Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1892-01-08

Chief, started on It's trip to New York.
The Ioat was an object OF great interest
to all as she made her way through the
canal
! There were no telegraphs in existence il
those days, and the news of the great
event of admitting the waters of the lake
into the canal and starting the boat was
communicated to the citizens of the STATE
| by the firing of cannonS placed in continu-
Gus line along the banks IF the canal aud
Of the Hudson river at intervals of eight
mules, extending from Buffalo to Sandy
Hook. a distance of 544 miles.
The moment the Seneca Chief entered
tue canal the first cannon was fred, and
each cannon in succession roared out the
Intelligence thus communicated reached
New York at IL: 20 o'clock, at which time
4 national salute WAS fred from what is
now called Castle Garden An acknowl-
edgment that thls intelligence had been
received there was made by the same line
| of cannons back again to Buffalo.
| A grand canal celebration took place
Friday, Nov. 4, 1925. Many days previous
| to this strangers from all parts of the
| state tl0cked to New York to see the cere
monies.
! A sub committee had been appointed by
the common council of New York to invite
committee from each of the towns and
| villages on the line of the canal to unite
with the citizens IF New York in celebrat
| ing tue event.
Six steamboats, gaJly decked with flags
lest A lb9ny THURSDAY, Nov. 8, having on
board Gov. De Witt Clinton and invited
| guests. When the boat had reached a
point near Weekawhen they were
met by steamers from New York having
on board the city S committee. The lead
ing boat of the Aotilla way hailed /:
Where from and where bound?" The
! acting admiral of the aotilIa answered {:
From Lake Erie AMI bound for Sandy
| Hook -
Arriving at New York they were greet
ed with the ringing of bells, martial music
and firing of cannons, All arrangements
being completed, the grand acquatic pro-
! cesSiOn letI New York Friday morning at
9 O'Clock. Nov. 4, and started down the
bay. The fleet numbered thirty. seven
roats, Two barges were decorated and
testooned with evergreens and flowers,
and were exclusively appropriated to and
crowded with ladies elegantly attired.
Mrs. De Witt Clinton was on one of the
| barges
Al Sandy Hook Gov. De Witt Clinton
went through the ceremony of uniting the
waters by pouring that of Lake Erie into
| the Atlantic. Two barrels of Lake Erie
water had been brought from Buffalo on
| the canal boat Seneca Chief. and were
used for this occasion.
Fifty-one gold medals were struck off
tua sent to the different crowned heads
- he w1rld and eminent men; one was
Sem to Lafayette Nherp were several
. hundred silver medals struck off, and a
large number composed of block tin and
white metal.
The boxes containing the silver medals
were made from logs of cedar brought
from an island on Lake Erie in the neigh
horhood of Buffalo.
The citizens of Buffalo were furnished
with key of water taken from the ocean
for the purpose of mingllng il with the
waters of Lake Erie The key was hand.
son'ely ornamented with the arms of NE
city of New York, over which were tle
words, N letters IF gold: "Neptuae's ro-
turn to Pam" and under the same The
words, New York, 4th Nov, 1926 "
Upon the other side of the keg were the
words: Water of the Atlantic
The Seneca Chief was fitted out in grand
style. Two paintings were executed in
! Buffalo and sent with the boat to New
York One was q view of Buffalo harbor
a section 0; Lake Erie, Buffalo creek and
, lis junction with the canal, the whole re.
presenting the scene at the moment the
boat started.
Two hours after the Seneca Chief lef
! Buffalo "a novel craft followed and overlook
her at Lockport. The boat was called
Noah's Ark, and was stored with all sorts
of animals. She had or board a bear, two
eagles, two fawns, together with birds
and fish of every description. There were
also two Indian boys in native costume
all being products of the great west!
The celebration of t. completion of the
canal was closed in New York Monday
evening, Nov. 8, with a grand fete, which
was presided over by De Wit Clinton.
De Witt Clinton was remarkable for his
masculine beauty. He was upward of sly
feet tall, straight large, robust, and fee
ly proportional, and said to be the finest
looking man in the country.
When De Witt CLIFTON and other com
missioners explored the route for thu
canal the country was a comparative viii
dprness, and there was not single bous'
where the city of Rochester now stands.