The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-07-10

that Tennessee has produced one Of the
largest men that ever lived, if not the lar
gest.-Nashriile Banner.
The first Steamboat on the Ohio River.
We find some interesting particulars re-
garding the navi igation of the Ohio river.
by steamboat in "Westcrn Annals" bv James
X Albach, of Pittsburg, from which it ap-
pears that citizens Of New York were chief
ly instrumental in promoting what was
then considered and adventurous snd doubt
ful experiment. The author quotes from
MIR. Latrobc:
"The complete success attending the ex-
pcriments in steam navigation on the lIud.
son and the adjoining waters, previous to
the year 1909, turned the attention Of the
principal projectors to the idea of its ap-
plicatioa Oh the western rivers and in the
month Of April of that year Mr.. Roosevelt
of New York, pursuant to an agreement
with Chancellor Livingston and Mr.. Full
ton, visited those rivers with the purpose of
forming an opinion whether they admitted
of steam navigation or not Mr.. Roose-
welt surveyed the rivers from pittsburg to
New Orleans aud as his report was favor
able, it was decided to build boat at the
former town.
In October, 1911, the New Orleans"
was launched and sent out, being intended
top'y between that city and Natchez-
not rs stated i'll the extract from Thurston's
book, between Pittsburg aud the falls of
Ohio.
Latrobe again: "Mr. Roosevelt, his
young wife and family Mr.. Baker the
engineer, Andrew Jack, tile pilot, and six
hands, with a few domcstics formed her
whole burden. There were no wood yards
at that time, and constant delays were un.
avoidahlc. Late at night, on the fourth
day after quitting Pittsburg they arrived
in safety at Louisville, having been but
seventy-four hours descending upwards
Of six hundred miles," The settlers on
the banks, WHO had not even heard the ru-
mors of such a scheme, were struck with
surprise and terror" at the appearance Of
the snorling monster. II have heard that
the general impression among the good
kentuckians was that the comet had fallen
into the Ohio. The small depth Of water in
the rapids prevented tho boat from pursu-
ing her voyage Immediately {; and during
several trips we're successfully made be-
tween Louisville and Cincinnati. The wa
tiers rose in November, and in the last
week of that month the voyage was resum
ed.
After being nearly overwhelmed with
the earthquakes, the New Orleans" reach
ed Natchez the first week in January,
1912.
Neither Mitchell or his telescope was on
the banks Of the Ohio in those days, and
1t was no more strange that the honest
farmers should imagine the steamboat to
be comet, than are the vague apprehen.
slons of the present time, that we are in
danger of collision with one of those eccen-
trio bodies. Singularly enough there was
then, as now a widely-spread story that
the earth was to be smashed like a felt
hat, and ''one-third of mankind" destroyed
III the opinion. A thief in Virginia pris-
on professed to have been entranced, and
to have had revelation foreteIIing the
event, which was to take place on the
fourth of June, 1924 remarkable coin.
cidence Of dates. A pamphlet was pub
lshed and widely circulated, "aderned with
sundry Yankee pictures Of horrible sights,
portrayIng the dire calamity"
AS counterpart Of this steamboat com
ct story, we remember one that was told
about the people OF certain village who
assembled to see the first locomotive pass
by on the rails. Not one of them had the
slightest idea what sort of animal it was,
and they were busy with all kinds of con
lectures. A smoking and roaring mon-
ster was seen in the distance, with m unac-
countably long tail behind it. Nobody
supposed this to be travelling inven.
ton, and as it approached, the good peo-
pie were confounied and desperately puz-
zled. Fortunately, there was "John
Rodgers" in the village, and he was called
on to explain it. John wiped his glasses,
and looked over his nose with a profound
knowing gaze. After due observation,
ION ]" said he, "yes. That's it at last, gen.
t!emen; that is the thing that has Kept
the Congress Of these United States in
such h-ll Of squabblc for the last
three months. That is the Tarif' ~
UNuoSoRED IIERoEs-When I SEQ a man
holding faster his v brightness in proportion as
it is ass allied fortifying his religious trust in
proportion as Providence is obscure hoping
in ultimate triumphs of virtue more surely in