Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-03-09

is but one Just way 20 raise the means %
purchase, and that Is, BY taxaiion.
Letno uarrownoss Of heart, 20 u,isorly, ,soT-
did quality Of mind, no mean disposition 70
escape manly performances Of duty 70 90
ciety, no spite at others engaged in this en-
torprise, prompt any citizen Of our town 70
oppose this movement; but let al come up
10 the work and give it hearty, willing and
material aid. Let each ono contributeman-
fully according TO bis substance, and We can
accomplish this purpose at once so credita.
bic and profitable to our town.
THE r1Rsr BOAT.
II may not be uninteresting 70 give you
DR.. Brainard's account Of the FIRST boat that
was built in our town. / quote from his
manuscript:
"Now it was that both country and town,
anxiously looked for market for their sur
plus corn and pork, but none could be found.
Fur or Cash would only be received for
goods; and two other articles Of which the
inhabitants stood in great need, -four and
salt, we're hard TO be obtained. Each were
bringing from $40 to SIS when there was
any to be had. 1t did sometimes happen
that small supply was brought by
schooner, but produce would not purchase
it, hence the place was often entirely out of
salt, the most necessary article Of the two,
which might generally be obtained at Port
land, since called Sandusky city, immedi-
ately on Saodusky Bay, were there bpt
craft to bring it hither, as people could find
means to purchase. Lieut.. Hawkins, ever
alive 10 the interest Of the settlement, had
as early as the year 10 adopted plan to
mitigate some of tho inconvenience, and TO
facilitate an intercourse with Portland, built
for the accommodation of travellers, and for
the purpose of barter spacious boat, to be
propelled by horse power, of two or four
horses, as the amount Of freight might re-
quire. The method of construction, and
the manner in which it operated was some-
thing novel and marvellous. Two hugo ca
noes, placed at proper distance apart, on
which was placed platform sufficiently
large TO contain the superstructure of ma
chinery and horses, as well as a large
amount of freight, and a goodly number of
passengers, and on each side wheel put in
motion at tho word of command to the
horses, constituted this wonderful craft
Had any of the descendants of Amphitrete
Thetcs, or even of Neptune himself, been at
that time sporting in the sweet waters of
the Sandusky, they might have gazed with
wonder and astonishment, if they had not
been quite scared out Of their senses, at the
strange phenomenon. But whether they
were there or not, no alarming catastrophe
happened during great number of trips
made in the course of three or four years,
except on one occasion. A raw recruit of a
: horse, not being pleased with going the cir
cular round, took it in his head to break
halter jump over the railing, pluuging his
head under water, when there being much
alarm, the refractory animal was cut loose,
when it safely swan ashore to the great de-
light and satisfaction of the whole crew.
at will be recollected that thefrststeam-
: boat that ever navigated Lake Erie, (called
Walk-in-the-water,) was finished and COM
!, menced her trips in the same year. 10; so
'i that we have the satisfaction of saying that
e our meek and placid River was honored
d with pair of wheels as soon as her proud
e superior, the audacious and turbulent Lake.
y Whether the enterprisng Hawkins took the
model for any part of his machinery from
the lamented John Fitch, or from the i'm
e mortal Fulton, know not, but it is certain
G he surpassed the first and even We'd with
g the latter. Be that as it may, salt was
9 what the village wanted, more especially as
the river teemed with fish, and every Spring
the Pickerel and White Bass were found in
:. such multitudes lying (apparently waiting
f to be caught all along the rapids, it was
S often found quite impossible to ride horse
; across the ford, till much exertion was made
j to drive them away, and make room for bis
= feet Salt then, the aforesaid craft could
: and did bring in all cases of emergency
5 Fish had in the meantime become good
: article for traffic with Southern teamsters,
y who occasionally come in with four or six
S horses TO a wagon loaded with -four to ex-
+ change. Such being the case, many of the
n villagers, at the proper season, became fish
+ ers, (no disparagementb the by, for fishers
y have been made fishers of men.) The trade
o in fish became one of very considerable con-
sequence. 1t benefited not only those who
is were directly engaged in it, but the whole
+; community. A market was opened to tho
II south, where fish were a luxury, and GER
r, tainly rarity. Hence, in addition to flour,
e at times a good deal of cash was received
e for our choice fish, and our town became
n noted not only for its romantic situation, its
3 productive soil, the industry of its inhabit-
J. ants but for its extensive fisheries"
r MATTHEW BRAYToN.
s. just at this time, when Matthew Brayton,
/ the Indian Captive, has mraculously re.
y turned to his family, it may not be inap-
propriateto here give DR.. Brainard's account
9 of bis loss, and the exertions made for his
e recovery. l again quote from the Doctors
y manuscript:
"Mr. Brayton, who lived in this village,
e moved to the country some time during the
e years 1924 or 1925, for the purpose Of far
. ming more largely. On the goth of Sep
!. tember, 1925, his eldest son of about is
q years, and a younger one of seven years
, named Matthew, started at evening when
|, the sun was about half an hour high, to
. hunt the cows. Not finding them in their
= usual range, the Oldest told bis brother Ma
(; thew he had better return to the house as
= they might be some distance of, and he
!, himself would find them. On getting upon
:" a loo, they both thought thew could see tho