USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 9
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Enclosed you have a return of Captain Bar- bee's troops, who are daily employed as patroles. With me there is no doubt but the enemy are contemplating a stroke at our advanced posts; if intended against this place and St. Clair, pol- icy would justify the peaceable disposition they have shown towards both, as it might in their opinion throw us off our guard, but be assured I shall leave as little to chance as our situation will admit of.
Enclosed you have an account against those spies for articles furnished by Mr. Ewing for the payment for which I am held responsible. Please to direct the stoppages to be made and paid to Mr. Bunton, in behalf of the contractor.
All is well here.
Yours,
JOHN ARMSTRONG.
Fort Washington, July 19th, 1792. DEAR SIR :
Mr. Hartshorn has this day returned from Co- lumbia, and I expect to leave this post [if noth- ing material intervenes] on the 2d, with 68 fresh pack horses; in the meantime, you will be pleased to send back all the hired teams you can spare, as they are expensive, under an escort of infantry, taken from your garrison-say 20 or 25 men. I gave the horse, the riffemen, and Capt. Peters' company, for a march forwards, and shall take from you all but two of your
scythes -- this may happen about the 24th; in the meantime make hay.
Yours,
JAS. WILKINSON.
J. ARMSTRONG, Capt. Com'dt.
Scenery around Cincinnati.
In the neighborhood of this city, we have ev- ery variety of scenery, picturesque, wild or mag- nificent, where nature and art have vied with each other in the exhibition of their respective charms. Of these, various instances will occur to my readers; it is natural scenery, simply, I am about to describe.
There is a tract of seventy acres just this side of Columbia,in the rear of, and overtopping what is called Sportsman's Hall, a mile or two above Fulton, which embraces, in that part of it adja- cent to the river, every thing to interest and grat- ify the man of taste. Of this tract some ten acres forms a perfect circle, except where a nar. row tongue of land connects it with the adjacent country. Opposite this tongue the circle of the tract strikes the Ohio bottom, beyond which the river itself sweeps in a graceful curvature, which presents circle touching circle, and affords from the spot to which I refer, a view which can be taken at one glance to the right and left. four miles up the current of the Ohio, and down as far as the lower part of Covington, being in range 10 miles and an half. In this glance, fre- quently four or five steamboats at a time serve to grace and enliven the scene. Stepping for- ward to the edge of the circle, the whole scope of that magnificent clearing, Turkey Bottom, is visible to the east, while immediately in front, the highly cultivated farms and extensive un- cleared timbered land of Kentucky lies before the spectator.
The circle to which I refer is elevated abrupt- ly, perhaps 210 feet from the bottom land, which skirts its entire edge, the surface rolling gently and gracefully on every side. And what I ad- mirc as much as any other feature of this char- ming spot, is the nativo forest, which cleared of its undergrowth, exhibits a grove of sugar trees of the noblest class. The proprietor, I. D. Wheeler, of the firm of I. D. Wheeler & Co. has on this place erected a cottage edifice of great simplicity, and in perfect keeping with the whole scene, where he passes the hours abstracted from business pursuits. I was remind- ed by the spot. of Robinson Crusoe and his is- land, not merely in its isolation, but the tame- ness of the birds, squirrels, and rabbits which rove the scene, fearless of guns, which are never permitted to be fired on the premises.
I regret to add that thero is one thing wan- I ting to complete the magic of the scene. What
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that is may be conjectured, when I state as Lain bound in candor to acknowledge, that Mr. Wheeler abides there in single blessedness. As the beauty of the scene brings visitors daily in numbers, it is to be hoped, that some of the forms of loveliness, which press the velvet car- pets on his lawn with steps so light as to leave hardly an impression there, may be persuaded to take up an abode, and become the guardian genius of so sweet a spot, which only needs an Eve to complete its attractions. Even Eden was a desert and a solitude while Adam was alone. What lady will take the hint ?
Cat Latin. FELIS ET MURES.
A FABLE. Felis sedit by a hole, Intenti she cum omni soul- Prendere rats; Mice cucurrerunt over the floor, In numero duo, tres, or more -- Obliti cats.
Felis saw them oculis, I'll have them, inquit she, I guess- Dum ludunt, Tunc illa crept toward the group, Habeam, dixit, good rat soup ---- Pingues sunt.
Mice continued all ludere Intenti they in ludum verc -- Gaudenter: Tunc rushed the felis into them; Et tore them omnes limb from limb ---- Violenter.
MORAL.
Mures omnes nunc be shy, Et aurem præbe mihi- Benigne, Sic hoc facis-"verbum sat," Avoid a devilishı big Tom cat --- Studiose !
DEATHS.
On Monday, June 30th, Mrs. HULDAH GAZLAY MILLS, wife of Rev. Thornton A. Mills, in the 30th year of her age.
On Monday, June 30th, at 11 o'clock A. M., NAPOLEON B. MOSBY.
Planing Machines.
This is a part of the labor-saving apparatus of modern days, which threatens to change the face of mechanical employment. The planing machine however,, takes from manual labor its severcst as well as most unprofitable drudgery; the ripping up and planing out flooring boards. In the putting up annually, for this city and sub- urbs 1500 houses, an immense amount of this
article is needed, certainly not less than five millions of feet. Accordingly there are twelve planing machines operating in Cincinnati, prin- cipally on Woodworth's patent. There are three or four however, which run on the concave sys- tem with Conical spring rollers or slides, being Bicknell's patent, a Cincinnati invention which cuts 25 pr. cent per day more than the other, and what is of more importance to the purchas- er. supplies an article of perfect joint and sur- face superior in smoothness to any other wrought by machinery .
Messrs J. H. Story & Co. have just put their planing machine in operation, which is one of Bicknell's patent, in a newly erected building constructed expressly for the purpose, on Third below John street. The floor of the establish- ment is made of brick , and the shavings are con- sumed as fast as made, serving to put and keep the Engine in motion. Messrs. Story & Co. are practical carpenters, whose workshop occu- pies the upper story of the building, and as such offer special advantages to builders in their knowledge of what kind of article suits for bro- ther carpenters, both as respects materials and work.
The value of flooring boards made at thesc twelve machines amounts to 120,000 dollars an- nually; the average price being equal to $2 40 cts per M feet.
CORRESPONDENCE. Mammoth Cave -- No. 2.
Mr. CIST :
In my last number I closed by a descrip- tion of our party of eight, with their prepara- tions, for their journey to be undertaken, inten- ding to find our way as far into the Cave as any who had preceded us : It is better for visiters to associate some six or eight together, that they may have the benefit of a combination of lights, as each person carries a lamp, suspended by an iron wire bale. Great care should be taken in crossing the rivers, not to get all your lights in one boat at a time, as an accident, such as up· setting your frail craft, would leave you in dark- ness visible, and no means that I am aware of would give you any clue to the shore. For who can swim in perfect darkness, in a strait line? And should you be fortunate enough so to do, the hirsute horrors of a perpendicular rock, springing directly up from the water, might be the barrier to safety, instead of the gentle and sandy declivity, of the point of departure. In our eagerness to cross the rivers, we did not think of danger, until we were afloat, and all our flambeaux, placed upon a little spot in the prow of our tottering bark.
But let us start on our journey. Equipped as
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I have mentioned, we soon entered the mouth of the ever-breathing Cavern. The enchanting strains of the Eolian Harp greeted our ears, pass- ing which, we lost the last remnant of the light above. Leaving "Gothic" and " Audubon" av. enues on our right, we continued our journey in what is termed the "Main" Cave, until we came to a small house, or box, rather, as it had no roof, and but one apartment. It was oceu- pied by a Dr. Mitchell, who had been its inhab- itant near four months, hoping to cure an affec- tion of the lungs. Hc had improved somewhat, but I am satisfied, no permanent cure can be effected by this mode of living.
A little distance beyond the house, there is a large rock which has fallen from the roof, very much resembling the hull of a steamboat. Be- hind this rock, you descend through an opening as it were under the wall of the Cave, called the "Dog Hole." As unpromising as this may sound, and as difficult as may be the entrance, it is the vestibule of one of the most interesting and won- derful avenues, amongst tho one hundred and sixty-nine already discovered. Descending in your journey, you arrive at the "Side Saddle" pit, "Minerva's" dome, and next the "Bottom- less Pit." This is a curious point, The dome,, is merely the "pit," extending up through the roof, say twelve or fifteen feet in diameter .- From the top of the dome, to the bottom of the pit, which are exactly opposite, it is very near 300 feet. The pit has very much the appear- ance of an old well, the sides being perpendicu- lar. The pit is directly in your path, and there could be no further progress, were it not that the proprietor has throw a temporary bridge across it, with a railing upon one side, and that a very frail one. That we might have a good view of it, the guide saturated a newspaper with oil from his can, set it on fire, and dropped the bla- zing envoy into the pit. The illumination was beautiful, showing every fissure in the walls of this immense shaft.
Leaving the pit, it is no great distance to the winding way. This, in some places is not more than four feet high, the top half of which, is from three to five feet in width, while the low- er half is not more than 18 inches. It is very crooked, and your entrance into the "Relief Chamber," allows you to straighten up and ex- pand, much to your comfort. Next you come into the River Hail, which traversing some dis- tance, and descending a ladder, you come to the first river,-the river "Styx." This is four miles from the mouth of the Cave. The river has a sandy margin, and I should suppose was nearly fifty yards in width, without any apparent eur- rent, as it was said to be very low, five or six
feet in depth, and transparent as air. A few steps further on, is "Red River," a little wider, and about as deep as the "Styx." One fourth of a mile from this, is the "Echo" River, the deep- est and widest of the three, being about 10 feet in depth, and a quarter of a mile in width. In several places we discovered a slow current. It has been ascertained that the surface of this riv- er, is nearly upon a level with the surface of Green river, which passes the Cave House but a short distance from the lawn. It must of course flow into Green River, as they usually rise and fall together. This point is five miles from the entrance. Five miles! It is a long distance from the light of the glorious sun. Min- lature rivers and mountains, vales and cliffs had been passed, that liad never in all previous time drank in the light, of aught save our torches, while their relations and namesakes above had been revelling in the sun's rays for countless ages. But then the distance yet to be made is before us, with all the jewels of this rich casket yet to be seen, and we must enter our boat, and shove out into the darkness beyond. The trans- pareney of the water is astonishing, as we could sce the sand and pebbles by the light of our lamps, as plainly as if in air. The guide told us the water was very low, and we found that we had almost to prostrate ourselves in the boat, that we might pass under the roof, which ap- pears like an arch sprung from one side of the Cave to the other. This was soon after leaving the shore. One Fourth of July, some three or four years since, a party of two ladies and two gentlemen, with the guide, crossed the river, which was then slightly rising, and made a vis- it of some six or eight hours. They enjoyed themselves. as all do, who see the wonders of the Cave beyond the rivers, little thinking of the danger, which they had left behind, and which was increasing each moment of their stay. Up- on their return, they were amazed and stupified to find the water had risen some 4 or 5 feet, in their absence. Consternation seized upon them for a time, as visions of starvation, in utter dark- ness flashed upon their minds. They gave them- solves up for lost. They knew not when the water would fall, or whether they could repass the low and arched portion of the roof spoken of above. They resolved however to try, and that quickly, as each fleeting moment added to the fast rising flood, and a little delay might eut them off' forever from the cheerful light of day, and anxious friends without. They stepped in- to the small and tottling flat boat with beating hearts-they pushed boldly out, the guide in the bow. In a little time they see the dreaded arch by the light of their torches, and instantly
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feel the descending roof with their hands. All now lay down on their backs in the sand and water which was at the bottom of this craft, and succeeded in squeezing themselves, and their cockle-shell of a boat through the opening left by the still rising water. One hour longer, and their egress would have been utterly stopped !- On their arrival at the mouth, they found there had been a tremendous fall of rain, which had suddenly raised Green River, as much as it had its counterpart in the Cave. K.
Mammoth Cave -- No. 3.
MR. CIST :
About half way across the river the cavern expands into mammoth proportions, and the number of chambers and recesses above are innumerable. Here is the remarkable echo which gives its name to the river. A slight stroke of the oar upon the frail boat, is repeat- ed millions of times, receding at cach succes- sive echo, until the sound dies away in the most distant chambers above you, assuming the mel- ting tones of the wind harp, The ear is never surfeited with this musical echo, and all the dif- ferent noises we could conjure up, were tried over and over again with the sanic harmonious effect. The most bewitching melody, is return- ed to the expectant car, from the musical apart- ments above, whatever may be the cause. A pistol was discharged, and thunder burst upon us, as grand and startling as any ever heard a- bove; always, however giving us a strain of sweet melody as it left us. Simple and discon- nected sounds suit this place the best. Ole Bull might play one of his most ravishing airs here, and it would be a jumble of discords on its re- turn. . One plain. distinct.cause will give back a most beautiful effect, as each portion of the -cavern,has time to articulate, and send to you its own ccho, in its own form. This will be soon discovered by the visiter. During our voy- age, we saw many of the eyeless fish, floating in the clear water, without any apparent concern fot their safety, With a scoop net we caught several, and examined them closely. They are white, about four to six inches in length, and entirely destitute of eyes. They are a new spe- .cies, wonderfully suited to their dark and silent abode, being so constituted as to possess an external covering, whose sense of touch, is pe- culiarly delicate, enabling it to perceive the slightest impulse given to the water, and from whence it proceeds. I had sent to me, by a friend who is travelling upon the continent of Europe, a short time after my visit to the Mam- moth Cave, a bottle, containing a fish in fine preservation, from the celebrated Grotto of Adelsberg, at the head of the Adriatic, Austria.
'This fish is also without eycs, butis very differ- ent in its conformation, from the fish of the Ken- tucky Cavern. The "Proteo" of the Grotto of Adelsberg, is nearly six inches in length, very much the shape of an eel, having the same char- acter about the head and tail. The color is of an ashy grey on the back, running into a dirty white underneath. It has no fins. The tail is flatened, and answers all the purposes of an oar for sculling. About an inch from the point of the nose, there extends from its body, on each side, an arm, of half an inch in length, the end of which is garnished with three fingers or claws. It has two exactly similar appendages, one third of its length from the tail. These arms, or legs, indicate that it walks upon the bottom of the stream which runs through the Austrian Grotto. The fish of our great Cave bears a strong resemblance to the catfish of our rivers, but has no thorns for its defence, 1ts del- icate sense of touch answering in the place of all warlike weapons.
Leaving the river, wc pursued our journey. and at some distance from the river, a sharp an- gle of the wall of the Cave presented to us, the rudder, pink stern, after bulwarks, and wheel- house of a large steam ship. Farther on "Ma- ry's Vineyard" is reached, through a hole in the roof, by the aid of a ladder. Here met our eyes, the beautiful Stalagmite formation, in the shape of bunches of grapes. They are formed by the dropping of water, impregnated with lime. The water upon its striking, flies off in spray, and thus formsthe globule, which looks much like a half-ripe grape. Beautiful stalactites, are imme- diately above, suspended from the roof. Two miles from the "Vineyard" you are ushered into "Cleaveland's Cabinet." Here let the scientit- ic, as well as the enthusiastic stop-look-ad- mire -- and wonder. This portion of the Cave cannot be described. No person will ever have an adequate idea of it, unless he sees it.
Conceive, if you can, yourself standing under an arch, some twenty feet in height, and fifty in width, encrusted with a thick coating of frost, through which is protruding in all directions, buds, vine-tendrils, rosettes, sun-flowers, cactus leaves,-every thing from the most exqui- site and perfect lily to the elegance and taste, of the most elaborate Corinthian Capital, faslı- ioned from a material the most delicate; and all of a pearly white ; and you may have some con- ception of this unique Cabinet. At some points the roof is entirely studded with snow-balls, which have, apparently, been frozen there, and present innumerable facets to your lamps, where- in the light is reflected, with sparkling brillian - cy, as if from millions of diamonds. Sulphate
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of Soda, as pure as it can be is under your feet, in piles. Every turn you make, presents some new and beautiful vegetable form; of the utmost delicacy. All are very fragile, and many visit- ers destroy them with the most wanton careless- ness. They do not think that any curious trav. eler will ever come after them. As these speci- mens of Fibrous Gypsum are entirely unique, be- ing very probably without a parallel in the world, and have been thousands of year's in arriving at their prosent wonderful state, the barbarity, and idiotic gratification, of a stupid and ignorant visiter may be conceived. A most shameful course taken to disfigure, the beauty of this chaste ceiling, and apparently very popular, is to make the initials of the name, upon its white surface, by the smoke of the lamp. Hundreds of such efforts are visible in all parts of the Cave, but especially here. The guide should be in- structed to report every visiter to Dr. Croghan, who is guilty of such shameless conduct, and payment should be exacted for spoliation of prop- erty.
A gentleman of our city, of scientific attain- ments, has given the name of Oolophylites, or Curled Leaf Stones, to the fibrous gypsum for- mations, of "Cleaveland's Cabinet." After leav- the Cabinet, which is near a mile iu length. you are arrested by the "Rocky Mountains"-truly and appropriately named, as any who may ev- er cross them, will surely acknowledge. Gloom of a peculiar nature, characterizes this spot a- bove all others. Pen and pencil, will both fail, in giving the slightest idea of the magnitude and grandeur of this awful place. We lit our Ben- gal lights, and were silent with awe.
Still further on, and thirteen long and weary miles from the entrance, we came to the gem of this whole cavern. It is named "Serena's Bow- er." This beautiful spot is guarded by an ap- perture, which is very difficult to enter. The interior of the Bower is a fit ending to so vast a Cavern, amply repaying the determined explo- rer for his energy in reaching it.
It is small and deep, bottom, roof and sides being entirely covered with stalactite formations. From the ceiling, the stalactites join on the sides, and run down to, and form the very floor of this most beautiful grotto. The roof is shaped much like an umbrella. The idea that strikes you is, as if from a common centre in the roof, the long hair from the heads of an hundred females had been let down, and that it had been dropped from that centre in the most graceful manner imaginable to the walls, down which it flows in most grotesque confusion, forming miniature grottoes, surrounded with fan-like pillars; and when illuminated interiorly, producing a most
exquisite picture. This is a Fairy realm, and this the abode of their Queen.
In the side of the Bower, and about three feet from the floor, is a basin of the most liinpid wa- ter : around the edge of which, the most curi- ously shaped pillars, form as it were, a fence for its protection. Hanging a lamp inside of the columns, and above the water, it illuminated this magic fountain, and drew from each one present, an acclamation of wonder and delight. We sat down, and quietly feasted our eyes, with · the rare and exquisite beauties of this lovely spot. We had been over six hours, constantly traveling and wondering; and were now much impressed with our utter exclusion from our fel- low beings.
Six hours longer, and we were again withib sight of the heavens, with the sun', red and low in the west. K.
Governors of the States.
States
Governors.
T''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,
*Roger S Baldwin, May 1845
Vermont,
* William Slade, Silas Wright, Jan 1847
New York,
*Charles C Stratton, Jan 1848
Pennsylvania,
Francis R Shunk, Jan
1848
Delaware,
*Thomas Stockton, Jan 1849
Jan 1848
Maryland,
*Thomas J Pratt, James McDowell,
May 1846
North Carolina,
* William A Graham, Jan 1845 William Aiken, Dec 1845
Georgia,
*Geo. W Crawford, Jan 1847
Alabama,
Benj'n Fitzpatrick, Dec 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, 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.
Washington Officials.
Cincinnati, June 20th, 1845 .
MR. CHARLES CIST : .
Dear Sir-I read the notice of Martin Dunnavan in yours of the 18th with much inter- est, as an evidence of which ladd my own rec- ollections of Martin.
I saw him at his post on a visit I made to Washington in 1843, and again in 1845, and can therefore vouch the fact that he continued un- der both the Tyler and Polk dynasties, after having served under both Van Buren and Har- rison.
Oct 1845
New Jersey,
Virginia,
South Carolina,
Oct 1847
Indiana,
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When I saw him in 1843, it was in company hawks, flints, pipes and other Indian appenda- ges have been picked up for years and are still found, although in less numbers. with Mrs. L- and other ladies. "Oh !" said Martin to Mrs. I., who was remarking the faded and soiled condition of the furniture and I have learned from otlicr sources that there was an Indian village also in the southern part of the Statc. I should be glad if some of your correspondents who are familiar with the sub- known to be the received opinion that Ohio and Indiana were the dwelling places for the Indian tribes, to whom Kentucky was hunting grounds and battle fields. I had no other opinion prior to this visit of mine to Grecnup county." upholstery, "things do look very shabby here indade. When we gave the last party to Lord Ashburton, I pledge you my honor there was hardly lights enough for the party to see each ject, could determine these facts. It is well other's faces. It's aaltered times here now. But we shall see better days soon I hope." Then sinking his voice and looking round , as if afraid of its echo. "I hope your ladyship is a ginuine dimocrat. "Surely, Martin, and so is all the party." "There," said Martin, "I knew yees well enough, that you would not betray me." Planing Machines.
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