Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-02-11
tFor the Belmont Chronicle
A Trip West.
SKETCH FROM ET JOURNAL.

In April 1897, valise in hand, we, myself
and friend Ira, wended our way to the city
OF c., and took a steamer for the West
The night was very dark. the wind blew
and the waves rolled tremendous high; none
but those who have been on the Lake in the
time OF q storm, can imagine the scene, the
noise of the boat, the waves with their
white caps rolling, and the wind blowing
almost a gale. Friend Ira was sea-sick, but
we stood it like a major. The morning after
iarding from the Lake steamer, we took d
LiiiiputiGn steamer Up ia" river as tar as
steam would carry us. aud we had sumr
fry mics 10 tra,el to get to ur destination,
and could hear of bar one way of max n. il,
on f .or, and we rrutgsd n, and nth: oyeg-
! iu3k US az We Hesc nsafin- t!c ne utwn
"a p, tired anu "a! grv, sc siopp-df lor
the HiuLf. % the ARE Se have nU'hi.: to
say, as We are not very particular eAc,pI
our bed cor the Gathers neTe acln ally mace
o. brush. TIE u X dds at la'e dinner time
we arrived 1t n. u county town. aHd as
walking through mud aad va'er Vii give
an appetite. W. determined 10 have oar din
ners, as we had eli int mics further TO walk.
We stopped at a II9te;. called Tor dinner,
and it was soon ready, we fastened 10 tn.
table, but we did not zee anything very
tempting, bread. fat pork and water. was
all. We partook but lightly, Ira thought to
have his dinner, he ate like Il hungry man,
hearty. We waited in the bar-room iIll he
came out, then asked the landlord how much
was to pay for our dinner. One dollar and
fifty cents, you eat one dinner and he (point
ing to lra) eat two, fifty cents a meal, you
have had three meals, said Boniface Ira
was for ,hreshing the landlord and COM
mel ced to pull of his coat, but We told h:m
to be quiet, we would settle the matter.
The landlord insisted on his full charge anG
declared he would have it. VI offered him a
dollar and he would not take it, we threw
down a dollar and left, telling him if he mus
have more he must get it. We took an old
trail used as a road through the woods, anC
arrived at the little town o. F.. thai
evening, and found oUr friends, consisting
of friend J, and family, a young fellow WHIT
went by the name OF Doe, and his sister, al
well. Our friends had come out a few week,
previous. The little town of F., VIZ
found pleasantly situated, surrounded BY
;, fine Land, good soil. and springs of coIl
water, but a few mics of was a large swamp
} The river here was rock bottom and rapi,
r water, while a few miles above and below
, there was no current. In this settlement
/, were Pennsylvania Dutch and Buckley,
farmers, and a few Yankees all very sociable
and healthy as there was no sickness in thu
neighborhood. Friend Ira staid here til
harvest, then went to help cut a fed 0
l40O acres of wheat, some twenty mile
e from US. We had plenty of fish, turke,
$ meat, turtle soup end ~venison jerked an,
fresh, as there was plenty OF game of al
kinds. We had plenty OF hard work, bu
| our leisure time, we hunted. fshed an
: tramped. Doc enjoyed himself very vel
hut as for US, we could enjoy -ourselve
q better by times 10 sit on the river bank an
think Of home, although we had some goo
d times, as Doe was very liv ~. and couI
e sing some good sorgs. One day we wen
to the Post Office, the mail was carried .
a Perogre, there was no one at home bu, a
: old lady, vho "a d she WINS sure there ver
/. ~Ietters for as, she looked all throughout tn
h,ase, and pulled up a board and 10, k
uRder the floor, but could not fad the letter.
finally. rbe said ihry kept the lrtter> IN
: - ork basket. her daughter had guna a VS.
g tirg and nd aken he ieitcr basket 10 carr
her " TX IL and taken Liirrs an alt, "
must come in ns soon as she gees home an
we { uId get cur %l-Iiers. This young lid
We caild tie Pust Offics. On the fourI
g Jnly He lad Il cPlr bration. marched t, III
grove 20 the music OF a dru n fie and binl,
TIE Declaration OF Independence was res,
+ an Grafton delivered, uf'e, which guns uer
h fired. and a general rejoicing, all r.rs pair
otto. We marched b ok TO the Hotel an
. partoJk OF a dinner, The best the marke
could afford, and a good dinner it was, an
O in the evening there was merry-making an
dancing, truly d great time, all eniryin
, themselves better than many do in prou
. cities. At military election we elecre
military officers, who had never seen a mil
tary C. mpany { ulster. A canal was bein
graded through this place, and til re ",
:, plenty Of Irish and Germans working on
The Germans were very quiet, but ii
Irish were sftsn troublesome. Some Iri.