Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1827-09-22

pos oil thoSe swt rolling waters, and carried the
Falls.
The proprietors of the large public houses at The
Falls on both sides Of the river, and of stages and
steamboats,, made up purse 10 purchase tue schooner
that they would be repaid by the company which
the exhibition would attract; aud IN this calculation
they were not deCciy ed.
For several days previous TO the Gt the stages came
crowded as well as the canal boats much so that
j; was difficult to fnd conveyance to the Falls; and
such was the interest," that the descent the only
topic OF conversation among all classes On Friday
night the 7th, Wagons filed with country people rat
fed through this town all night; and Saiurdy NOR
mug, Buffalo itself seemed to be moving in mass to-
wards the grand point of atraction. To accommodate
those who could not find passage in carriages, five
steamboats, had advertised 10 leave here on Saturday
morning, and great numbers chose this CONVEYANCE;
ihey were the Henry Clay William Penn, Ponce r,
Niagara, and Chippewa; being all the steam boat, on
Lake Erie, except the Superior. The Chippewa was
appointed TO tow down the pirate schooner las she was
termed the Michigan; which service she performed
took my passage on board this boat, and we got
uCder before the others passed through the bias
al Black Rock, and about mile below the Rock took
III tL7 the vessel destined TO make the dreadful plunge
as soon as we got underway, the became inter
esiing The shore IN full spendour the waters
of Erie were placid there being scarcely ruGle up
on its surface, and few miles ofus four sea,n
ers crowded it'll passengers and with bands of music
on board, ploughing their way down the rapids
Of Niagara. Onr little boat towed the Michigan as
lar Yae landing the British shore, within three
miles of the Falls, where she ancored and this place
the Chippewa landed her passengers, well as the
William Penn, and they conveyed from thence
10 the Falls vehicles Of all descriptions. The three
other steamboats, landed their passengers the Amer.
lean side.
Three O'clock was the our appointed 10 weigh an
Choir on board the Michigan The task of tow ing
her from tales landing TO the rapids, and a most ha-
zardoms one it was, entrusted 10 Capt Rough the oil
dest Captain the lake. With a yawi boat aud five
oarsnen, of stout hearts and strong arms the old Cap
tain got the schooner underway, and lowed her 10
within quarar Of mile Of The first rapids, and
within a half mile of the tremendous precipcc, as
near as they dare approach and cutting her adri she
passed majesticaliy whilee the yawl had
to pull for their lives TO effect their safety. Indeed
such the fears of the iand. have understood
that on approaching near the rapids they the tow
line before they had received orcrs fro their COM
mander-
And nov approach the interesting moments OF
the exhibition. Tie high grounds both sides Of
the American and British shores lined with pco-
pie, having full view Of the rapids and of the APP
rroach of the vessel, and nov it that thousand
fears and expectations were INDUCED the DIichi-
gan, unguided BY human agency, approached head on
the first rapid descent, and pa3eny keeping the
very that the most skiliu! navigator would have
pursuid, having an American ensign flying from her
bowspr and the British jack displayed at her stern
She passed the first rapid uChut, still head on, ma
king plunge, shipping a and iising from il in
beautiful style and IN her descent the second her
went by the board, the same moment aIor-
ding those who have a shpy recll, speci~
of the sudden destruction of the spars OF ship
in Of wreck. Expectation for her fate
at the highest; she swung round and presen>
ted her broadside TO the oanin waters, and remaining
stationary a moment two. by its force, swung
round foremost, and hayiny passed to the third
rapid she biged, but carried apparently whole
between Glass Island and The British shore 10 the
Horse Shoe, which she carried stern foremost
and launched the abyss below In her fall she was
dashed into ten thousand pieces. went below the
Falls Immediately after the descent and the rg err ex
hibed singular appearance from the thousands OF
hoati ag fragments, there being scarcely To be seen any
t@o boards nailed together, and many Of her timbers
broken into tw enty pieces. Such the eager
ness of the multitude present to procure piece of
her, that before sunset great patt Of her carried
away.
believe have Jendy Informed you of the ami
mails on board. They contested of a buffalo from
the Rocky mountains, two bears from Green Bay
and Grand River, two foxes, raccoon, dog,
cat, and four geese-the fate of these you will prob
ably wish to learn. When the vessel left to
her fate they let loose on deck except the bufa
10, who was enclosed IN temporary pen. The two
bears left the vessel shortly she began 10 descend
the rapids and swan ashore Notwithstanding the pd
iy of the current. On reaching the British shore they
were taken. The buffalo was TO pass over the
Falls but was not visible afterwards What became
nf the other animals not known. Those who had
glasses could see Of the bears climbing the mast
the vessel approached The rapids: the foxes, &C.
running up and down. but nothing was seen of
t,em after the vessel passed he only live ami
mails of the that passed the falls were two
geese; they taken Up unbur,. Mayor Fraser OBJ
tanned one; and Eng sh gentleman purchased ihe
other for two dollars.
The calculations are various to tie number OF
persons on both shores. Some estimate them as low
as fifteen and others thirty thousand. The greatest
body Of people the American side. Goat
Island for considerable distance exhibited dense
column of persons and the bridge erected from Goat
Island, which built upwards of hundred feet over
the rapids, was also crowded, and temporary booths
made with the bonghs Of trees, skred both shores AS
passed down the Niagara we had full view the
whole distance from Buffalo OF the hundreds of vehicles
OF all descriptions passing towards the falls and as
the weather has been unconmonly hot and dry for
long tune the roads presented uninterrupted co.
lumns Of dust far the eye could extend In fact
80 much larger was the assemblage of persons than
anticipated, that notwithstanding the prOptieors
at { public houses had laid il unusual supply
of refreshments, they bad not provided sufficient
Tor one half the people, and thousands were unable
to obtain a tnoutEtui Of any thing. You may Judge
Oi the situation OF matters, when you fiia
] stopped at Iorsyb'5 about : O'Clock p. M. after
climbing up his everlasting Steps from the bottom
at the falls, and unable to obtain cracis.
er or glass Uf water, and this the case at
GfowU's also On the American side | learn, that
every thing entahIe and drukaDie was consumed be.