New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-12
4 LAKE ONTARIO POET.

IN OLD TIMES.
trnoN AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNEl
SopUs N. Y, July 9.-Among the hundred
young cities that have sprung along the line OF the
Erie Canal between Schenectady and Buffalo, there are
few more more pleasant-though many larger and
more thrifty-han Lyons tho shire town Of the County
q Wayne 1t lies directly north from Geneva le miles,
and about the same distance from sodus Bay, Lake
Ontario It is built upon gentle declivty sopng TO the
east and south. The land OF the whole town Is
OF a choice quality watered by the Canaan
daigua outlet which, at this point almost intersects the
canal, and by several other streams, ono OF whch Is
Mud Creek, flowing into the Canandaisua outlet and
the other Salmon Creek, passing in the opposite drec-
ton into sodus Bay. There are several largo brick
stores upon the margin of the canal the public build
ings are highly respectable and the village Is generally
well built. This village was chosen rs the spot IN ~hen
TO pass the evening Of life by no less person
than tho late honorable and venerable Ambrose
Spencer. formerly Chief Justice OF tho State
and who, for long series OF years, during
the honest old political between the Federasts
and their opponentsthe antiFederaliss Republicans,
and Democrats, they successfully called-aeted
distinguished part in the politics OF ReW-fork win
talents OF high order, great energy OF character and
great sagaciy, he early made himself felt IN the cOun
ellis OF old George Clinton the main pillar Of whose sup
port he became Elected to the Senate he was one OF
the Council Of Appointment which completed the polt'
cal revolution on the accession Of Mr. Jefferson 70 the
Presidency Of the nation. He was afterward
chosen Attorney General OF the State. from which
office he was further elevated TO the Bench OF the
Supreme Court which station he held until ChieJustiee
Thompson was called to the national judiciary. when he
was advanced to the Enthusiastically Although his
judicial duties were executed with great ability and In
tecrity-there were giants upon the Bench in those
dayyet Judge Spencer never lost his taste for politics.
or ceased on what deemed proper occasions to exert
the commanding influence he had acquired During the
successive administrations Of Cows. Lewis and Tomp-
kns Ambrose Spencer the master spirit OF the Dem
ocrac party. Indeed, like Warwick, he was not In
aptly STYLED the "Kng- maker" Finally, after life OF
great activity and usefulness ne turned his attention to
agricultural pursuits and Withdrawing to IRIS az that
time almost sequestered village, he passed the evening
of his life in serene old age until he Was gathered to
| his fathers in 1913.
soDUs AND soDUs DAY.
Directly north of Lyons, intervening between ii and
the lake lies this extensive town Of Sodus watered by
the great bay Of that name the largest, most commo-
dious and beautiful bay upon the Southern shore
| of Lake Ontario. Little Sodus Bay 20 miles further
east forms very charming inlet and ITS scenery is
truly beautiiu but it is not TO be compared with Great
Sodus The original settlement upon tine town was at
sodus Point side OF tho bay. There was
small military defense at this point. during the Revo
lutionary War occupied by the Royass and 1t was re-
occupied for brief period during the disputes between
! the United States and England, touching the re-
1
| conclusion. Of the treaty Of peace. to surren-
! der the northwestern posts within territory
small settlement was formed at the point very soon
after the pacdcaton Of the border troubles by the late
| DR.. Lummis and his associates DR.. Lummis was the
father Of Mrs Elet, the authOress. 1t was while APP
preaching this point that my eye first rested upon the
| waters Of Lake Ontario. On emerging from wood,
| suddenly and unexpectedly at the moment, a full
view OF the lake broke upon me, It's rolling
| waters made darker by storm stretching like
mighty ocean further than the eye could reach.
NV course for mile before reaching the point, was
along high PERCEPTIONS bank at the base Of which
the waters wrought into foam by the increasing gale
from the northwest rolled mpetuousy onward. dash
ing their white with great fury at our foet The
progpect was grand and exciting. The opening Of Great
sodus Bay upon the vision from the west exceedingly
picturesque. The point ITSELF comprising handsome
! glade of 100 acres and forming the site Of sodus
village Is a most beautiful spot. The village Ia small
and the houses scatteredthe latter being by means
SO we'll built as before the last with England, when
the best OF them destroyed by the torch OF tho
enemy The bay, itself is beautiful beyond description
II stretches inland TO the distance OF six miles and mea
sures IS miles circumference The shores are not hgh
the land descending toward it 10 gentle slopes, dversi-
ned by occasional covered with woods every
direction. .... 800 ,,
For considerable distance west OF this capacious
harbor the bank Of the lake is wearing rapidly away by
|
western gales Twice the settlement Of the coun-
FRY has the road been washed away; and the third,
which ia now travelled will share the same fate
The soil thus washed of being deposited In the entrance
OF the harbor formed stretching obliquely into
the bay like pnensua, to the distance OF more than
mile TO guard against the danger Of this bar finally
obstructing navigation, appropriation was made by
Congress for the construction Of substantial piers
ON each side Of the channel extending out into deep
water The entrance into the harbor has thus been
narrowed as create currents, which, it is believed
will preserye the harbor from the apprehended inter
! rupuon.
Tbs celebrated Ridge Road-the natural turnpike so
often spoken Of by travellers and geoogss with admra
tioneonmences in this town, and extends, interrupted
only by the gulf Of the IrOndequoi, TO Niagara, some
times nc greater and sometimes at less distance from
the Lake Shore The belief is that this convenient ridge
was once itself the beach OF the Lake. On approaching
! the Irondequoit gull extending inland several
| miles from the Irondequot, or Teeronto
| hay OF the Lake, the ridge is left TO the
! right and the Travelled road winds rOnnd
the head OF the bay-shut out. however. from view
of the lake or even Of water at this place, since the
accumulation for ages OF vegetable matter has trans
| formed largo portion OF what must have been
water inclosed like little lake by headands. into
ouagnire The valley, however is snguarly wild and
romantic place, aud the descent INTO IL from the eas
particularly in the night IL very dangerous i1s over
This gulf miles 10 the left OF the point am de
scrlng that the Erie Canal is carried by stupendous
kmenta labor equang the deep cutting through
the mountain rock at LOckpOrt The Irondequot Bay
urotyer-that IT, the portion of It composed OF water
called TeerOntO by Of the old writers, ana Ironde
0uot Nv DR. Coden-e1tends inland about four miles.
IN wa here that the Marquis DE Nouve, the Governor
Of Canada landed his troops IN his famous eApedton
tins Bay the water flows through channel scarcely ~
feet Wide. The shore OF the Lake bends nand before
the Bay begins bar stretches across tne bay az I've
mouth about thrcequaTters OF undiscovered WIN OAKS
and pnes40 feet wide On the east side the banks rise
from the waters edge abruptly stretching of into high
lands The suppositOn that the sandbar has ehoked
the entrance OF the harDOr within the last cenly-the
passage from the Lake into the Bay being now scarcely
large enough Tor ekin The Wild pond lilies Win thef