The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1892-01-16
THE ERIE CANAL.
The Story of the Seneca Chiefs Pioneer
Trip to New York.

Trip to New York.
The Erie canal was begun July 4. 1877
and was finished Oct. 26, 1925, says Th,
Buffalo Courier. New York state, sevent,
years ago, had population of not quite
one-half of Buffalo's present population.
Wednesday mt 10 a. III, Oct. 26, th,
waters of Lake Erie were let into the cana
at Buffalo, and the first boot, the Senecs
Chief, started on its trip to New fork
The Lcat WAS an object of great interes
to all as she made her way through tn,
canal.
There were no telegraphs in existence ir
those days, and the news of the grea
event of admitting the waters of the lake
into the canal and starting the boat was
by the firing of cannons placed in continu.
of the Hudson river at intervals of eigh.
miles, extending from Buffalo to Sandy
Hook. distance of 544 miles.
The moment the Seneca Chief entered
the 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
a national salute was fired from what is
now called Castle Garden. An acknowl-
edgment that .his int diligence had been
received there was made by the same line
of cannons back again to Buffalo.
A grand canal celebration took place
Friday, Nov. 1, 1926. Many days previous
to this strangers from all parts of the
state flocked 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 cf New York in celebrat
ing the event
Six steamboats, gayly decked with flags
LETT Albany 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 = committee. The lead
ing boat of the fotltla way hailed
Where from and where bound?" The
acting admiral of the hotilIa ans,,cred: ::
From Lake Erie an bourd 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 left New York Friday morning at
8 o'clcck. Nov 4, and started down the
bay. The feet numbered thirty. seven
boats. Two barges were decorated and
feslooned 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.
At Sandy Hook Gov De Witt Clinton
went through the ceremony of uniting the
waters by pouring that of Lake Erie ;;,,;v
the Atlantic. Two barrels of Lake Ere
water had been brought from Buffalo on
the canal boat Seneca Chief. and were
used for this occasion.
Fiftv-one gold medals were struck off
and sent to the different crowned heads
of the world and eminent men; one was
sent to Lafayette. There were several
hundred silver medals struck eff, and a
large number composed Of block tin and
white metal.
The boxes containing the silver medals
were made from logs of cedar brough
from an island IN Lake Eria in The neigh
borhood of Buffalo.
The citizens of Buffalo we're furnished
with keg of water taken from the ocean
for the purpose Of mingllng il with the
waters of Lake Erie. The keg was haud
son ely ornamentad with the arms of the
city of New York, over which were tAe
words, N letters "f gold: Neptune re
turn to Pan" 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 Chi,f was fitted out in grand
style. Two paintings were Executed IN
Buffalo and sent with the boat ID New
York One vas view of Buff tlo harbor,
"A 5, Ction o Lake Erie, Buffalo creek and
lis junction with the canll, the whole re-
presenting the scene at the moment the
boat started
Two hours after the Seneca Chief left
Buffalo novel craft followed and overlook
her at Lockport. The boat was called
Noah's Ark, an1 was stored with all sorts
OF animals. She had or board 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 greet west
The celebration of / completion Of The
canal was closed in New York Monday
evening, Nov g with a grand fete, which
was presided over by u. Wit Clinton.
DE- Witt Clinton WAS remark able for bis
ma.culine beauty. He was upward Of *
feet tall. straight, 'arge. robust, aud fine
Iy proportioned. and sali to be the finest
looking man in the county.
When De Witt Clinton ard other com.
missioners explored the route Tor the
canal ihe country was Il comparative vii.
dprntSs, and there was not single house
where the city of Roche ter now stands