New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-11-09
JOSEPH G.. CLOUD,
Diary of His Rowing Vovaue.


readers that in July last Mr. j. c. Cloud
started from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to
row 70 New Orleans, distance of more
than 5000 miles by the route he decided
TO take, which was up the Delaware river
to Bristol, and then across the country by
land transportation to the canal leading to
Pittsburg, thence following the Ohio river
to Cairo, and rowing down the Mississippi
This remarkable undertaking, which ended
n his death, is said to have been for a
wager OF 5000, conditioned upon his per-
forlnance of the feat in lt5 days, during
which time he was to sleep and eat only in
his boat. Ii such conditions were ever
made they were not strictly kept Soon
after the proposition to test his
endurance, he went into active
training on the Bustletown road
near Philadelphia. and in the meantime had
constructed for him the skitf Jennie" in
which he was to take the long pull. July
IA, 1873, the little craft was put in water,
and the athlete commenced work with the
oars. From that day to the day of his
ana, on the fifteenth day of October. his
ninety fifth day ont, we propose to let the
simple diary found in his pocket after his
death, tell his story. 1t is incomplete in
many respects No memorandum is made
from the third to twentieth of July, time
occupied between Tullytown and Pittsburg
Also, no account appears of his voyage from
Steubenville, Ohio, to Carrollton, Kentucky,
time from sixth to twenty fourth of August,
a period embracing his visit and reception
at Cincinnati. From CarrolltOn, Kentucky,
the record is complete, and we give his own
language from the pencil memorandum
which we have been permitted to copy:
Monday, July Ia, lS73-First day
Started from Smiths island about half-past
,our in the afternoon; big time; lots Of
friends; any quantity of ladies' band OF
music; escort; waxing of hats; Goodbye,
, old boy and all that sort OF thing; onlv
pulled short distance up the river; slept
in boat.
July lj-Second day.-Passed through
locks at Bristol, Penney lvania; got my pa
pers, which gave me an equal chance with
the large boats; stopped at small village
called 1ulley town; got acquainted with two
butchers; good boys.
FROM July l6 to August l, third 70 nine
teenIh day, no entry.
August 2-Twenteth day.-Seeing the
sights uf Plttsburg; Was introduced to jim
my Hamill, also to his brother John; looked
at fire engines, etc; had good time.
August 3--rwenty- second day.-Lett Pitts
burg at ten O'Clock this uorning; hundreds
at the Robinson House TO see me start; did
not start from there far which Jones of
hQ hear A
papers.
August 4-Twenty- third day.-Roches-
ter. Arrived about four CLOCK; stopped at
hotel local option landlord good one;
slept on his porch; at daylight discovered
the house on fire: reused the INN ates and
helped TO remove things; the two hotels,
sta bles and other buildings destroyed; bad.
August 5-Twenty-tourth day.-Arrived
about five o'clock at Wellsviile; population
about 2400; opposite is the place where
Adam Poe and his brother had desperate
fight with Indians; remained all night.
August 6-Twenty-titth dav.-Reached
Steubenvile tOhio) early in the evening;
was received first rate.
From August to %, twenty-sixth to
forty-second day. no entry.I
August a = Forty-third day. Started
from above Aurora; feel good and will pull
to-day; arrived at Carrollton, kentucky, at
dusk people say l pulled eighty. seven
miles to-day good.
August 25-Forty- fourth day.-Started at
n,ne o'clock landlord. good stout irish
man. gave me & drink-some putuermilk-
and good lunch to take with me; good
fellow weather tine i'll good health.
August 26-Forty-ttth day.-Arrived IN
Louisville at five clock; big escort; met
uncle Jack Bennett and Louis Trace tails
pilot.
August 27-Forty-sixth day.-Spent the
dav with Uncle Jack and Louis Trace; eX-
pected letters; none came; went over the
city-al serene-fne city and tine people;
" as interviewed by reporters.
August 2S-Forty-seventh day.-Started
az four o'clock to go over the falls: was
piloted by my good friend Trace; all said
We would drown, but Lew took me over
and not a cup OF water in the boat; good
boy, Lew: big crowd TO see US OFT.
August 29-Forty eighth day.-ln rowing
down the river this morning had hard
time: wind strong against me SriI must
go on. reach after reach with the oars. II
this WAS only matter OF speed, how 1
should dash along.
August 30-Forty ninth day.--Aoout four
clock this afternoon | saw a large skltf,
bound up. AS the skipper came alongside
side he called nv name. and said: Ike
main under that tree until return. / WISH
YOU to stay AT nv fishing boat, opposite
Concordia. Kentucky" l did so.
August 3l-Fittierh day.-Mr. Williams
piloted me last night to his boat: got melons
on the bank He mad 1ine boat; wife and
children on board. Remained until fonr
o'clock: had all the town OF ConcordIa over
TO see man and boat; several had a row in
her. and liked her.
September l-Fittv.frst day.-Arrived in
Rock port before dusk; remained on the end
Of photograph boat all night; the young
ladies came down TO the river bank, sung
some songs aud padded IN the water; slept
we'll and feel well.
September Fifty second Gay.-Re- |
mained about three hours in Owensburg. |
was escorted over the town and presented |
with a fine flask OF whisky; good crowd |
to see me arrive and depart; stayed all |
night in Newburg.
Septemb Der 3-Fifty third day.-Evans- |
vile. The largest crowd yet; fleet of |
small boats met me one mile and malt up |
the river: had a good pull down with them;
Mr.. Burke and Others used Inc well; started |
at five: big escort OF boats; Mr.. and Mrs.
Finch took me to Henderson; arrived at |
night.
September Fifty fourth day. - Last
night had walk through the town: all
wan ted Ine TO drink with them: couldn't
see ii: remained az Mount Vernon all night;
lad a ride from the river to the town ana Z
good time.
September 5-Fifty-ftth day.-Stopped in
Union town; tight in bar room: took look
# cave in rock: had q beautiful drink at
,nripp that gushes out of solid rock; cave
ill Of names; put my own down on smooth
'0ck.
September 6-Fitty-sixth day-Reached
oaducah at five O'Clock; had race IN with
ome boats; was introduced 10 the big guns
If the city: was used splendid; had walk
n tie evening; slept on the guard OF wharf
BOAT.
September Fifty seventh day.-Started
rom pa5ucah AT six o'clock in the morning;