Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1852-02-12
BY G. s. RAYMOND.

lCOHfCISduA WIFI lHC AlStOi1 VI III
-e great West, were at the present tim
IF to stroll along the wharves in tn
v city of Buffalo, and watch for singl
day the vast quantities Of produc
o constantly being discharged from yes
e sels and steamers, which have com
y in from hundred western ports, ant
was TO be told that so late as 1884
vessels left Buffalo with cargoes o
pork, -four, butter and provisions o
almost every description for the ives
tern market, he would scarcely credi
such an improbable story. Yet suct
is the fact. ] have myself been in
vessels, which carried cargo Of pro,
duce to Chicago from Buffalo, and
returned in ballast.
The navigation OF the great ives.
tern lakes is both difficult and dan
gerous at all seasons, but particular
ly so late in the year; and few
years since it was very rare thing
to see a vessel out Of port after the
/ middle of November.
About the year 1880, Oliver New
berry, Of Detroit, probably owned
more property in navigation on the
lakes than, perhaps, any three men
in the western country. He was en-
tirely a self made man. having many
years previously trudged into Detroit
with his axe on his shoulder; and he
had by his own unaided exertion
and industry, raised himself from a
common wood chopper until he stood
the first among the merchant princes
of tie West.
Oliver, as he chose to be called,
had his whims as well as other peo-
pie; and one of them was. that every
thing which he had afoat in the
shape of a vessel, he called after Ma
poleon, his generals, or some place
connected with the fame of the EN-
peror. He also trimmed off all su-
perhuous fourishes and syllables,
from the names OF all the comman-
ders OF his vessels, reducing them to
plain Bob, Reub, Gust, Larry, Lest,
Bill. &c.
had heen in divers employ one
season, and the vessel had been laid
up in Detroit for the winter, along
with, perhaps, fifteen others of the
Bonaparte family, and | was standing
on one Of the wharves, just below
the Sandwich ferry, leaning against
a pile of shingles, looking at the Bri-
tish flag, which blew out from the
flag staff over across the river, and
was just wondering if Canada
wouldn't be another star in our re-
public one OF these days, when some
one touched me lightly on the arm,
and turning around, | discovered
stan1ing near me gentleman named
Preston, whom | knew as an army
contractor.
"Good morning, sir" said Mr..
Preston. "Where is your vesselp
"Laid up, down there with the
rest Of 'em," ] replied, pointing down
the river towards where little forest
Of masts rose above old divers ware
house.
"Now, lock here," said my CON-
panion, "rve got 1900 barrels OF pork
here in Detroit, which must 90 to
Mackinaw before the Lakes freeze
up; and if you can get one of old
divers vessels, and will take the
cargo through for me, | will pay you
two dollars barrel for freight"
"Very good business, provided /
can get the vessel. I'll run down
and see some Of the boys, and we'll
board the old man in the smoke
My opinion is, that we can get one,
and if we do, Pll come to your hotel
and let you know" And started
off upon run to hunt up some of old
divers captains.
The first dive | made was into
grog-shop, and there found four of
them-BOb and Gust. Larry and
Lest. To these four | communica-
ted the news, and in double quick
time the whole five Of US were scud-
ding down street, like witch in a
hurricane, bound for divers coun-
ling room. About half way down
the street was ten-pin alley and
drinking establishment, into which
we pitched headlong, like so many
locomotives run mad. We found six
more of divers Bonapartist captains
in the establishment. all just comfort
ably happy. To these also told |
my story, and invited them to Join
us, offering that they should share
with Us all round alike.
'Hurrahl" sung out Larry, "three
cheers for Hab," and the whole ten
oil them set up such a veil that the
oar, keeper swore the very noise made
a clean ten strike on both alleys.
NOW, then, let's fire aup, all
hands" said Lest, sand then we'll
stir up the old man; and I'Il bet a
beaver that he'll give us our choice
out of the feet"
According to instructions, we all