The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-06-30
A Centennial RemIniscence Of
the Ferry Between the Top Mill
aud the West Bank of the ONO
By wN. uowEL1s,. ESQ.

Martins Ferry has been known from
the earliest settlement as the point Of
crossing the Ohio river at the head Of
Wheeling Island, the date when establish
ed not known 1t being more convenient
10 cross the river at this one ferry than
the two with the intervening Island or
posite the city.
The roads leading to this ferry were
the chief thorQughtares for the travel oil
emigrants and adventures TO the new
cou1try Of middle Ohio, and the return
of horses, cattle, and hogs,and other pro.
duce OF the opening farms on their way
10 the Eastern markets.
So that at IN early day, about the frat
OF the century, the ferry became noted as
kind Of portal to Ohio and Virginia. A
two.story log house was erected near the
ferry landing for public house, which
became place Of comfortable rest and
shelter to many a weary man and beast.
Droyes Of cattle and hogs were nearly all
ferried at this point.
Through period Of over forty years
cattle and hogs were driven from the in.
terror OF Ohio, from the Scioto and
Miami 10 Baltimore and Philadelphia by
way Of this route. The cattle were most
lydriyen in the latter part Of the winter,
and at different times through the sum.
mer, while the season OF hog driving was
late in the fall, The terrifying OF these
droves was a great business, and at times
engaged many extra hands,and sometimes
two sets Of boats. The boats used were
ast bottomed seows, without decks, and
sided with fence Of posts and stats, with
bars at the bow and stern, leaving space
at each end for Iropelling the boats with
poles and oars as were most convenient,
Tor steam ferry boats were not introduced
until 1910. As the current Of the river
is strong here Of most seasons, It was nee
essary to take the boat TO q hnding far
up the stream, and then by much driving,
capering, hallowlng and swearing, get the
cattle aboard; then push out into the
stream and with four men pushing and
pulling at each large pair d oars make
Tor the opposite side. OF course 1t would
take long timei this way to put over a
large drove otcattle, an entire day was Of
ten consumed in crossing with one herd.
OQ tue OLutE JAIN u hlAu VI wv VI hhV
droyers herjed the cattle until the last
load, when they took, up the line OF
march, one man towing the head OK by
the horns aud crying so.o-ky, so.o.ky, in
long continued Iteration. " =
The ferrying Of hogs was by much the
same process, except that the native
sense Of Independence in the pig made
him more troublesome to handle; and
as the driving all came in the midst Of
the fall rains and early SHOWS, Il was SO
fearfully muddy along the roads and at
the ferry, indoors and out that no con-
ception can be formed Of the hardships
and discomfort OF the whole business by
one who has never. seen II. The hogs
were usually driven about ten miles a
day, 80 that the journey from Chillicothe
to Baltimore would take up at least two
months. The drovers were chiefly big
boys and young men, who took that means
Of travelling out to see the world, got
little wages and had their expenses paid
on trip they could not otherwise afford
to make. They were hardy fellows, and
mostly smart enough to profit by the'ex-
perience they got, which in some respects
came in large quantities. II they kept
their faces out Of the mud, and.got a
chance at their suppers and breakfasts Of
good coffee, bacon and other substantial
always furnished in those times, with q
place 10 sleep on dry floor at night
they never complained OF the outward
trip. At Baltimore they got their pay,
dressed up in clean clothes, walked home
in time for the winter schools, and left
their places as droYers for those year
younger; while they attended debating SO.
cietiea andisinging SCHOOL,, spanked q pref.
ty girl and got married, and some went TO
Congress. In the year 1888 new and
ingenious contriyance. YaA Substituted for
propelliDg the boat which was In use iof
some eight or ten years, by which natural
principles were ingenioualy made
available for power, and the current Of
the river was made TO propel the boat
across the stream.
Tho river here is about quarter Of q
mile wide. Near mile above the build
Ing, a strong wire rope was fastened 70
tree on the Ohio bank; from WHICH point
II was carried down 10 the landing
supported at intervals. upon floating
buoys, and passed over pulleys at each
end OF tho boat and around cylinder,