region which supplies this cotton crop, may be infered accordingly. Memphis is in fact a place of great commercial activity for its size, and the extent of its improvements bears testimony to that fact. The population-nine thousand inhabitants-in- dicates its position as the most important town in Tennessee, Nashville excepted.
November 15th, evening .- The convention has just adjourned. Our Cincinnati dailies have re- corded its doings as far as the journals point them out. It may Le of interest to notice some things which lic out of sight.
The south and southwest came to the conven- tion to carry a rail-road to Memphis under the patronage of the general government, or at any rate to unite the interests of the several states through which it should pass, so as to secure the necessary state patronage to the measure. Mr. Calhoun's address compeled them to the latter course. He said distinctly at the outset, that the United States conld do nothing on its behalf.
The jealousy of states right men who were members of that convention, constituting as they lid a majority there, choked off every thing in the way of public improvements, except where the improvement lay within their own territory. It was in vain that we furnished evidence that the Olio and its tributaries turned out more inanu- factured and agricultural products than any other river in the United States. All that the Ohio delegation could obtain was a general re- commendation to the improvement of the Ohio, along with that of the Mississippi. The Louis- ville delegation in the committee, wily, perse-
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vering, and adroit, staved off any direct recom- mendation of a new canal or widening the old one, or making either free, by embarrassing our action with the wild and absurd proposition of making a slackwater navigation of the Ohio river from Pittsburgh to its mouth.
What the west needs to have done for itself this session of Congress, must be done by public meetings, held in every Congressional district. affected by the great interest in which the whole west has a common stake. In this way the mails, the navigation of the Ohio, national depots, armories &c., will all be settled as the west re- quires them lo be disposed of.
There were many distinguished public men from all quarters, present at Memphis, the most fluent speakers generally being from the south and southwest. In this respect, however, Mr. Briggs of Cleveland, and Mr. Elwood Fisher of our own city amply sustained the honour of Ohio. Fisher's readiness at repartee rendered him very troublesome to some of the St. Louis delegation, who were thereby made by him suffi- ciently rediculous. Dr. Evans of Evansville, In- diana, and Mr. Russell of Wheeling, made brief but very effective speeches, also. J. B. Butler of Pittsburgh, sustained a marked influence in the various committees of which he made part, as might be expected from his experience in pub- lic business.
Bail-Road to the Pacific.
The projected enterprise by Mr. A. Whitney, of constructing a railroad from the western borders of Lake Michigan to the shores of the Pacific, which has been for several months before the public, and will be brought before the Con- gress of the United States at its present session, demands such vast means for its accomplishment, and comprehends such important consequences in its results, alike in its moral, political and pe- cuniary bearings, as to justify and require a thorough analysis. Much of what has appeared in the periodical press is deficient in the statistics of the subject, and vague notions of its char- acter, have prevailed to such an extent that the only individual-Judge Douglass, of Illinois- who has yet thought proper to oppose the mea- sure imputes as objections to it, three important features, which do not belong to the project. If a writer, usually intelligent, has committed such gross errors on a subject to which he ad- dresses himself, what must be the general igno- rance of those who have merely glanced at the sketchy and indefinite statements on this sub- ject, which have been presented by the press. Discussing the project for the last three weeks, I have found no individual, myself included, who had any distinct or accurate notion of the enter-
prise until he had thoroughly examined the whole subject.
What then is the project?
Mr. Whitney has memorialized the Congress of the United States for a grant of the public lands, sixty miles wide, from the western shores of Lake Michigan to the Pacific ocean. The sales of this belt of land are to build the road.
He proposes that commissioners on behalf of the United States shall be appointed by the Presi- dent, who in conjunction with himself shall make the titles. He to effect the sales and they to receive the money, which they will disburse as fast and as far as the road progresses. The sales of one mile on the road, extending the breadth of the grant-sixty miles-will furnish Ineans to build two miles of the road. In this way the road sells the land, and the land makes the road, and the final result is the settlement of the country and with it the OREGON QUESTION.
As regards the route, with its points of com- mencement and termination, there is nothing in the nature of the enterprise which determines the precise location except that the rail-road must traverse the south pass of the Rocky Mountains in latitude forty-two degrees thirty minutes. It cannot commence as low as Mil- waukie, because the lands on that parallel are so extensively taken up as to forbid a location much below Greenbay, and it may terminate at the mouth of the Columbia river, or what is infinite- ly preferable, at or near San Francisco in Cali- fornia, should that country fall within our limits in the course of ten or fifteen years. It is not necessary for nearly that space of time to deter- mine the point at which the road shall strike the Pacific.
Mr. Whitney proposes not only to make the road, but to keep it in repair for the fifteen years which may elapse before its completion.
This rail-road is designed to be free except for such an amount as may be necessary to keep up repairs. The ownership of the road is in the people of the United States, and such residue of | the lands as may not be requisite for its con- struction becomes finally the property of Mr. Whitney.
If the project fails in any stage of its progress, the lands become as they always have been, the property of the people.
It will be seen then, and should be distinctly understood and recollected by my readers in the farther prosecution of this topic,
That, this is no joint stock company.
That it is no land company speculation, and,
That it is in no shape an irresponsible cor- poration.
If there be any danger of failure in accomplish- ing the enterprise, it is at the risk of the project-
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or, the government or rather the people of the | laid out in regular form, the buildings being on United States hazard nothing, and in the event of success, contribute nothing but wild lands, three- fourths of which will be of no value otherwise for a century to come, and could doubtness now be bought of Congress for five cents per acre.
Journal of Rev. David Jones in 1773 .-- No. 3. Communicated by H. G. Jones, Jr., of Lever- ington, Pa.
Saturday, 13th February, 1773, I was so happy as to learn that Joseph Peappi, a Moravian Indi- an, who is a good interpreter, was in town. I made application to him for his assistance in speaking to the king. He engaged, and spoke very kindly on the occasion, and consequently the king was informed that I was in town and would wait on him presently. Joseph carried the message and was to remain until I came: on this occasion the king's brother and some of his friends were gathered in the king's house. When I thought it suitable I went in, desiring Joseph to let him know I was the man he expected, upon which he gave me the right hand of friend- ship and appeared to receive me in a kind man- ner, inviting me to sit down. I told him I was the man who wrote two letters to him last year, one from Monongahela and the other from Fort Pitt, asking if he had received them with a belt of wampum. He said he had received all, and I might see them if I pleased. I replied that it was not necessary to be at that trouble; if he had re- ceived them that was enough. I proceeded to let him know that my design in coming was the same that was specified in the letters; that I was a minister who was desirous to instruct them in the knowledge of that God who had made us all; that now I was ready to speak to him and his people, if he was pleased to grant me liberty. He replied that in these matters he could do nothing without the advice of his council, but he would inform them of it, and I should have an answer as soon as the great feast was over. This was not only what they call a feast, but also a time of great dancing and gaming, and nothing else could be attended to 'till these were finished; therefore I concluded to visit the Moravian In- dian towns to employ the time till they consulted about the matter. Sabbath 14th, Mr. Duncan and I set out for the Moravian town which is situated on the same river, about ten miles up the stream: the road was very icy, so that we were obliged to go into the woods, which made it late before we came to the town: when I arrived worship was not finished. I went in and found . the minister instructing them in the English tongue by an interpreter; but after a few sen- tences he stopped. This town stands on high- level ground, east of the Mooskingung, and is
each side of the street. These Indians came here in August, 1772, and so industrious have they been, that they have built neat log houses for themselves, and a good house for worship about twenty-two feet by cighteen; well seated, with a good floor and chimney. They are a mixture of Stockbridge Indians, Mingos and Delawares. Since the last war they have lived about Wyo- ming, until their removal. Their conduct in time of worship is praiseworthy-their grave and solemn countenances exceeding what is common among us at such timcs. Their minister, the Rcv. David Zeisberger, a native of Moravia, seems to be an honest man: he has been quite successful among these poor heathen. They used no kind of prayer-their worship beginning and ending with singing a hymn in the Indian language. In the evening they met again for worship; but their minister, either inconsider- ately or by design, spoke in the German lan- guage, so that I knew not what he said. Mr. Zeisberger told me that between the two towns there werc near eighty families, and two minis- ters besides himself; and I was informed that one of them whose name is Youngman, is a person of good abilities. From what I saw I must say that the conduct of the Moravian Society toward the heathen is commendable; they have behaved like Christians indeed, while others have in the most shameful manner, neglected these poor fel- low creatures, or else made only faint attempts by persons not suitably qualified. Indeed from all that I have heard of Mr. David Brainerd, he was sincerely engaged, and well qualified, but his time was short. In the evening I told Mr. Zeisberger that I had a desire to speak to the In- dians; he replied with some coldness that 1 might have an opportunity in the morning. I am aj - prehensive lie was afraid to countenance me much, lest I might be of some disadvantage by drawing away disciples, but perhaps his reserved- ness was from his natural disposition. Monday, 15th, early in the morning I parted with my kind fellow traveler, Mr. Duncan, who went on his way towards Fort Pitt. The Indians convened -Joseph Peappi was interpreter. I told tliem when I came from home I had no design to speak for them, for I did not know of their re- moval; but seeing Providence gave me an oppor- tunity I had a desire to speak to tliem. I pro- ceeded to observe that all the disciples of our Sa- viour Jesus Christ separated themselves from the course of this world, no longer to live as the world lived; as other people were bad, they might expect difficulties and persecutions, bnt to be strong in heart, as God would give them rest- that they should be watchful and beware of fal- ling back to living as other Indians, but as God
had opened their eyes, to keep on their way until | Barracks in Philadelphia; adding that for all the they came to eternal rest with Christ. I suppose assistance the Moravians could give their Indi- ans would have been killed, consequently it did Į not signify to be of that religion which would not protect them in war time. Ile said they intended to go home to the king and tell him that they would be of the same religion that he was, and desired a minister and schoolmaster of liis choos- ing. I told him I approved of his speech, but was apprehensive that they were too poor to go, and thought they would not get much help. He informed me that they had nearly forty pounds now in money, and intended to make an early hunt, and go in the fall. I encourage:l the attempt, willing to resign the civilising of them to the king and council; but I am persuaded that the service of the Church of England, as it now stands, will never be prescribed to the Indi- ans, for they would not like a religion which takes a person a great part of his lifetime to learn its ceremonies. my discourse continued about half an hour. 1 felt much of the assistance of God, and by the great solemnity, it might be judged that the word was felt with power. I could not go to the other town, by reason of the ice. These Indians understand carpenter work and farming, and in- tend to live as we do, and I am certain that in a few years they will be rich and live well, for the land is exceedingly good for wheat. While I was here one of the Indians asked the minister when Easter Sunday was. Mr. Zeisberger seem- ed to evade any discourse about it and merely told him that it was not for some time, and that he should have notice when it arrived. Perhaps I should have thought nothing of it, if I had heard such a question among white people; but the case was quite different here, for I ruminated on it with anxiety to think that any man would presume to teach a heathen to observe that which God Almighty never taught him, for since the heathen were made, God never taught any one to Steamboat Traveling. observe Easter Sunday. My thoughts rested not here, but I began to think what superstitious relics of the Romish Church were kept alive among us, and among others, I fixed on Christ- mas as an abomination which God never com- manded to be observed.
I returned to Newcomers' Town in the after- noon, and went to see Capt. Killbuck, who is a sensible Indian, speaks good English, and treats a white with some of the complaisance of a gen- tleman. He received me very kindly and con- versed freely on the subject of preaching, and was to meet next morning to converse farther: le invited me to make free in coming to see him. I soon perceived that he was the person who bore all the sway in their affairs, and could do more than the king himself. Tuesday 16th, met Capt. Killbuck, and talked on many subjects. In our discourse he told me that some years ago two Pres- byterian ministers visited them-that though they did not incline to let them stay, yet they had been thinking of the matter ever since, and intended to have a minister and a schoolmaster, but would not have Presbyterians, because their ministers went to war against thein, and there- fore they did not like to be taught now by those who formerly were for killing them. I found Indian prejudice very great and unreasonable, and therefore observed that they might receive the Moravians, for they never fought against them. He replied that the Moravians did not belong to our kingdom, but were of Germany, and could not save their people alive in time of war. Upon this he related very exactly all the distresses and dangers of the Moravian Indians last war, and how they were preserved in the
For the benefit of those readers of the Adverti- ser who are not regular steamboat travelers, I submit a few hints which they may improve to their advantage. The moral I desire to inculcate is, be careful always on what steamboat you travel. Those who infer that one steamboat is about as good as another for a man on a journey, will probably become undeceived, if they take western steamboats repeatedly. Let me supply a contrast for public benefit.
I started to Memphis with my fellow members, to attend the Convention there, on board the Steamboat Andrew Jackson, Capt. Eckert, com- mander. Every comfort and enjoyment within reach of an individual at his own home, was at our hands. The river was lower than usual, and after leaving Louisville, we grounded every night waiting for a slight rise, which we had outtravel- ed. Whatever difficulty had been, from time to time created by low water, was overcome by the ingenuity, perseverance and energy of the cap- tain, who was always found by me at his post day and night, watching over our safety, deduct- ing occasionally an hour or two through the day, in which he slept, and depending on getting into port for an opportunity of posting up liis sleeping account. Every thing moved like clock work about the boat, a look or a word from the captain sufficing for his subordinates. In this way we got down to Memphis, regreting that we should not have the opportunity of returning by the same conveyance, and arriving twenty-four hours in advance of all the other delegates from Cincin- nati, Pittsburg and Louisville.
Now for the contrast-I left Memphis, accom- panied by others of our city delegation, on the
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Brownsville, a new boat which started from Memphis on Tuesday, 18th ult. The boat, al- though small, had a double enginc, and bore a fair reputation for speed. She was new, and kept remarkably neat and in good order. Every thing in short as to her appearance, was perfect- ly a decoy. Her captain was a gentlemanly man, but, as well as his officers, destitute of expe- rience, and indeed fitness for his business. Cn onr way up, and below Mills' point, he halted to take a lot of boilers and heavy machinery, I ascertained from Mr. Calhoun that urgent business compelled his return via New Orleans, but that he would pay us a visit to Cincinnati in the course of next summer. He is not unaware of the character of the Valley of the Miamis, and Lexington, Ky., region for beauty and exuberant fertility, and anticipates great pleasure from the visit. which had been left during high water on a bluff bank, and which any man of sense or judgment, could have discovered at a glance, could not be got aboard without endangering the safety alike of boat and passengers, and for one half of which there was not stowage room, at any rate. After spending three hours in an undecided state, swung to and fro alternately, by the advice of their owner and the passengers, he concluded at last to leave them. At Cairo he left half a dozen - passengers for St. Louis. This took him three hours more. At Golconda the boat stopped to take in 67 tons pigmetal for Louisville. Here an hour was spent adjusting the price of freighit, and nine hours mere in getting the iron on board -an operation that might have been done in two, had the necessary preparation been made. We leans, he was received with hononr and respect
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