USA > Pennsylvania > The Register of Pennsylvania : devoted to the preservation of facts and documents and every other kind of useful information respecting the state of Pennsylvania, Vol. XII > Part 73
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11. The members of the late General Convention.
12. The Agriculture, Commerce and Manufactures of the United States.
13. May those who have opposed the New Consti- tution be converts, by the experience of its happy effects.
14. Government without oppression, and liberty without licentiousness.
STEAM BOAT NAVIGATION OF TIIE SUSQUE- HANNA.
This is a subject to which a good deal of pains has lately been taken to direct public attention, and we are willing to throw in our mite to its elucidation. The pre-
liminary enquiry is, whether the character of the river is such as to admit of steamboat navigation? And on this point we believe there is more information in the Report of the Maryland Commissioners, namely Messrs. Bland, Winchester and Patterson, made in 1823, than any where else.
The Commissioners set out in June, 1823, to N. York, Albany, &c. to Oswego, on the Susquehanna, where they procured an open, flat bottomed boat, in which they descended the river to Harrisburg. We make the following extracts .- Harrisburg Chronicle.
We descended this principal branch, from Owego in New York to Harrisburg in Pennsylvania, in the month of June last; when the stream was perfectly pellucid, and its bottom almost every where distinctly visible. From Owego to Nanticoke falls, eight miles below Wil- kesbarre, there is no dashing on its surface or ripple, its waters glide smoothly along, often quite sluggishly, and sometimes with a rapidly accelerated motion over a gravelly, stony or rocky bottom; but no where tum- bling like a torrent. Nanticoke falls is a single straight sluice, into which the whole stream is collected, and shoots down about five feet in a distance of little less than four hundred yards. This fall is never considered dangerous. The Nescopeck or Berwick falls, about twenty miles lower down, are similar in their general outline; the sluice here descends a fall of about six feet in a distance of not quite three hundred yards. The difficulty of going up these falls is greatest in low water which lessens in proportion to the rising of the river, and in high water they are ascended with ease. M'Kee's half falls, nineteen miles below Northumberland, makes a short rapid; the original difficulties in which having been principally removed, it is now considered easy and safe. Nine miles below M'Kee's begin those ripples called Barger's Berry's and Gurty's notch, which con- tinue for nine miles. These ripples are formed by solid reefs of rock extending quite across the river; but with moderate caution, there is no difficulty or danger in passing them, either up or down. Seven miles far- ther down, Fuster's falls commence; and six miles lower are Hunter's falls; but neither of them present any thing like a broken pitch of water. The stream is, however, much accelerated, and the channel which passes among large masses of rock, that lift their heads above the stream; or approach near to the surface, is crooked, and has not as yet been cleared out in so di- rect a line as it should be, so as to present a straight, fair sluice for the descent of arks and boats. But the few losses which happen here arise not so much from the great difficulty of the passage, as fromn careless or unskilful pilotage. The descent of the few ripples from Hunter's falls to Conewago are calculated to give additional speed to the waters; but their passage is in either way, attended with no danger or difficulty. Such is the nature of the navigation of the principal branch of the Susquehanna from Otsego lake to Conewago.
From every information we have been able to obtain, the navigatian of the Tioga branch from Bath, and of the western branch, for a distance of one hundred and sixty miles above Northumberland, is equally good and very similar in its general character. The Juniata, from Frankstown, on the north branch, and from Bed- ford on the Raystown branch, is reported to be much better, and less broken by falls and ripples.
"The costs and charges of navigating an ark of forty tons burthen, which is the average tonnage of those ves- sels, from Owego to Conewago, a distance of two hun- dred and fifty miles, is about fifty dollars, and some- what proportionally more or less, from any point higher up or lower down the river. But from Conewago or Col lumbia, a distance, at farthest, of not more than sixty or seventy miles, by the river channel, to tide, the ex- pence of navigating a similar ark down the torrent, (and with a burthen of more than fifty tons, no one will ven- ture to descend,) is, from fifty to seventy dollars. Thus constituting more than one half of the whole ex-
1833.]
CANAL MEETING.
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pense of navigating the river from any of its highest points; independent of the insurance, which to Cone- wago is nothing, or not more than one half per cent, but which from Conewago to tide is worth from seven, to ten per cent on the value of the cargo; but on the proposed canal, from Conewago to Baltimore, the whole expense of transportation through, .would not exceed half that amount. The proposed canal, then, would be the means of saving in the descending navi- gation, one fourth in the expense of transportation from the most remote point, and all the premiums for insurance.
The Conewago falls being a straight, and compara- tively easy sluice of nineteen feet descent, in a distance of about one quarter of a mile, the descending arks usually shoot down it without any additional prepara- tion, and proceed on to Columbia, where they always stop to take in a pilot, and prepare for the further de- scent; and when prepared, they always leave Columbia in the morning, and in five or six hours after having been committed to the mad torrent they are either dashed to pieces against the rocks. or safely moored, at a computated distance, along the sinuosities of the chan- nel, of sixty miles below on the placid tide. Many pro- jects and contrivances have been suggested for clearing the rugged bed of this monstrous rapid, and of con- trolling and regulating the fury of its speed; but, as yet, although immense sums have been expended, the com- parative little chippings and notchings in the huge masses of rock over which it foams, whirls, and rushes along, have scarcely in any sensible degree mitigated or diminished the perils of the descending navigation. But as to ascending, the roused up, mighty river, as it pours a long, charged with the drainage of its millions of acres, resistless, roaring, dreadful, tumbling down through rocks abrupt, seems to hold in scorn all human efforts and contrivances to ride on its bosom, and run counter to its thundering course.
It is said, however, that a loaded boat has been forced up from the tide, all the way to the Connewago falls; but the description of the manner and the season in which it was done are sufficient to satisfy any one that the ascent of these falls may be pronounced altogether, and physically impracticable for all commercial pur- poses whatever. The boat is said to have set out in the summer season, when the waters were clear, and the stream low; to have on board only about eight or ten tons; to have been very strongly manned; to have been forced along in some places by poles alone, and in others warped up, by sending out a strong rope ahead which was fastened to a rock in the water, up to which the boat was hauled, and then another rope again sent ahead and made fast, up to which she was, in like man- ner hauled, and so on.
ATHRACITE COAL.
The discovery of anthracite coal in Berkley county, Va. was made a few weeks ago by Mr. Purcell, Engineer of this place. He brought to this town with him on his return a large quantity of the discovered mineral, for samples, some of which we have seen. The coal seems to be of a superior quality, and the mine from which it was taken represented as one of the richest ever observ- ed. It is situated about sixteen miles from the Potomac river, near the line of Berkley and Morgan counties, and in the valley of a creek affording an excellent site for a rail road to convey its treasures to the canal. The region in which this discovery has been made corres- ponds with the anthracite region in Pennsylvania; and is on a line with Licking creek in this county. It is said that no coal has been found south of that line or range of hills in that state, and the inference is, that nei- ther is it to be discovered south or east of it in this state or Virginia. Its discovery in one place in this neighbor- hood leads to the belief that it extends in strata from t he coal mines in Pennsylvania throughout that state,
Maryland, and Virginia, and even farther south. The day of enterprize and discovery is at hand, and as the Chesapeake and Ohio canal penetrates the western hills, new and exhaustless mines of wealth will be brought to light, and rendered tributary to its revenue and the public prosperity, in a degree scarcely now to be estimated. These, without such an improvement, would have slumbered for ages yet in the bosom of the earth; or, if discovered, inaccessible by any means that could bring them to market and render them applicable to the various uses for which they are peculiarly design- ed .- Williamsport (Md.) Banner.
From the Warren (O.) News Letter, Oct. 8. CANAL MEETING.
On the evening of the 1st October, instant, a very re- spectable number of the citizens of this county met at the court house, in this village, in pursuance to a notice of that day, published in the News Letter.
General Simon Perkins, on motion of Elisha Whittle- sey, Esq was appointed chairman-David Tod, Secre- tary. The notice above alluded to was read; Judge Pease addressed the meeting on the subject for which it had been convened; followed by Judge King, one of the commissioners named in the charter, who gave an exposition of what the commissioners had done, under their appointment.
On request of R. P. Scalding, Esq. the Secretary read a portion of a letter from Gen. M'Coy, of Pennsylvania, to one of the Commissioners, in which he observes, "that from personal observation, as well as from surveys and reports submitted by Mr. Sloan, he does not enter- tain a single doubt as to the feasibility of connecting the Beaver division with the Ohio canal, at Akron."
The following resolutions, offered by J. Crowell, Esq. were severally read and adopted:
Resolved, That a committee of three individuals be appointed to frame and report resolutions relative to the object of this meeting for the consideration of the same.
Resolved, That the said committee be appointed by the chairman of this meeting.
Whereupon, Calvin Pease, Elisha Whittlesey, and Leicester King, Esqrs. were appointed from the chair; who withdrew for a short time. During their absence, the meeting was severally addressed by George Tod, Eli Baldwin, Eben Newton, and Wm. L. Knight, Esq. on the importance of the contemplated enterprize, to the cities of Philadelphia, Pittsburg, the inhabitants of the Mahoning valley, and the people to the west and northwest generally.
E. Whittlesey, Esq. in behalf of the last named com- mittee, made the following report, which was promptly and unanimously agreed to:
Resolved, It is expedient to appoint delegates from this county, to meet such delegates as may be ap- pointed by the counties in Pennsylvania and Ohio. inte- rested in the construction of a canal, to intersect the ca- nal in Pennsylvania.
Resolved, That the Convention meet at Warren, on the second Wednesday of November next.
Resolved, That the counties in Pennsylvania and Ohio, interested in the contemplated canal, be request- ed to appoint delegates to attend said Convention.
Resolved, That Calvin Pease, Simon Perkins, Lei- cester King, Eli Baldwin, Wm. Rayen, Zalmon Fitch, Tracy Bronson. Ambrose Hart, J. P. Kirtland, and Da- vid Tod, Esqrs be the delegates from this county.
Resolved, That the proceedings of this meeting be published in the papers of this village, with a request that editors of papers published in places interested in the contemplated canal give the same an insertion in their respective papers.
E. Whittlesey, Esq. followed by Mr. William Bell, from Pittsburg, who happened to be present, addressed
254
THE EXECUTION OF GETTER.
[OCTOBER
the meeting on the importance of the proposed canal, perior to any other now in use-having about three to the trade of Pennsylvania and Ohio, generally.
On motion, the meeting was adjourned. SIMON PERKINS, Chairman. DAVID TOD, Secretary.
We do not usually record accounts of executions. Upon the present occasion, we deem it proper to depart from our rule, for the purpose of introducing as an histo- rical fact, the first case, we believe, that has occurred, in this state, of the improved mode of hanging, which, as the account philosophically states, is "decidedly superior to any other now in use." The mode of constructing the gallows is said to be upon the New York plan. In this instance it does not appear to have worked well; and we earnestly hope the time is not distant, when such barbarous spectacles shall not be exhibited among us, professing as we do, to be a civilized, and Christian com- munity. The plan of raising the culprit from the ground instead of dropping him from the scaffold, however, is not new. It is that usually practised by the Turks to- wards the Greeks, as we had occasion to narrate in Vol. III. of the Register,page 222, to which we refer; as well as to a memorial signed by some of our most respecta- ble citizens, which will also be found on the same page, addressed to the Legislature. Will not this be a favor- " able moment to revive the subject, for the special atten- tion of our representatives?
From the Easton Sentinel. THE EXECUTION OF GETTER.
On Friday last this victim of the law paid the forfeit of his crime under the gallows. On the afternoon pre- vious, our borough began to fill with people who had come far and near to witness the execution, and all the accommodations for men and horses were occupied by an early hour in the evening-not a public house in the place, but was crowded to overflowing. On Friday morning however the influx of persons was greater than it had been the evening before, and the streets became almost jammed up .. About 11 o'clock many of them betook themselves to the place of execution, which was the island in the river Delaware, opposite the mouth of the Bushkiln. The gallows was erected near the cen- tre, affording opportunity for a view to perhaps 100,000 persons from the surrounding banks and hills. The two troops of cavalry, commanded by Captains Brown and Whitesell, for several hours before the execution, formed a cordon around the gallows, About 12 o'clock, (M.) the troop of Capt. Yard, and several companies of foot, composing the Sheriff's escort, formed in front of the jail. At fifteen minutes before one o'clock, the jail doors were thrown open, and the prisoner was brought out dressed in a suit of white, and walked between his brother-in-law and the Sheriff into the centre of the hollow square, where were also placed several mem- bers of the bar, the friends he wished to accompany him to the gallows-the clergymen-a carriage contain- ing our physicians-and the wagon containing the cof- fin. The prisoner had expressed his unwillingness to ride, and preferred to walk the whole way, a distance of a little more than half a mile. The procession then moved on. Getter had his arms pinioned by a cord across his back, and had it not been for this constraint upon his motions, his step would have been as free and as firm as that of any man around him. As he passed along, he cast his eyes about him, with apparent curio- sity and frequently addressed himself to his brother-in- law, Mr. Lawler, or to the Sheriff, and in getting off the bridge of boats upon the island, displayed very great careto avoid wetting his feet. The gallows had been con- tructed upon the late New York plan-decidedly su-
hundred weight attached to the rope, which passes over a pulley, and by its superior gravity runs the prisoner up. No scaffold had been erected, as it was the prison- er's request that he should be run up from the ground. A prayer was offered under the gallows by the Rev. Mr. Hecht, and other ceremonies gone through with, the remainder of the time was occupied by the prisoner in bidding farewell to those of his acquaintance whom he saw around him, many of whom he called from among the volunteers and the crowd. His manner was firm, cool, and collected-not a nerve about hin show- ed one single sympton of fear or agitation; bis manner and conduct would in a better cause have been called heroism. At ten minutes past two, the Sheriff asked him if he was ready-he answered yes, and stepped under the gallows. His frock and cap were then put on, he himself assisting in the operation. The end of the rope which he had around his neck, was then drawn out from his clothes and looped upon the hook attached to the rope depending from the gallows-the cap was drawn over his face, he bade the Sheriff farewell in his usual tone of voice, and awaited the fatal blow. The Sheriff with a hatchet severed the rope which held the weights, and he was taken up with a sudden and power- ful jerk. He had scarcely been raised three feet from the ground, however, when the rope snapped off, and he fell. His face was uncovered but he lay without life or motion for half a minute. He then opened his eyes and looking round him with a kind of balf smile, half sneer-and casting his eyes up towards the rope, re- marked in careless tone "that was good for nothing." He then got up, and rubbing his arm, complained that he had hurt it upon the stones when he fell. Even this terrible interlude in the solemn scene, which chilled the blood of almost every spectator, had no effect upon his iron nerves. He leaned against the gallows with the utmost composure, until the deputy Sheriff had pro- vided another rope. He was then led a few steps off, and his face turned away, so that he might not see the preparations. Hearing a noise behind him, however, he turned around and looked on while the ropes, weights, and pulleys were being arranged with the ut- most indifference and unconcern .- When all was ready he stepped under the gallows to try it again. When the rope was drawn out from his clothes, he requested the Sheriff to draw up his cravat, in order to hide that part of the rope which passed about his neck. The rope was made fast, he shook hands with the Sheriff, and stood a second time, calmly and coolly awaiting his fate. The cord was cut, and he was immediately carri- ed up about six or eight feet. His breast heaved at in- tervals as if nature was making an attempt to breathe, but in 11 minutes all motion ceased. In 30 minutes he was cut down, and his body given to his relatives. Thus died Getter: a man whose incredible nerve and firm- ness were never surpassed, however severely the cir- cumstances of his execution were calculated to try him; and any one who saw him die would cease to wonder at the cold and unrelenting manner in which he acknow- ledges to have committed the horrid crime for which he has suffered.
His appearance on being brought out of Jail, sur- prised those who had not seen him since his trial. In- stead of a thin, and woe-worn being, they beheld him actually fat and fleshy, with a good color in his face. His appetite had never failed him during the whole time, and his sleep according to his own acknowledge- ment, had been unbroken and tranquil; and the efforts of good living and refreshing sleep, were visible in his whole appearance.
The breaking of the rope proved one interesting fact clearly and satisfactorily-which is that the first shock when the criminal is jerked from the ground destroys all sensation, and consciousness, that he neither knows or feels pain or inconvenience afterwards, but be- comes perfectly insensible after the first moment.
255
MISCELLANEOUS.
1833.]
From the Pittsburg Gazette. COMMERCIAL.
MR. CRAIG-I have received from Jos. Anderson, Esq., Comptroller of the Treasury, a letter which may be of much importance to our importing Merchants, as it explains the manner of removing the present difficul. ties, when the river is too low for a steamboat to come up to this port from New Orleans, with merchandize which may have been bonded at this office.
Will you have the kindness to publish this letter in your paper, for the information of our merchants.
Yours, respectfully, EDWARD JONES, Surveyor.
Custom Honse, Pittsburg, 2 October 10th, 1833. 3
TREASURY DEPARTMENT, Comptroller's Office, Oct. 4th, 1833,
Sir-Your letter of the 28th ultimo, has been receiv- ed. You submit the question, whether goods bonded for, or owned by, persons in Pittsburg, on being con- veyed in boats from New Orleans, which in conse- quence of the lowness of the water, will not be able to proceed the whole way to Pittsburg, may be landed at Louisville or Cincinnati, and transferred to smaller siz- ed boats, on a regular protest being made before a no- tary public that such a course became absolutely neces- sary, arising from the circumstances stated.
You were apprised, by my letter to you of the 21st April, 1831, that the act of 2d March, 1831, made no provision for a transfer of the goods from one boat to another; but appeared to require that the boat, in which they were placed at New Orleans, should deliver them at the port of destination.
The course now proposd, however, places the matter in a different point of view, and if the following addi- tional regulations, with the protest alluded to, be com- plied with, it appears to me that the revenue will be so satisfactorily secured, that a transfer of the kind, in such casés, might be permitted to be made.
When a boat, on arriving at Louisville or Cincinnati, with goods from New Orleans, is found either to be so much injured, or in consequence of the lowness of the water, is unable to proceed further, if a regular re- port thereof be made to the Surveyor of the port, and he be satisfied that in order to convey the goods to Pitts- burg, a transfer of them into another boat, or boats, is absolutely necessary, such transfer may be made, under the superintendence of a person to be appointed by the Surveyor for that purpose, who is to inspect the packa ges, and see that they correspond with the specification of them in the verified manifest of the cargo.
The person so appointed, should take the oath re- quired by law, of inspectors of the Customs.
After the transfer is completed, the Inspector should make a report of his proceedings to the Surveyor; and in case of discovering any disagreement between the packages and the manifest, he should make a special report thereof, and the Surveyor should thereupon, take such measures as the nature of the case would seem to require.
In order that you may be satisfied that the transfer was regularly made, an endorsement to that effect should be made on the manifest, by the Surveyor of the port where it may have taken place.
Respectfully, JOSEPH ANDERSON, Comptroller. EDWARD JONES, Esq.
N. B. Our city editors, who can make it convenient to give this communication one insertion in their pa- pers, will, no doubt, oblige many of their subscribers.
been struck with admiration at the pleasing contrast to that period, now every where to be seen. Then it had but six or eight small stores, all of which did not do as much business in a year as is now done by some of our second rate stores. Then there was not a single ware- house or secure place to deposit goods for the west-and only in 1805 or 6, a small frame warehouse adjoining your present office in fourth street, was built for this purpose; and may now be seen as a memento of former times. Now we have from sixty to eighty large whole- sale establishments, whole blocks of very large and secure brick warehouses. Perhaps in the city and vi- cinity, fifty large and many minor manu factories of dif- ferent kinds; and from three to four hundred Retail Stures. Then we had a population of less than 2,000, little trade and no manufactures; and money was scarce and in few hands. Now we have the banks, a large and flourishing trade, extensive manufactories, ample employment for industry and capital; and a prosperous population in the city and immediate vicinity upwards of thirty thousand souls. How pleasing the contrast? How grateful for so many blessings and mercies.
A MERCHANT. Advocate.
MERCHANTS'S ASSOCIATION.
At a very numerous meeting of the Merchant's of this city, convened at Wade's Hotel, on the evening of the 15th inst. to take into consideration the propriety of forming an Association, by means of which the Com- mercial and Trading Community of this city may be en- abled to act with united effort on all subjects relating to their interest, Thomas P. Cope, Esq. was called to the chair, and Thomas C. Rockhill was appointed sec- retary.
The object of the meeting having been stated by the chairman, a committee was appointed to draft a consti- tution, which having been presented for consideration, was adopted and ordered to be printed.
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