USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 70
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Off went the Yankee farmer with his one dol- lar in cash, turkey, dressing, and all, doubtless feeling assured that he had satisfactorily disposed of a portion of his marketing.
Rail-Road Anecdote.
One day last week while a train of cars on the Little Miami Rail-Road, stopped at the depot at Waynesville, a fellow, who had never seen the like before, stepped on the locomotive, which for the time being had been dislocated from the cars, and being curious to know and see every thing about it, happened to place his hands an a screw, which he turned, and in an instant the locomo- tive started off in full speed, with the fellow upon it, hallooing and bellowing at the pitch of his voice to stop the tarnation thing, while at the same time he would pray to God to have mercy upon him. The locomotive ran about seven miles, when, by accident, it left the track and stopped, without any material injury, either to the unfortunate passenger or locomotive .- Ger- mantown Gazette.
Chronological Table.
March 11th .- Birth of Tasso, 1544. Emperor Napoleon married the Archduchess of Austria, 1810.
12th .- British garrison, at Mobile, sur- rendered to the Spaniards, 1780.
13th .- Sir John Herschel discovered a new planet, which he named Georgium Sidus, 1781. Dr. Priestly, born, 1738.
14th .- Klopstock, died, 1803. 15th .- Andrew Jackson, born, 1767.
16th .- Gustavus III., King of Sweden, assassinated, 1792. Battle of Culloden, 1746.
17th .- St. Patrick, Tutelary Saint of Ireland, died at Ulster, 493. Gen. Washington marched into Boston after it had been evacuated by the British, 1776.
The Cantatrice and the Empress.
The arrival of the, for a time, " great attrac- tion," Gabrielli the cantatrice, at the Russian capital, made a sensation of course, at the Court of Catharine.
" What are we to do for this young beauty?" said the Empress, who comes from Naples ex- pressly for us; or rather my child, speak-what terms do you expect for your engagement at our court?
" Madame," Gabrielli replied, " I perceive that I shall be at a considerable expense for furs this winter, and I am poor. Shall I ask too much if I ask of your majesty 20,000 rubles?"
At this demand the brow of the Empress low- ered, a slight flash was visible on her cheek, and her eyes glittered-but it was only for a moment. Nevertheless, (continues Gabrielli,) I was afraid,
and I regretted my words; but, woman like, I would not for the world have withdrawn them in the presence of the young officer, who was then gazing on me with such interest.
" Twenty thousand rubles!" exclaimed Cathe- rine. " Do you know what you ask, child? For twenty thousand rubles I can have two field-ınar- shals!"
" In that case, perhaps, your majesty will en- gage two field-marshals that can sing," I replied, in the most deliberate manner imaginable. I do not know what possessed me-it must have been some evil spirit, for as I uttered the words I saw my fate balancing between Siberia and the Her- mitage. But my good fortune saved me.
" You are bold, young woman," said the Em- press; and then quickly resurning the pleasant smile with which she first greeted me; " but go," she said, " go, and consider yourself as two field- marshals.
Married Life.
Most young men associate the idea of great expense and the necessary income to meet it, with married life. But it might easily be shewn, that a young man, a clerk on a salary, for ex- ample, could support a wife on what it cost him to live. I know of cases where men recently married have actually paid out less than while they were single. As a family enlarges, other expenses doubtless increase, but the industry and economy which a judicious, prudent wife would stimulate will always provide on that score.
The March of Science.
What next ?- The Miners' Journal, printed at Pottsville, Pa., says-" We have written on pa- per manufactured from iron, and seen a book whose leaves and binding are both of the same material."
Truly the mechanical and chemical transforma - tions of the present age throw into the shade all the magic of the east-ancient and modern.
Thunder and Lightning.
A fellow was lately swigging at the bung-hole of a gallon jug, with all the ardour of one who really loved its contents. The jug, in reply to his drafts, went clug, clug, clug,-on which an anxious expectant, standing by, remarked :- " Jim, you'd better stop; don't you hear the thun- der?" "No," replied Jim, " but I perceive the jug begins to lighten."
Good Credit.
The members of a certain society having be- come somewhat remiss in their attendance, it was proposed to pay their debts, and dissolve the coneern. "Pay our debts, indeed!" said a wag, " let us adjourn now, while we can do so with credit."
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Buildings for 1845 --- Cincinnati.
I have now completed the enumeration of the buildings in this city-by wards, during 1845, as follows :-
Bricks.
Frames.
Total.
First,
35
75
110
Second,
86
11
97
Third,
50
65
115
Fourth,
56
35
91
Fifth,
45
10
55
Sixth,
118
22
140
Seventh,
101
76
177
Eighth,
88
100
188
Ninth,
86
31
117
Tenth,
122
40
162
789
463
1252
The buildings for 1844, were 1225. Those for 1843, were 1003. The advance of 1845 over 1844 in the number of buildings has not progressed at the same rate as that of the previous year; but is much greater, if we refer to the character of the buildings. I have no doubt that 10,000,000 more bricks have been used in this year's erections. The public buildings alone, put up this year, have consumed as many bricks as would have sufficed to put up one hundred and fifty private dwellings of the usual size.
The total number of buildings in this city, ex- clusive of frame stables and out-buildings of every description, is 11,560.
I propose to furnish a comparative table of buildings of such of the various cities as have put their improvements on record-and commence with-
Population
Buildings in 1845
Improvement-per ct.1
Cincinnati,
85,000
1252
Washington, D. C.,
33,000
336
10
Columbus (Ohio),
10,016
202
20
-
Capture of John Andre.
One of them ost remarkable episodes of tlie American revolution, and threatening if success- ful, most disastrous consequences to the issue of that great event, was the treasonable plot of Benedict Arnold to deliver West Point, together with the person of the commander-in-chief, if possible, into the hands of the British forces. That incident teaches a valuable lesson in mor- als and politics, and has consigned the name of the great traitor to a signal and unenviable pin- nacle of infamy.
the enemy, of Gen. Arnold, is recorded the ro- mantic history of the brave and unfortunate An- dre, whose life paid the penalty of the enterprise, on its failure.
It is not with the view of furnishing a general history of what is already on record as facts, that the following narrative is prepared for the press, but for the correction of various important er- rors in the statement of Andre's apprehension, by the three militiamen, Paulding, Williams and Van Wert. I derive the information from Mr. John Hudson, whose narrative of the capture of Cornwallis, has lately appeared in the "Adver- tiser." Mr. H. was for many years of his life a resident in the immediate neighbourhood where the events occurred, and was personally ac- quainted with all three of the captors, from whose lips he had the statements he makes. I shall give the narrative in his own language.
"I have conversed with these men, being a resident of the neighbourhood where they dwelt, and was well acquainted with Paulding and Van Wert. Williams was a small man, in middle life, and I did not know so much of him as of the rest. Van Wert was a shoemaker by trade, and a large athletic man. Paulding was tall, well built, of a commanding figure; and at the period of these events, in the twenty-second year of his age. He had been left an orphan; and was brought up by his grandfather, an independent farmer, who resided within four miles of Tarry- town.
" Col. Delancey, at the head of the refugees and tories, had been engaged scouring that part of the State, seizing the persons of those who were considered well affected to the cause of liberty, and taking them on to New York City, where they were consigned to the custody of the pro- vost marshal, Cunningham-an absolute ante- chamber to the grave. Hundreds fell victims to the barbarities of the enemy, and numbers, to es- cape that treatment, enlisted in their service; generally with the design of deserting at the first favourable opportunity. Paulding fell into theso men's hands, and like others, enlisted, as the on- ly means offering an escape with life. He soon afterwards, in the dress, and with the arms and ac- coutrements of a British soldier, deserted accord- ingly and returned home, where he was appoint- ed a corporal of militia; and having Van Wert and Williams assigned him as a patrol, was oc- cupied scouting over the neutral ground-so call- ed because between the lines of both armies, al- though occupied by neither. Within this terri- tory, parties of militia on the one side, and tories on the other, were constantly on the alert and look-out for the benefit of their respective sides. The neutral ground comprehended the country
Connected with the treason and defection to between Spikenduyvel creek and Croton river.
43
t
h
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"On the hill just above Tarrytown, is level, ta- ble land, to a considerable extent. The post- road from New York to Albany, crossed the elevation, and the White Plains road entered it here, nearly at right angles; a few rods south stood a poplar or tulip tree, the most remarkable one I have ever seen, although I have since seen thousands in the west, and many of great magni- tude. The trunk was smooth and round, as gen- erally is the case with that description of tree. It was at least six feet through, and extended forty to fifty feet without a limb; and what is un- usual with the poplar, the branches spread out to a great length, forming the greatest extent of shade which I have ever seen to any tree. This I suppose was owing to its standing alone; no other tree being within a considerable distance of it.
which disclosed the whole transaction, as well as Arnold's connection with it. Among these were a plan of West Point, minute returns of the forces, ordnance and defences of that post, with critical remarks on the works. His captors then took him to Sing Sing, where there was a ferry kept by one Jerry Stuyvers. There they crossed to the west side of the Hudson and proceeded down to Tappan, where the main body of the American troops were encamped. Gen. Wash- ington was absent at the time, but arrived in a few minutes. The rest is on the page of history.
" So near had Andre effected his return to the British lines, that the Vulture sloop of war, was in sight of Paulding's party at the time of Andre's capture, waiting only the proper signal to send off a boat to the shore. He suffered as a spy on the 2d October, 1780.
" The poplar tree I have alluded to was in the centre of the road, and from these circumstances became an object of such notoriety that stage passengers made it a constant practice to chip or cut off pieces of it as mementos. Many years afterwards it was struck by lightning so severely as not only to split it open, but to tear it abso- lutely out of root."
" Under the shade of this tree, these three men -Paulding, Williams and Van Wert-were play- ing cards, their gun's resting against its trunk. Andre, as soon as his return by water by the Vulture had been cut off, it seems had been di- rected by Arnold, a circuitous route which took him into the White Plains road, and thence into the post-road to N. York, as I have already stated, a few rods north of this tree. As he approached It will be readily comprehended by the forego- ing narrative, that it was the British uniform of Paulding which led Andre into the mistake which cost him his life; and a reason is now furnished for his conduct on that occasion, which serves to explain what was heretofore unaccounted for- his neglect to produce his pass from Arnold, at once. the party, observing Paulding in the dress and with the accoutrements of a British soldier,he very naturally concluded he belonged to his own side. He rode up accordingly and accosted the party- ' My lads, am I past all the rebel guards.' From the fact of his being Adjutant General to the troops, the person of Andre was perfectly known to every soldier in the British lines, and Pauld- The main Chance. ing, of course, recognised him at once. He rose The Pennsylvania Germans are a people, who by keeping their eye on the main chance, between earning and saving, have generally become rich, because always independent of pressure for money. It is curious to observe the operation of the money saving principle in these people. up therefore, approached Andre as if to address him, and seizing the horse by the bridle, ordered the rider to dismount. Andre promptly produ- ced his pass signed by General Arnold, as bearer of a flag of truce. Paulding's judgment led him to think it highly improbable that a man of An- A wealthy German from Eastern Pennsylva- nia, named Z-, purchased the village of Har- monie, on the road from Pittsburgh to Erie, after Rapp and his associates who had built it, left for the Wabash. Although a keen, sagacious busi- ness man, he could hardly read, and his writing extended no farther than to sign his name; but having had one of his sons qualified in these ac- complishments so far as to keep his accounts by single entry, he devolved that business on him. dre's rank would be employed in that capacity, and appearing to hesitate as to what he ought to do, Major Andre proposed to him that he should dispatch one of his men with a letter to Arnold, which being assented to, he sat down and wrote, sending it off by Williams, on Andre's own horse. As soon as he was gone, Andre began to tamper with the others, offering his watch and purse of gold, and rising in his offers to them as they re- fused them; and finally making such promises if One day the old man being absent from home, a man named Musselman in his employ and fami- ly, while engaged in raising a barn, fell with a heavy piece of timber across lıim, which broke his leg, as well as inflicted other injuries. As soon as the poor fellow was brought home on a they would escort him into the British lines as convinced Paulding that there was something wrong in the case, and probably of great import- ance to the American interests to detect. He ac- cordingly proceeded to search his prisoner, and drawing off his boots, found a variety of papers, litter it was suggested to Mrs. Z., that a physician
339
should be sent for. " Dat's drue," remarked the provident lady-" Ape"-her son Abraham- " you look off the pook unt see if dere's any ting gumin to Musselman." Ape accordingly examin- ed the account and found it unposted, and after hunting up all the charges and credits for six months, out of a day-book which contained the original entries of accounts with three hundred persons, at least, it was ascertained finally, that there were some three dollars due the sufferer, who was lying unattended to all this time. " Well," exclaimed Mrs. Z, addressing a younger son, "Sam, you run for the toctor unt dell him to gum to Musselman, unt tont forket to dell him we wont bay more dan is on de pooks."
I have been reminded of the above incident by the article in another column-" The Lost Boy" -taken from a correspondent to the Morning Herald of our city.
Patrick Henry.
Many years ago, I was at the trial, in one of our district courts, of a man charged with mur- der. The case was briefly this :- the prisoner had gone, in execution of his office as a consta- ble, to arrest a slave who had been guilty of some misconduct and bring him to justice. Expecting opposition in the business, the constable took sev- eral men with him; some of them armed. They found the slave on the plantation of his master, within view of the house, and proceeded to seize and bind him. His mistress seeing his arrest, came down and remonstrated vehemently against it. Finding her efforts unavailing, she went off to a barn where her husband was, who was pres- ently perceived running briskly to the house. It was known he had always kept a loaded rifle over his door. The constable now desired his company to remain where they were, taking care to keep the slave in custody, while he himself would go to the house to prevent mischief. He accordingly ran toward the house. When he ar- rived within a short distance of it, the master ap- peared coming out of his door with his rifle in his hand. Some witnesses said as he came to the door he drew the cock of the piece, and was seen in the act of raising it in the position of firing. But upon these points there was not an entire agreement of evidence. The constable, standing near a small building in the yard at this instant, fired, and the fire had a fatal effect. No previous malice was proved against him, and his plea up- on trial was that he had taken the life of his as- sailant in necessary self-defence.
A great mass of testimony was delivered. This was commented upon with considerable ability by the lawyer for the commonwealth, and by an- other lawyer engaged by the friends of the de- ceased for the prosecution. The prisoner was also defended in elaborate speeches by two re spectable advocates. These proceedings brouglit the day to a close. The general whisper through a crowded house was that the man was guilty, and could not be saved.
About dark, candles were brought in, and Hen- ry arose. His manner was exactly that which the British Spy described with so much felicity; plain, simple and unassuming. "Gentlemen of the jury," said he, " I dare say we have all been very much fatigued with this todious tria !. The
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prisoner at the bar has been well defended al- ready, but it is my duty to offer you some further observations in behalf of this unfortunate man. I shall aim at brevity. But should I take up more of your time than you expect, I hope you will hear me with patience, when you consider that BLOOD IS CONCERNED."
I cannot admit the possibility that any one who never heard Henry speak should be made fully to conceive the force of the impression which he gave these few words, " blood is concerned." I had been on my feet through the day, pushed about in the crowd, and was excessively weary. I was strongly of opinion, too, notwithstanding all the previous defensive pleadings, that the pris- oner was guilty of murder; and I felt anxious to know how the matter would terminate. Yet when Henry had uttered these words, my feel- ings underwent an instantaneous change; I found every thing within me answering at once, yes, since blood is concerned, in the name of all that is righteous, go on-we will hear you with pa- tience till morning's sun. This bowing of the the soul must have been universal; for the pro- foundest silence reigned, as if every breath had been suspended. The spell of the magician was upon us, and we stood like statues around him. Under the touch of his genius every particular of the story assumed a new aspect, and his cause became continually more bright and promising. At length he arrived at the fatal act itself. " You have been told, gentlemen, that the prisoner was bound by every obligation to avoid the supposed necessity of firing by leaping behind a house,- near which he stood that moment. Had he been attacked with a club, or with stones, the argu- ment would have been unanswerable, and I should feel myself compelled to give up the de- fence in despair. But surely I need not tell you, gentlemen, how wide is the difference between sticks or stones, and a double triggered louded rifle cocked at your breast?" The effect of this terrific image, exhibited in this great orator's peerless manner, cannot be described. I dare not attempt to delineate the paroxysm of emo- tion which it excited in every heart. The result was, that the prisoner was acquitted; with the perfect approbation, I believe, of the numerous assembly who attended the trial. What was it that gave such transcendent force to the eqo- quence of Henry? His reasoning powers were good; but they have been equalled, more than equalled, by those of other men. His imagina- tion was exceedingly quick, and commanded all the stores of nature as materials for illustrating his subject. His voice and delivery were inex- pressibly happy. But his most irresistible charm was the vivid feeling of his cause with which he spoke. Such feeling infallibly communicates it- self to the breast of the hearer .- Howe's Vir- ginia.
The Lost Boy.
Mr. Editor :- Under the head of "The Lost Child," in your paper of the 28th ult., you relate a story which brought to my recollection a cir- cumstance which occurred many years ago in Orange county, New York; and I do not think the affair was ever made a matter of newspaper notoriety. If you think it is worth its room in your paper, I will give you the story as it was related to me, inore than thirty years ago, by the friends and neighbours of the parties. Philip D. in early life was poor, but robust and industri- ous; consequently he was thrifty. His motto
340
was, " to make every thing count." He used to say, (by the bye he was a Dutchman,) " When I can kit a tollar a tay, I takes it, and when I can kit put a shilling a tay, I takes tat. I lose no time." After he had accumulated some prop- erty, he cast about for a help-mate. He ulti- mately married Elizabeth W., an Irish girl, of a very respectable family; though not rich in this world's goods-Elizabeth had, however, obtained (there was reason to believe) a " better inheri- tance." Through their united efforts, they be- came wealthy, and raised a family. The num- ber of daughters I do not now remember, but they raised three sons, viz: Jacob, Joseph and Philip. I,would here premise, that Mr. D. was rather singular in his composition-as an instance or two will go to establish. He thought his wife, whom he used to called " Lish," was one of the best women in the world-and I believe other people thought so too. Well, on a certain occa- sion Mrs. D. was taken violently ill. Dr. M. of M-, was sent for, and after administering to, and prescribing for Mrs. D., when he was about to leave, Mr. D. accosted him with, " Well toctor, I wants you to too the pest you can for Lish, for I would rather lose the best horse I've cot, as to lose her." On another occasion, he was taken very ill himself. Dr. M. was sent for in the evening-administered to, and prescribed for him, and left. In the morning the Dr. called again, and found Mr. D. lying on his back, with his eyes closed; and stepping up softly, and ta- king him by the hand, enquires-" How do you feel this morning Mr. D?" The patient was speechless. The Dr. repeats the enquiry, in an elevated tone,-" Mr. D. how do you feel this morning?" The patient felt his risibles, and in a peevish tone, cries out to his wife-" Lish, wy tont you schpeke, and tell te toctor? You know I can't schpeke?"
Well, in the fulness of time, when young Philip was full ten years old, he came up missing one evening. An enquiry was set on foot. No body had seen him since early in the evening. A search was made through the house, the barn, the out-houses, and even the farm-no Philip. The neighbours were alarmed, and the news spread far and wide, "Young Philip is lost." The consternation became general. He is cer- tainly destroyed by the wolves, (for at that time, wolves often made incursions into the settlement from the "Shawangunk" mountains, and de- stroyed the sheep, calves, &c.) The neighbours -some fifty or sixty of them were out-and kept up the hunt with dogs and horns, until all hope was at an end, and it was given up, that Philip was lost. The neighbours, between midnight and day, sorrowingly returned to their homes, and the family sat down in the family room, to mourn over their loss; the almost broken hearted mother seated in one corner of the room, giving vent to her grief for the loss of her youngest child. Mr. D. stood petrified-he could not shed tears, nor could he bear the sight of his " Lish ta- king on so." He at length took his seat beside her, for the purpose of consoling her, and laying his hand on her knee, exclaimed "vell my tear Lish, ve has got one more farm as ve has got sons now!" That you know was consoling.
Well, at long and last, the family made prep- aration for bed, when, on pulling out the trundle bed from under the old family concern, lo, and behold! young Philip safe and snug, sound asleep in his usual place of repose, and totally uncon-
scious of the affliction he had brought on his family and friends.
I was acquainted with him when he was a young man, and I never met with Philip D., but I thought of the " Lost Boy."
Yours, &c., R. S.
Frankfort, Ross Co., Feb. 6th, 1846.
Anecdotes.
The following naive lover's promise was offered as an irresistible temptation to a filially given in- amorata :- "I like you," sighed the girl to her suitor, " but I can't leave home. I'm a widow's only darling; no husband can ever equal my pa- rent in kindness." "She is kind," pleaded the wooer, " but be my wife, we will all live to- gether, and see if I don't beat your mother."
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