USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 71
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A Bristol bride, whose French was "some- what of the oddest," after listening to her inten- ded's various schemes for the honey moon tour, said modestly, " I don't care where we go in rea- son, Mr. Hadams, honly let us avoid Hecla!"
A Yorkshire lad, who had lately gone to ser- vice, having had salad served up for dinner every day for a week, ran away; and when asked why he had left his place, he replied:
" They made me yeat grass i'th summer, and I wur afraid they'd make me eat hay i'th winter -and I could not stand that, so I wur off."
Our Markets.
Some idea of the extent and character of the delicacies we enjoy in Cincinnati, may be infer- ed from the following list of marketing, brought in by one person alone, who supplies the city from the counties of Jay and Randolph, Indiana.
74 Deer-entire carcasses.
270 Deer Saddles.
172 Opossums.
4300 Rabbits. 483 Squirrels. 2290 Pheasants.
10100 Partridges, or Quails. 90 Wild Turkeys.
340 small Birds. 6 Coons.
These were all sold in our market within the first of December and twentieth of February last. They were brought in by Mr. Charles Comfort, from whose lips the statement is given.
I suggest to the Ohio Legislature, at its next session, to alter the name of Comfort to that of Luxury. He well deserves the change.
During the same period there have been sold 2500 cans Baltimore oysters-equal to 1800 bush- els and 1500 bbls. oysters with the shell, brought up from New Orleans and across the mountains.
It is not only in the abundance and quality of our table enjoyments, but in their price-bring- ing them within the reach of all classes, that the subject may be refered to. The venison has not averaged higher per pound than four to five cts .; Rabbits, ten to twelve cents each; Squirrels, fifty to sixty cents per dozen; Wild Turkeys, seventy-
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five cents cach; Partridges, sixty to seventy-five cents; and Pheasants one dollar fifty cents to two dollars per dozen.
Oysters are of course higher for family use than in Philadelphia or Baltimore. But they can be purchased at eating houses for refreshment, as cheaply as at those places.
Hide your diminished heads, ye New York and Philadelphia epicures!
The Faculty.
It detracts greatly from the specimens of va- rious good things in the shape of anecdotes, that we are often led to doubt whether they are " founded on facts." For the following, which is peculiarly rich, I hold myself responsible.
Professor Miller, in his valedictory to the late medical class graduating at the Louisville Medical College, advised the newly manufactu- red doctors to go and settle where they were not known! Was this simplicity or archness?
Our own Artists.
One of our Cincinnati Artists, under the direc- tion of Mr. Charles A. Jewett, has lately furnish- ed a fine Mezzotint of Bishop Hamline of the Me- thodist Episcopal Church. This is the first mezzotint ever engraved in Cincinnati, and will compare favourably with the efforts of practised engravers at the east. Specimens may be seen at Mr. Jewett's office, on Third street, opposite the Mayor's office.
Those who want work of this kind hereafter, will find competent artists at home to execute it.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The late Gen. Harrison.
MR. C. CIST,-Sir:
In the summer of 1791, William H. Harrison was in the City of Philadelphia, pursuing the study of medicine under the direction of Doctor Rush; where he formed a determination to aban- don the study of his profession, and join the ar- my. To accomplish his purpose, he made known his determination to his friends, Robert Morris and Thomas Willing, one of whom was his guar- dian, he being then a minor; and requested them to apply to the President for a commission. They attempted to dissuade him from his purpose; but finding that to be impossible, they waited on the President, who told them that there was no ap. pointment at his disposal, worthy of the accept- ance of Mr. Harrison-that he could not offer him any thing above an ensigncy.
They reported the result of their application, under a hope that he would decline it, and they ad- vised him to do so. His reply was :- Gentlemen, it is all I want.
The result was made known to the President,
who immediately gave him the commission of an ensign, and he started forthwith for Cincinnati. The date of the commission is not known to me, but on the 31st of October, the President report- ed to the Senate, that he had appointed Wm. H. Harrison an ensign in the army, vice Thompson promoted. Of course his mind was decided, and he had entered the service before the unfortunate battle of General St. Clair was fought, which was on the 4th of November, after his appointment.
General Wayne was appointed to command the army in April, 1792. He spent the princi- pal part of the next summer at Pittsburgh. The following winter-1792-3-he was at Legionville, and did not proceed to Cincinnati till late in the summer of 1793. J. BURNET.
Cincinnati, March 13th, 1846.
Chronological Table.
March 18th .- James Madison, born, 1751. Horne Tooke, died, 1812.
19th .- The first eclipse of the moon of which we have any record was observed on this day, 720 B. C.
20th .- Sir Isaac Newton, died, 1727. 21st .- Duc D' Enghien, shot, 1804.
22d .- Goethe, died, 1832.
25th .- Queen Elizabeth, died, 1603.
A Mistake.
It was thought a few years since that Charles Carroll, of Carrollton, was the last of the signers to the Declaration of Independence. This must be a mistake. A late Vicksburgh Intelligencer, says-" The signers to the Declaration of Inde- pendence are on board a flatboat at the foot of Jackson street. Visit them-they are worth seeing."
A Hard Witness.
Ordinarily, a lawyer has the advantage of a witness in the "colloquies at court." Some- times, as in the following case, the lawyer fares second best:
Everybody in Philadelphia and out of Phila- delphia, we believe, knows or has lieard of Got- lieb Scherer, a tall, robust, well-formed German, with a small twinkling eye, and a look that tells you quite as distinctly as language, that he " knows a thing or two." Being called upon the stand as a witness on one occasion, lie was cate- chised rather severely by (so the story goes) Mr. Dallas, who expected to make out a strong point by eliciting something from the following ques- tions :-
" Were you at Harrisburg, Mr. Scherer, in De- cember?"
"At Harrisburg in December, did you say, Mr. Dallas?"
" Yes, sir, I said at Harrisburg in December." Putting his head down thoughtfully for a mo- ment, he replied, " No, sir, I was not."
" Were you at Harrisburg in January, Mr. Scherer?"
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"At Harrisburg in January, did you say, Mr. | your shooting-iron, you wild critter," shouted Dallas?"
" Yes, sir, I said at Harrisburg in January.
Relapsing into a thoughtful mood for a mo- ment-" No, sir, I was not at Harrisburg in Jan- uary."
" Well, Mr. Scherer, were you at Harrisburg in February?"
% " Did you say at Harrisburg in February, Mr. Dallas?"
ยท " Yes, sir,-answer me if you please-I said at Harrisburg in February."
Studying for a moment or two, as before-
" No, sir, I was not at Harrisburg in February."
Getting somewhat out of patience with him, Mr. D., elevating his tone, demanded-"At what time, then, sir, were you at Harrisburg?"
" At Harrisburg? at Harrisburg, Mr. Dallas? -I never was at Harrisburg in my life, sir?"
Of course the Court adjourned instanter.
The Flatboatman of the West .-- No 2. BY T. B. THORPE.
It was spring, and a thousand tints of green de- veloped themselves in the half-formed foliage and bursting buds. The beautiful mallard skimmed across the water, ignorant of the danger of the white man's approach; the splendid spoon-bill decked the shallow places near the shore, while myriads of singing birds filled the air with their unwritten songs. In the far reaches down the river, there occasionally might be seen a bear stepping along the ground as if dainty of its feet, and, snuffing the intruder on his wild home, lie would retreat into the woods. To enliven all this, and give the picture the look of humanity, there might also be seen, struggling with the floating mists, a column of blue smoke, that came from a fire built on a projecting point of land, around which the current swept rapidly, and car- ried every thing that floated on the river. The eye of the boatman saw the advantage of the sit- uation which the place rendered to those on shore, to annoy and attack, and as wandering Indians, in those days, did not hesitate to rob, there was much speculation as to what reception the boat would receive from the builders of the fire.
The rifles were all loaded, to be prepared for the worst, and the loss of Mike Fink lamented, as a prospect of a fight presented itself, where he could use his terrible rifle. The boat in the mean time swept round the point; but instead of an enemy, there lay, in profound sleep, Mike Fink, with his feet toasting at the fire; his pillow was a huge bear, that had baen shot on the day pre- vious, while at his sides, and scattered in profu- sion around him, were several deer and wild turkeys. Mike had not been idle. After pick - ing out a place most eligible to notice the passing boat, he had spent his time in hunting, and he was surrounded by trophies of his prowess. The scene that he presented was worthy of the time and the man, and would have thrown Landseer into a delirium of joy, could he have witnessed it. The boat, owing to the swiftness of the cur- rent, passed Mike's resting place, although it was pulled strongly to the shore. As Mike's com- panions came opposite to him, they raised such a shout, half exultation of meeting him, and half to alarm him with the idea that Joe's friends were upon him. Mike, at the sound, sprang to his feet, rifle in hand, and as he looked around, he raised it to his eyes, and by the time he discov- ered the boat, he was ready to fire. "Down with
one of the boatmen. Mike dropped the piece, and gave a loud halloo, that echoed among the soli- tudes like a piece of artillery. The meeting be- tween Mike and his fellows was characteristic. They joked, and jibed him with their rough wit, and he parried it off with a most creditable inge- nuity. Mike soon learned the extent of liis rifle- shot-he seemed perfectly indifferent to the fact that Proud Joe was not dead. The only senti- ment he uttered, was regret that he did not fire at the vagabond's head, and if he hadn't hit it, why, he made the first bad shot in twenty years. The dead game was carried on board of the boat, the adventure was forgotten, and every thing resu- med the monotony of floating in a flatboat down the Ohio.
A month or morc elapsed, and Mike had pro- gressed several hundred miles down the Missis- sippi; his journey had been remarkably free from incident; morning, noon, and night, presented the same banks, and the same muddy water, and he sighed to see some broken land, some high hills, and he railed and swore, that he should liave been such a fool as to have deserted his favourite Ohio for a river that produced nothing but alligators, and was never at best half finished.
Occasionally, the plentifulness of game put him in spirits, but it did not last long; he wanted more lasting excitement, and declared himself as perfectly miserable and helpless as a wild-cat without teeth or claws.
In the vicinity of Natchez rises a few abrupt hills, which tower above the surrounding low- lands of the Mississippi like mountains; they are not high, but from their loneliness and rarity they create sensations of pleasure and awe.
Under the shadow of one of these bluffs, Mike and his associates made the customary prepara- tions to pass the night. Mike's enthusiasm knew no bounds at the sight of land again; he said it was as pleasant as "cold water to a fresh wound;" and, as his spirits rose, he went on ma- king the regions round about, according to his notions, an agreeable residence.
" The Choctaws live in these diggins," said Mike, " and a cursed time they must have of it. Now if I lived in these parts I'd declare war on 'em just to have something to keep me from growing dull; without some such business I'd be as musty as an old swamp moccasin. I could build a cabin on that ar hill yonder that could, from its location, with my rifle, repulse a whole tribe if they came after me. What a beautiful time I'd have of it! I never was particular about what's called a fair fight; I just ask half a chance, and the odds against me, and if I then don't keep clear of snags and sawyers, let me spring a leak and go to the bottom. Its natur that the big fish should eat the little ones. I've seen trout swal- low perch, and a cat would come along and swal- low the trout, and perhaps, on the Mississippi, the alligators use up the cat, and so on to the end of the row. Well, I will walk tall into varmint and Indian; it's a way I've got, and it comes as natural as grinning to a hyena. I'm a regular tornado, tough as a hickory, and long-winded as a nor'-wester. I can strike a blow like a falling tree, and every lick makes a gap in the crowd that lets in an acre of sunshine. Whew, boys!" shouted Mike, twirling liis rifle like a walking- stick around his head, at the ideas suggested in his mind. "Whew, boys! if the Choctaw divils in them ar woods thare would give us a brush, just as I feel now, I'd call them gentlemen. I
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must fight something, or I'll catch the dry rot- burnt brandy won't save me." Such were some of the expressions which Mike gave utterance to, and in which his companions heartily joined; but they never presumed to be quite equal to Mike, for his bodily prowess, as well as his rifle, were acknowledged to be unsurpassed. These displays of animal spirits generally ended in boxing and wrestling-matches, in which falls were received, and blows were struck without being noticed, that would heve destroyed common men. Occa- sionally angry words and blows were exchanged, but, like the summer storm, the cloud that emit- ted the lightning purified the air; and when the commotion ceased, the combatants immediately made friends and became more attached to each other than before the cause that interrupted the good feelings occurred. Such were the conver- sation and amusements of the evening when the boat was moored under the bluffs we have allu- ded to. As night wore on, one by one of the hardy boatmen fell asleep, some in its confined interior, and others protectsd by a light covering in the open air. The moon rose in beautiful ma- jesty; her silver light, behind the highlands, gave them a power and theatrical effect as it ascend- ed; and as its silver rays grew perpendicular, they finally kissed gently the summit of the hills, and poured down their full light upon the boat, with almost noonday brilliancy. The silence with which the beautiful changes of darkness and light were produced made it mysterious. It seemed as if some creative power was at work, bringing formn and life out of darkness. In the midst of the witchery of this quiet scene, there sounded forth the terrible rifle, and the more terrible war- whoop of the Indian. One of the flatboatmen, asleep on deck, gave a stifled groan, turned upon his face, and with a quivering motion, ceased to live. Not so with his companions-they in an instant, as men accustomed to danger and sud- den attacks, sprang ready-armed to their feet; but before they could discover their foes, seven sleek and horribly painted savages leaped from the hill into the boat. The firing of the rifle was useless, and each man singled out a foe and met him with a drawn knife.
The struggle was quick and fearful; and dead- ly blows were given amid screams and impreca- tions that rent the air. Yet the voice of Mike Fink could be heard in encouraging shouts above the clamour. "Give it to them, boys!" he cried, " cut their hearts out! choke the dogs! Here's hell a-fire and the river rising!" then clenching with the most powerful of the assailants, he roll- ed with him upon the deck of the boat. Power- ful as Mike was, the Indian seemed nearly a match for him. The two twisted and writhed like serpents,-now one seeming to have the advan- tage, and then the other.
In all this confusion there might occasionally be seen glancing in the moonlight the blade of a knife; but at whom the thrusts were made, or who wielded it, could not be discovered.
The general fight lasted less time than we have taken to describe it. The white men gained the advantage; two of the Indians lay dead upon the boat, and the living, escaping from their antago- nists leaped ashore, and before the rifle could be brought to bear they were out of its reach. While Mike was yet struggling with his antagonist, one of his companions cut the boat loose from the shore, and, with powerful exertion, managed to get its bows so far into the current, that it swung round and floated; but before this was accom-
plished, and before any one interfered with Mike, he was on his feet, covered with blood, and blow- ing like a porpoise: by the time he could get his breath, he commenced talking. "Ain't been so busy in a long time," said he, turning over his victim with his foot; " that fellow fou't beautiful; if he's a specimen of the Choctaws that live in these parts, they are screamers; the infernal sar- pents! the d -- d possums!" Talking in this way, he with others, took a general survey of the killed and wounded. Mike himself was a geod deal cut up with the Indian's knife; but he called his wounds blackberry scratches. One of Mike's associates was severely hurt; the rest escaped comparatively harmless. The sacrifice was made at the first fire; for beside the dead Indians, there lay one of the boat's crew, cold and dead, his body perforated with four different balls. That he was the chief object of attack seemed evident, yet no one of his associates knew of his having a single fight with the Indians. The soul of Mike was affected, and, taking the land of his deceased friend between his own, he raised his bloody knife towards the bright moon, and swore that he would desolate " the nation" that claimed the In- dians who made war upon them that night, and turned to his stiffened victim, that, dead as it was, retained the expression of implacable hatred and defiauce, he gave a smile of grim satisfaction, and then joined in the general conversation, which the occurrences of the night would natu- rally suggest. The master of the " broad horn" was a business man, and had often been down the Mississippi. This was the first attack he had received, or knew to have been made from the shores inhabited by the Choctaws, except by the white men, and he, among other things, sug- gested the keeping of the dead Indians until day- light, that they might have an opportunity to ex- amine their dress and features, and see with certainty who were to blame for the occurrences of the night. The dead boatinan was removed with care to a respectable distance; and the liv- ing, except the person at the sweep of the boat, were soon buried in profound slumber.
Not until after the rude breakfast was partaken of, and the funeral rites of the dead boatmen were solemuly performed, did Mike and his compan- ions disturb the corses of the red men.
When both these things had been leisurely and gently got through with, there was a different spirit among the men.
Mike was astir, and went about his business with alacrity. He stripped the bloody blauket from the Indian he had killed, as if it enveloped something disgusting, and required no respect. He examined carefully the moccasins on the In- dian's fect, pronouncing them at one time Chick- asas, at another time, the Shawanese. He stared at the livid face, but could not recognise the style of paint that covered it.
That the Indians were not strictly national in their adornments, was certain, for they were ex- amined by practised eyes, that could have told the nation of the dead, if such had been the case, as readily as a sailor could distinguish a ship by its flag. Mike was evidently puzzled; and as he was about giving up his task as hopeless, the dead body lie was examining, from some cause, turned on its side. Mike's eves distended, as some of his companions observed, " like a choked cat," and became riveted. He drew himself up in a half serious, and half comic expression, and point- ing at the back of the dead Indian's head, there was exhibited a dead warrior in his paint, desti-
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tute of his scalp-lock, the small stump which was only left, being stiffened with red paint. Those who could read Indian symbols learned a vol- ume of deadly resolve in what they saw. The body of Proud Joe was stiff and cold before them.
The last and best shot of Mike Fink cost a brave man his life. The corpse so lately inter- red, was evidently taken in the moonlight by Proud Joe and his party, as that of Mike's, and they had risked their lives, one and all, that he might with certainty be sacrificed. Ncarly a thousand miles of swamp had been threaded, large and swift running rivers had been crossed, hostile tribes passed through by Joe and his friends, that they might revenge the fearful in- sult, of destroying without the life, the sacred scalp-lock.
A Good One.
We understand that a petition was presented to the House of Representatives, praying the pas- sage of an act to legalize a lottery for the pur- pose of completing the Catholic Cathedral, at Natchez. Mr. McCaughan opposed the petition, saying " he had no objection to the erection of a church to worship our Saviour in, but was oppo- sed to calling on the devil to build it."-Vicks- burg Intel.
The Guest.
The first number of this periodical, which is a semi-monthly quarto, made its appearance last Friday. The editor, Mrs. R. S. Nichols, is well and favourably known to the literary world -east and west-of our country, and she seems sustained by several spirited contributors, some of them of great ability. The paper, typogra- phy, and mechanical arrangement are unexcep- tionable, and the Guest, for the extent and char- acter of its original matter, is one of the cheapest family papers of the day.
Of a writer like Mrs. Nichols, whose fugitive pieces have been so highly appreciated by the reading public, it is hardly necessary to speak, and it may suffice to say, that if she can keep up in this new enterprize an array of correspondents and contributors equal to those who have sent in their pieces to the first number, a literary sheet will be furnished for the west, of a higher order of merit than most of the eastern periodicals, either weekly or monthly.
I recommend the " Guest" to all who desire a good paper for the family circle.
Pleasant Hill Academy.
The semi-annual examination of this institu- tion commences this day and continues until this day week, the 25th inst. This establishment is the germ out of which is about to be formed " The Farmers' College,"'a novel enterprize, although justified, and indeed, demanded not only by our republican institutions, but by the commanding influence which the " sons of the soil," as the great mass of the voters of our country, are your other name?" "Bob, sir."
destined to exert in the community of which they form a part. To what extent the educa- tional privileges of this institution will diffuso themselves through our farming community, may be judged from the fact that more than five hundred youth have already passed through a course of study at this Academy.
I recommend a general attendance of those whose avocations permit a visit on the occasion from this city.
A Curiosity.
The following is a verbatim copy of a quit claim Mormon bill of divorce, found on the bank of the river opposite Nauvoo, a few days since:
Noo no all men buy thes presence that I Mar- garet Wilcox have settled all my afairs and diffi- culties with Silas Wilcox my former husband and hold no more claim on him for any coevnant that has been made hear to fore and air willing that we both do part in friend ship hoping that the blessings of God may rest upon as and we be pros- pered both in time and eternity and live as brother and sister in the church of Jesus Christ of Later- day saints.
the City of Joseph Oct. 9th 1845.
or so long as we both continue in the faith or in the feloship of the church.
MARGRIT WILCOX.
J. P. Harmon, Witness. her
Sarah X Harmon, Witness.
The party interested can have the above by " proving property and paying charges."
Docs any body want Twins?
We copy the following unique advertisement from the Detroit Free Press:
" TWINS .- The undersigned, having recently lost his wife, and leaving a pair of daughters, which he would give to some good family that would like to adopt them as their own. The in- fants can be seen at the house of Mr. H. E. Perry, Woodward Avenue, Detroit.
ISAAC DIEFFENDERFER."
Religion and Oysters.
They do such strange things out west that they no longer surprise us. The St. Louis Gazette of the 5th says: "This evening, in the Tobacco warehouse, our Baptist brethren make their first call-we should rather say, offer, of a fine enter- tainment-an Oyster Supper-good cheer, musi- cal airs, &c .- and all for one dollar. We hope, we expect, we know, there will be a rush for the Oysters."
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