The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1875-03-25

did not come into existence till three
years later, and the church st Racine
one year later.
at first tho settlers had called the
place Pike Greek, from the name of the
stream which here meets the waters of
Lake Michigan. The name of the first
Post Office was Pike. But now the
citizens, in public meeting held the
year before, had formally voted that
the place should be known as South
port, from the fact that it was the most
southerly port in the territory of Wis
consin. The sport" however, was still
a thing of the future. Pike Creek at
its mouth was ashallow ripple which was
easily forded In passing onto Washing
ton Island. Behind the bar. indeed, We
had even then commodious bay, but,
for most of the year, it could not be en-
tered by any craft larger than canoe.
Still, the determination to became great
maritime emporium coursed warmly
in the veins of the first settlers. Steam
ers and other vessels had begun to stop
outside, bringing merchandise, seeds,
farming implements, and accessions to
II ho1 h1I q
lighthouse so early as this. And a Won
derful structure it was,-made by saw
ing off the top of an oak tree, covering
it with layer of stones, and building a
bonfire on the top. And faithfully did
it do it's WORK. Not craft was then
taking It's nightly way from Chicago on
the long journey to Buffalo, that was not
cheered on it's course by our oaken-tree-
top beacon. Besides the lighthouse,
our thrifty enterprise had already de-
vised a substitute for pier. This was
the pus "lighter,"a solid craft capable
of Carrying several tons in weight, de-
signed to go out and meet vessels at
anchor, and bring ashore their passen-
gers and freight. So heavy was the
lighter, that it took nearly ell the able
bodied men on the ground to drag it
over the bar and shove it into the Lake
But such was the commercial spirit of
the young metropolis, that in daytime
or III night-time, every man was ready
for. the tag, Mr.. Samuel Hale, after
wards Judge Hale, was the recognized
captain of the lighter. Nor was he at
all remiss in his office. In the dead of
night, if a steamer whistle sounded in
the ofing, he was quickly up and out ;
and some of those nov before me can
remember he tones of his voice sound
ing through the settlement calling out
the men to launch the lighter. If his
voice in front of a cabin ever failed to
wake the sleeper, heavy kick sending
open the cabin door was sure to bring
his man to the scratch Of duty. Our
people also fully realized at this early
day, that the Sabbath was made for man,
and not man fer the Sabbath. The
| lighter was itselftoo sacred an institu-
ton to rest on the first day of the week.
If the whistle sounded right in church
| time, when the people were all assem-
! bled for divine service, it was all the
same. There was not moments hest
tation. The commercial spirit of the
citizens was equal to the occasion. Ev-
cry man in the assembly seized his hat,
and getting down the steps as softly
as possible, there was grand race for
the beach ;-leaving the minister some
times in the midst of his sermon, or in
! the midst Of his prayer even ;-opening
his eyes, after his final amen, 10 and
behold, his solid listeners whom he had
been trying to lead upward to the throne
of grace, had vanished from his presence,
as when one awaketh from q dream!
And here let me say, in passing, that
in studying up this "Reminiscences Of the
ol9en time, | fancy have fallen upon a
discovery which explains q feature Of
the present. [ have often remarked
one popularity in my congregation here,
IN which it differs from most other con-
gregations with which have ocen &C
quainted, namely, the preference for the
rear seats in the house so that I am
told that the back seats with us will
actually bring the higher price. Usu
ally it is the case that audiences prefer