The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1901-06-18

dodging the streams OF muddy water |
which came pouring through. Our ar |
dor was considerably dampened, but |
about dark the rain ceased and we
found farm house with lodging for the |
night. A big-hearted farmer made us
comfortable. The next morning we
started at day-break but the tow-path |
had lost its charm, for II was SO soft |
that we could not push our wheels
through 1t. Taking to the railroad, by
hard trudging we reached the little
town of Clinton, and decided to wait
for the path to dry. We were directed
to bold buccaneer of the bay" who
kept the village hotel, and he served
us with breakfast Of pale fried pota-
toes, poor bread. and abominable cof
fee. Sitting around awhile, hoping the
sun would shine, we soon got tired of
waiting and took to the path again.
The riding was fair in places, but some
of the time we could hardly push the
wheels, and were glad to reach Canal
Fulton. where we took the train for
Massillon. When we reached the lat
ter place the sun had dried the ground
considerably; so stopping only long
enough to mend tire, we again took
to the path.
DOWN BELOW MASSILLON.
The scenery below Massillon is fine
and the people evidently enjoy 1t, for
we passed several camping and fishing
parties. In fact, the people all along
that part of the route seemed to spend
considerable time fishing. In front of
every house seat Is built to accommo-
date the fishermen. and the seats were
al occupied by people soaking bait"
AS you approach the town of Navarro
the river increases in size and the see.
merry is much finer. Navarro is a quaint
old place, and is especially interesting
along the canal. | took a photograph
OF an old warehouse on the canal-a
relic of the prosperous days, and little
way below the town got one of typi-
cal log cabin at the edge of the water
which would make suitable iilustra-
ton for Rudolph Eickmyer's new book
Down South" Along this part of the
canal there are few houses in sight
and the scenery is wild all the way to
! Bolivar. seven miles below. Bolivar
is the neatest little town on the whole
route, and place of considerable in
terest. The canal is high above the
river, the views are fine, and the sensa-
ton as you glide along the hard
smooth path is delightful. About half
milo below the village is cut through
! the earthworks OF
OLD FORT LAURENS.
which was built in the fall of 1878. The
locks are especially beautiful along
this part of the canal, but had photo
graphed them before. We were fortu.
nate here in securing photograph OF
a modern canal boat with all hands
aboard--and on washday at that. The
sleeping rooms are in the bow; the din
/ ing rooms in the stern, and the stable
for the mules amidship. The living
room Is on deck, and the bath room all
around the boat, offering fine chance
for a promenade bath."You will OBJ.
serve that the boat is the family abode,
and the children are all provided with
life-preservers as soon as they are able
to crawl. We were now in sight of the
quaint old community-town of Zoar, sit
uated so pleasantly on the banks of
the Tuscarawas. The Ohio canal was
a god-send to the Zoarites, for it was
being built just, at a time when they
were sorely in need of money to pay
for their land; and they did most of the
work or that section. When the canal
was completed they could send their
farm products and the articles manu-
factured in the mills and shops directly
to a market, and they always found a
sale for their excellent goods. While
the canal was in operation Zoar was a
hourishing community, but the bell of
the locomotive rang the death-knell
Of both. We rode along the path un-
der the old mill, and climbed up the
steps on the bridge that leads over to
the villnge-all familiar spots asso.
ciated with pleasant memories. Our
journey on the tow-path was ended; it
was pleasant experience, and can
heartily recommend it as an ideal bi.