The Monte Vista journal., 1899-12-09
CAPT. HENRY KELLEY.


cholera season. and again shipped in
1888. About this time Capt. r. c. Bris-
tol. afterward prominent man OF
Chicago. brought out a new vessel. the
John Kinsey-naned after a Chicago
man-which was owned by the Arm Of
Dow Z Johns Of Detroit. l shipped at
Buffalo with Capt. Bristol and went to
Cleveland with the others OF the crew
to At out the new boat.
In relating his experiences Capt.
Kelley tells Of the great rush to the
present site OF Chicago In 1888. In
that year the general government Sc
lected this point to give presents and
money to the Indians OF the great
northwest. The rush OF people to the
new country was occasioned by desire
to trade with the Indians. then assem-
bled in vast numbers. According to
Capt Kelley. this was the initial step
Of the founding Of Chicago. During
the year Of the rush the John Kinsey
brought In = cargo OF general merchan-
disc from Buffalo. As there vas no
harbor. the cargo was brought ashore
In = "battoo." which was towed In BY
the ships small boat.
Then the John kinsey was chartered
for trip to Indian Port. Green Bay.
for q cargo Of rough timber. The
round trip was made In fourteen days.
When the lumber was RATED ashore
the waters edge was lined with people
eager TO possexs enough Of the boards,
coarse as they were. to erect q primi-
tive hut.
THE spring Of 1885," continued Capt.
Kelley. took command. my hrst, Of
the brig North Carolina, which was
built At Black River. Ohio. and owned
BY capts. Aaron. Root. Richard, and
Winsiow OF Cleveland. and Joy and
Weber Of Buffalo. That season I trad.
ed mostly At Lake Michigan ports and
took up nearly all Of the machinery
used for the nrst dredGe used In Chi
caso harbor. In the fall Of the same
year l was at st. Joseph. Aich.. with .
general cargo. which had to be light
cred ashore. while I was paying my
bills gale. blowing on shore. came up
suddenly. compelling Us 10 leave with
out ballast. when Oh Point Bstsey,
down the lake. there was q sudden
change OF the wind from the north.
This forced Us to run up the lake. We
could not see land. Al dayhreak the
next morning We we're beachsd two
miles west Of Grand Calumet. and
there the vessel remained until the
sprns OF 1887. was sent hack BY
the owners to get o6 the vessel. which
vas deeply imbsdded In frosen sand.
aecsssltating the use OF picks. I
walked to Michigan City. = distance Of
thirty miles. and had twelve picks
made. and carried them on my back
to the bsschsd ship. When the drst
six dog dull siuns them on my shoui.
der and walked to Chicago. also . dis
tanes Of about thirty miiea. made
two trips . week with . haif-dossn
picks untii the weasel vas launched and
II anchor. And then ne had another
sudden gale. forcing the vessel ashore
viii her anchors dragging. The own.
err ssat ne hack again 70 sell her or
ct her % the beach. Owing to the
ons weather I dstsrmined TO try asAin.
We we're taken back BY . small vessel.
having Chicago on MoadAy. The fol-
lowing Saturday We had the North
Carolina In Chicago. Although the
vessel was leaking badly took
chances with sand ballast 70 get below.
whsss ths rspairias could b. done.
'04 Beaver Isiasd the vessel was
saDsissd II . heavy gale. Two q he
crew were lost. he othsss eiiasias -
tAs vrsckass. We we're picked up 1sr.
laG ~ nisht by ths bask Dstroie ~
takso bask 70 Chicago. vhsss ! 0st NJ
~ esssnl. Casa Bristol. He save ~.
sslf aAl crew passass 70 Ds9aio % tie
sssa0sf james Malisoa. be command
q that u0A. Thus sNAe1 NJ early
carer % tAs iAhss 40 tAs oely ~
ivsk ever hsl. followed the lake,
noatisuossiy from 1881 70 isSs. Dur.
lss Tie winter seasons I learned the
earpsstsrs trade aad eventually b.
sans Q wilder. hare bsea esansstsl
With The great lakes ~ 70 the present
tt0e. n i've uAtil March 1 I vill -
~ ysass q 49,"
cAel Kelley Aas - ssssiisat nso.
~, - 90 10 1stail 1ssesibs I'll ths
at3D aieae ~ 1aess - the1 voes b
~ easiy '1ayA Neeusaliy - ~