Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-08-26

| MS tdlOns on the lOItleSt peaks OF the Rock
Mountains, drops one pinion in the Al
lantic Ocean, bathes the other in the dis
tant waters Of the Pacific, while he j
billing and cooling Cuba to come an
unite her destiny with that Of th
United States. At the same time his tail /
cooled and rests upon the ieebergs Of th
North.
"Who's been here since l have beel
gone2' BY the genius of the American
Fulton, the application of steam as a pro
peillng power has been discovered. Steam
ships plough the ocean, and steamer
navigate the Mississippi and all our mi
nor rivers. The invention Of the rail
road has been brought into practical Ope
ration, and the iron horse with an eve tha
never winks, with a muscle that nevel
tires, and mind that never gives out, mounts
the rails, and transports human life anC
freight with more than the speed Of the
ilrst-class race horse, almost annihilatins
time and space. 1t is the great propellins
power in machinery that feeds and clothes
the world. Within this period it required
year to make trip to New Orleans and
back. The river was deeended in what
was called broad-hOrns; upon the broad
bosom Of the Mississippi, the produce Of the
country was carried to the Crescent City.
the emporium of the South, and the return
Of sugar coffee, and other Southern pro-
ducts was made in keel boats, that were
eordeled or tOwed up the Mississippi and
the rivers Of Tennessee, and it required
rom four TO six months to make the trip.
OurgOOdS were brought across the Alleghan-
les BY the large six horse teams of Balti-
more and Philadelphia. While | am on
this steam question, will relate the sub
stance OF an interview with the first steam
boat, and Billy Haynes, a citizen of Mont
goniery, but near the line Of Stewart; as the
North Carolinian would have it, ain North
Carolina, but near the Virginia line NY
old friend Hockett Allen used to amuse us
with this story upon the circuit, but he too
sleeps among the honored dead.
Much Of the gist of this story is in the
action Of Billy Haynes. He was a rough
mechanic, but man Of energy and will,
fair genius, much presumption, and
high estimate Of his own powers.
He had never seen a steamboat.
but his brother Andrew had told him thar
one had passed up the Cumberland, and
had made great hole in the water. He
was anxious 70 see one, for he could not
understand under his system Of mechanism
how any boat could stem the current Of
the Cumberland. Well, early one morn
ing Andrew heard the putting of steam and
the boat coming around the bend in the
river; he informs Billy Of the fact, and
they started for the river; the captain had
stopped at a woodward to take in fuel.
Billy appears with Andrew on the bank,
and while steam was being let of. Billy
was rather shy in going aboard; little re-
covered, he hOllers froA the bank, "Who
commands the bOat9" which was the usual
salutiOn 10 broad horn. The captain saw
that Billy was little green and was lame
in one leg. He was invited to walk the
plank and come aboard. Billy. with some
misgivings, went hopping aboard, and
while the engine was plying, Billy. put
ting on a fierce look, says, Captain, have
you any objections TO my examining YOUR
machinery" "NO,' says the captain.
During the examination Billy remarked,
"Well, this beats anything L have ever
seen The captain turns one of the screws
which lets of steam near Billy's head.
which makes him jump, but seeing no I'M
mediate danger he renews his examination,
and says be can make cider mills and cotton
gins, but this beats anything that he has
ever seen. Then the captain lets off a
large quantity Of steam, which snOrts near
the head Of Billy, and it not ceasing to
blow, Billy becomes greatly alarmed;
he runs for the plank to get on
dry land, making one long step and then
one short one, bat goes with great velocity
for one in his condition. After arriving
safely on the bank, his courage revives, and
he turns upon the Captain and saws, "You
be damned; do YOU think that you can scare
me with your floating distillerv, or with
your damned dug-Out, or double-breasted
wOrkhOuse? No, sir, YOU can't DO that, for if
you fool with me, / will drag your damned
dug-Out a half mile in the woods and leave
it there, so yOu will never scare ANYBODY
with your thing. want yOu TO know who
yOu are fOOling with. / announce 10 YOU
that my name is Billy Haynes, and can be
found az brother Andrews, if YOU want 10
see me- The Captain saws. eYou 20 20
hell, you damned fool Billy makes for
home, and the Captain steams away up the
river.
"WhO has been here since l have been gomez
Within the last fifteen years that won
derful invention Of telegraph has been put
AA-sV eAaA NNAA TIC MAAAlo u AAlC
lightning We converse with each other, not
Ouly throughout the United States, but with
the aid Of the ocean cable, converse aud
hold direct communication with even civ
iliZed people Of the old world. The world
IS indebted again TO the American genius,
Mr.. Morse, for this great blessing. Those
two great inventions, the application Of
steam to machinery and the teaching Of
lightning how to talk, have reyOlutionized
the commerce, trade md travel Ofthe world,
and added vastly to the wealth Of nations.
They are the great schOolmasters Of the
world, teaching and ciyilizing man.
Who has been here since 1 have been gOne9''
When lett sixty years ago, industry and
were the landmarks of virtue,
cOntentment and happiness. Wealth and
luxury were strangers in the land aud un-
known to this happy community. l will
here give you some OF the habits and Gus
toms Of your fathers, mothers and grand
parents. We may contrast them with the
present order OF things, which / presume
prevails here as il does in other parts Of the
State. Our ancient habits and customs
may, think, be fayOrably compared with
those Of the present day. A long time ago
Middle Tennessee was the great hunting
grounds Of the red men of the forest. They
crossed the Tennessee where they abided
aud pursued and slew the buffalo, the bear,
the deer and game Of minor importance.
Our fathers emerged from the bloody scenes
Of the revolution; their bold and adven-
turOuS spirits impelled them across the Al
with the rifle in one hand and
axe in the other, tley blazed their way to
the upper Tennessee, and formed the first
upon the HOlstOn. They then
crossed over into the rich valleys Of Middle
Tennessee, into the great hunting grounds
Of the savage. In I7SD the first corn was
grown which secured a pre-emptiOn right to
$40 acres. There was the nucleus of a set
.lement formed at BledsOe Lick, Sumner
county, and the French Lick, now the capi-
tal of the State. They relied principally
on the Wild game, and in places not far
from there stOckades were built, where
they cultivated the soil, while some bold
spirits stood picket to defend them
from the attacks of the savage
foe. Many gallant spirits fell in
the repeated raids upon the settlements.
In 1894 a campaign was planned for an
attack on Nick-a-Jack, the Indian capital,
south Of the Tennessee. The whole force,
Of about six hundred, was commanded by
Gen. Robertson. a gallant company Of
one hundred, composing part OF this com
mand, was led by my wiie's father, Major
Geo. ID. BlackmOTe, who had fought the
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