The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1868-08-27
The First Steamboat Upon the Lakes,

rom the Detroit GuSt
The origin Of the present collection of
magnificent steamers and prOpellers on
our lakes was the cosntruction and com
pletion, in 1878, of the Walk whitewater
\ correspondent of the Rochester UNION
furnishes to that paper some interesting
extracts from the Detroit Gazette of that
day few of which we gives as indica-
ting the condition of affairs in this city
half a century ago:
Detroit Gazette, January % 1S1S-
The Niagara Journal mentions that
company has been formed in Albany for
the purpose of buil,ling a steamboat
to ply on Lake Erie The contract has
been taken by MIR. A. Brown, AN eminent
ship builder of New York, who has al
ready arrived at Buffalo with a part of
his hands. The boat is to be ready for
the lake by the first Of June next
Detroit Ge1sette, March u, 1SlS-The
following is an extract of letter from from
ia. j. B, Stuart, (Albany,) proprietor
of the steamboat now building at Black
Rock, n. Y, to James Abbott, Esq,
postmaster of this city, (Dctriotl
L am now building u steamboat at
Black Rock, of about 40 tons,. which is
intended to commence running regularly
from Buffalo TO Detroit on the Ist Of June
next.
l will thank you to make this known to
-hn inhabitants of your town, and to
assure them that she will in every partic-
ular be ii very superior boat. Her size
will be 20 feet keel, and 80 feet beam.
A part OF the stock will be for sale in tue
spring.
June 10, 1918. The steamboat at
Black Rock, as we learn from gentle
man recently arrived in this city from
Buffalo, was launchde fabout three days
since. 1t Is expected to sail for this port
early in next month.
August IA, lSlS.-By the politeness of
a gentleman who left Buffalo on the 9th
instant, we haye been favored with the
Niagra .JouUal, of the 4th instant, which
says: we understand that the Lake
Erie steamboat will be finished the pres
ent week, and that she will leave here for
Detroit on her first trip about the 10th
inst '-Dctfoit Gazette.
August l5, 1SlS.-Ihe Walk in the
Water The Lyceum has appointed
committee to meet the elegant steamboat
OF this appropriate name, expected soon
to arrive in this lcity., aud to report
on her tonnage, construction, accommo-
dations, the particulars of her first voy-
age, etc. The committee will be accom-
panied by such members, and citizens,
gentlemen from the British side Of the
Straits as choose to go down on the occa-'
sion The steamboat will come to at
| w kim the Water street, off Roby's
wharf. This celebrated chief is but re-
Gently deceased, and mus. have been un-
concious of the double donors so soon to
be conferred upon him. TIE 'Walk-in-
the Water is thirteen horse power above
the Livingston, and supposed to be the
finest steamboat in America, and in the
world, Except thatt recently launched at
New York, and destined to cross the At
lantic.
August 81, 1Sls.-Expectation having
been on tiptoe for more than week, lock
| ing out for the steamboat Walk k-in-the,
| Water, has quietly settled down, to rest
herself, consoled by the reflection that in
the late gale at Buffalo, the boat did not
walk .on the land. We are informed that
her detention is in consequence Of some
part OF her machi lery being out of re-
pair.
August 2S, Yesterday between
the hours of 10 and ii A. NJ, the elegant
steamboat Walk in-the- Water, Capt. j.
Fish arrived. As she passed the public
wharf and that owned by J. S. Roby,
she was cheered by hundreds of the in
habitants who had collected to witness
this Tin these. wtaersl truly novel and
GRAND spectacle. She came to at Wings
wharf.
She left Buffalo at half past O clock
on the 23d of August and arrived at Dun
kirk at 35 minutes past one o'clock on
the same day. On the following morn
ing she arrived at Erie. The whole time
employed in sailing this voyage from
Buffalo to this city being about A hours
and 10 minutes; the wind ahead duriug
neatly the whole passage. Not the slight
est accident happened during the voy
age, and her machinery worked admira
bly,.
Nothing could exceed the surprise of
the sons of the forest, on seeing the
walk in the Water move 1hajestically
and rapidly against strong with
out the assistance of sails or oars. They
lined the banks of the river above NAL
den, and expressed their astonishment
by repeated shouts OF Iai-yoh, nichee,
report had been circulated among them
that a big canoe would soop come from