Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1893-08-09
Journcying Down the Ohio I'm
l70g

oourncylnE Down the Ohio in
1903.
Mem asters History OF the People OF ths
United States.
Yet a journey down the river was
quite As hazardous as on the day
when the first white man entered
the valley If the traveller were a
settler coming from the East with
his family and his goods, he would
repair to Pittsburg, lay IN a stock OF
powder and ball, purchase provis-
ions for month, aud secure two
rude structures which pass bv the
name of boats. In the long keel.
boat he would place his wife, his
children, aud such strangers as had
been waiting at Fort Pit fora chance
10 travel in company. In the fllt.
boat, OF the ark, would be the cat.
tie and the stores. The keel boat
was hastily and clumsily made. The
hold was shallow, the cabin was
low. Over the stern projected a
huge oar, which mounted on =
swivel, was called a sweep, aud per.
formed all the duties of ruddcr
The ark was of rough plank intend
ed to be used for building at some
settlement where saw mills were
scarce. The shape was rectangular
The width was fifteen feet. the
length was forty. In these crafts,
il the water were high and swift, i
they did not become entangled in
the branches OF overhanging trees,
If the current did not drive them on
an island or dash them against the
bank in a uend. IL the sawyeIs and
planters were skillfully avoided, and
il no fog compelled the boatmen 10
lie to and make fast to a tree, il was
possible TO drift from Piitsburg TO
Wheeling in twelve hours. Wheel.
ing was a place Of fifty log and
frame houses, boasted of a stockade,
and in troubled times. Of a garrison
Of one hundred and fifty troops.
Below il, near the Muskingum, was
Marietta. In the official language
Of the time il was described as be.
ing in the territory OF the Uuited
States, northwest Of the River Ohio.
But the phrase was too long for the
boatmen and settlers, and, Us they
expressed IL Marietta was on the
Indian side Of the Ohio. Two hun.
dred wooden houses Of boat. planks
OF Of logs made up the town. The
inhabitants were lazy and given to
drink, cultivated little land, and
lived chiefly OF vesison, wild tur.
keys and bread made Of Indian corn.
Food, therefore, was scarce and
dear; nor was il always that the
owner Of few bushels Of "red po.
tatoes" or half dozen barrels Of
-four could be induced TO part with
one even for money. Many a flat.
boatman who stopped at the place
TO buy food went disappointed away.
Still farther down the river, and
just opposite the Little Kanawha,
lay Belle Pre-. Fifteen miles beyond
was another cluster Of cabins: bot
thence 70 the mouth OF the Great
Kan1wha the country was forest
Of "sugartrees" and sycamorcs,
All day long Aocks of wild turkeys
Uttered the trees overhead, and AZ
times a bear 0r an elk might be seen
swimming the river. At night the
woods on every hand resounded
with the bark Of wolves. Then was
IL that the lonely emigrants were
tormented 5y al manner Of fears
To 90 on in the darkness was toe
pose The boat 70 being caught upon
a planter or stranded upon an island.
To tie fast 20 the bank was. in ali
likelihood, 70 become a mark for
Indian bullets before day. lf the
dread of being wrecked overcame
the dread Of heing shot, the fires
were put out, the sides Of The esbin
protected with blankets and beds.
and. while some tried % sleep with
in, others stood upon thc deck. aze
in hand. ready 20 cut ihe ropes 90
The first sound Of the approaching
foe