"Canal Travelling" The Humorist. The Ariel. A Semimonthly Literary and Miscellaneous Gazette; March 31, 1832, from the New York Constellation. Canal Travelling New-York, Feb. 20th, 1832 p. 1, col. 1 Dear Tim -- After looking about Albany, as I wrote you last summer, I thought I'd take a trip a little furder up country and so off I started. The first place I went to, is called Troy, settled mostly by Connecticut folks who are up to trap and know a thing or two. It is a pretty considerable slick looking place and I should think it pretty good doing there. You can just tell this to Joe Rice who has been waiting to transmigrate West sometime -- he'd do well at butchering there. At Troy I went aboard a canal boat to go up the Northern canal to Whitehall, a place right at the lower end of Champlain lake. You never saw a canal boat, I suppose. Tim, and so I'll describe it for you. (p. 1, col. 2) It is a long canoe-fashioned sort of a concern and is built up to form the cabin, which makes it look just like one boat laid upside down right to top of another -- a pretty comical looking thing I tell you. You crawl into the cabin at each end of the boat and you can just stand up in it without touching, tho' a six-footer from Varmount would have to double up a little. It isn't very roomy inside -- the seats are placed along the sides, and the tables in the middle, but at night it presents a very different sight as I will tell you bymeby. The women folks stay down stairs all day long and amuse themselves with knitting and looking out of the windows on the sides of the canal -- the boat you see is below the surface of the land and when you are down in the cabin you can't see nothing at all but the banks of the canal -- and that aint no great sights as you may imagine. Why don't the women folks stay on top of the cabin? I suppose you want to know that, don't you? Well, I thought at first just as you do, perhaps, that they were plagy fools to keep cooped up like a parcel of chickens, when they might be enjoying the fresh air and the prospect on deck. But I reckoned without my host, I guess -- I did'nt know no more about canal travelling than the child unborn. But spot a moment, let me tell you how the canal boats are moved along, for they don't go by steam, sails, paddles, nor none of them sort of contrivances -- they are drawn by horses, as regular as ever you saw a stage or a waggon. There is a narrow road running along the bank on one side of the canal, and the horses, sometimes three and sometimes more, trot along this, single file, all harnessed together and the hind one harnessed to the boat by a long rope. A boy sits on the hind horse and outs on the whip when they want it, to kill. I guess it would be pretty going in these ere canal boats, if it wa'nt for the plagy bridges they keep going under. You see the canal runs right in a straight line and so passes through ever so many farms and at each of these farms a bridge is made over the canal to drive the teams across. These bridges are just high enough to let the boats go under without touching, and when you come to one of them the passengers on deck have to fall on their faces as flat as pancakes and squeeze along under the bridge, and that's the reason why the women folks dont like to stay on top of the cabin -- cause why? it would be a pretty curious sight to see them dropping down in this way every ten or fifteen minutes, to say nothing of their big sleeves, which I dont believe would get through one of these places without stopping the boat or tearing the bridge all to pieces. I was plagily frightened the first bridge we went under. I guess there was a many as 20 fellows of us on deck, all sorts and sizes, and we stood chatting together when all of a sudden the man a steering cried out, "Bridge! bridge!" In a twinkling every fellow dropp'd as if he'd been shot and I dropt too, not knowing what under the canopy to make of it. The next moment we were going right under the bridge and I kind of hitched up a little to see how it looked, when, by the hoky! one side of my coat-tail catched in the timbers and away it went as clean as a shaved cat. After we got through the bridge and on our legs again the rest of the passengers got round me and began to sympathise in my loss. I wanted to captain to put back and let me get my coat-tail, but he said he did'nt put back for nobody -- that one man had his arm carried away once just like my coat-tail, and he kept right on and left it dangling under the bridge till next day. When night came I went down below to see how we were to sleep. I snore what a sight! It was more like a hen-pen than anything else I can compare it to. The seats that were placed round the cabin, were all turned into beds, and over them was another tier of beds hung up by cords -- I guess in all about 30 of them. We had to draw cuts of beds of births, as they are called, though faith! they like to have been the death of some of us, as you shall learn. I drew No. 1 and the fat Dutchman No. 2 -- and as soon as we two had drawn our beds, the Captain steps up to me and says he, "you'll please to retire, sir." "Retire!" says I, "not by two chalks! I mean to stay here all night -- (p. 2, col. 2) I've paid my passage, and I guess have as good right to a night's lodging as any of you. The passengers all laughed and looked plagily pleased to see me so spunky, and so the captain kind of turned it off -- "Oh, you don't understand me," says he, "I mean you will please to undress and go to bed -- No. 1 -- the top birth here -- that's yours." "I guess I understand you," says I, "I've travelled afore now, and aint to be humbugged in this way -- I shant go to bed till I am ready, sir!" "But my dear sir," says he, trying to coax me, "there are special reasons for your going to bed first." "Special reasons! why don't you give them then?" -- "Why you see what narrow apartments we have here? here's 40 passengers to be stowed away somewhere -- we must pack in the side ones first and to do this every man must take his birth as he draws it, that's the rule of the boat -- come, I'll take off your coat, sir!" says he, "You've taken off the tail already," says I, "I've no notion of being imposed upon -- d'ye think I'm going to trust myself in that ricketty thing that you call a bed -- the strings aint strong enough to bear me -- let the Dutchman make the experiment, and if it bears him, I'll try it." "Well, you decline the berth, do you?" "For the present, certainly," says I. -- "Then you are entitled to it," says he to the Dutchman. "Yah! yah! I've been this way afore and know all about it -- the Yankee is one pig coward, every inch of him." "Then you are a whole hog coward, I guess," says I, "If I'm nothing but a pig one." A Dutchman can't understand a joke no more than a cabbage-head, and so he looked as grave as a meeting-house, and began to undress quite deliberately. When he got all ready, he pulled his red night-cap over his face just like a fellow going to be hung, and up he jumped like an overgrown bull paddock1 plump into his birth. The bed groaned for a moment under the load, and the next moment the strings snapt like tow, and down came the bed, Dutchman and all, plump into the middle of the cabin floor. I never heard such a shout of laughter afore nor since -- the Dutchman roared and kicked -- the captain stampt and swore -- for my part I forgot the loss of my coat-tail, and thought I should have killed myself with laughing. "You've upset your apple-cart mow," says I as soon as I'de done laughing. "Apple-cart!" says the Dutchman, picking himself up, "I don't see no apple-cart here." "The Yankee is joking," says the captain -- "here," says he to me, let us have no more of your sarse -- apple-sarse, nor no other kind of sarse -- come, move yourself to bed." "Not till the Dutchman is gone," says I, and with that he got some big ropes and tied up the Dutchman's bed again and got him into it, and then tied a rope round him and made it fast to a spike in the wall. "There, that will do," says I, and then I undressed and got into the berth below as quiet as a lamb. 1: a frog, Now chiefly Scottish, Irish English (north.), and English regional (chiefly north.). (OED) Newburgh Telegraph March 8, 1832 TUESDAY & FRIDAY STAGES. From Oakley &. Davis' Dock, Newburgh, for 1832, THE STEAMBOAT PROVIDENCE Samuel R. Logan, Master, WILL leave the above dock every Tuesday & Friday evenings during the ensuing season, and will leave New-York every Monday and Thursday evenings. This boat has been so altered as to accommodate the Freighting business. She will this season carry Freight and Passengers.— The accommodations for both are equal to any other in the vicinity, and terms as favorable. THE SLOOP FAVORITE WILL be kept in employ from the same dock for the purpose of carrrying heavy Freight, such as Timber, Lumber, Grain, Plaster, etc. and such other Freight as may offer. — In consequence of the short time all steamboats have in market, an accommodation of this kind is rendered very desirable. The unsettled accounts will be left with Oakley & Davis as usual, for settlement. OAKLEY & DAVIS WILL keep for sale their usual supply of Dry Goods and Groceries, together with a supply of salt, plaster, fish, tar, &o. They purchase all kinds of Grain, for which the highest cash price will invariably be given. Accommodation line, FOR 1832 From B. Carpenter's Dock, Newburgh. The New and Fast Sailing Steam-Boat WM.YOUNG, CHARLES HALSTEAD, Master. BENJAMIN'.CARPENTER, & CO. Si Owners, WILL leave Newburgh every WEDNESDAY and SATURDAY, and New-York every TUESDAY and FRIDAY Evening, during (he Season, and will carry Freight and Passengers as low as from any other establishment from the village. Horses, Carriages, Stock, and Freight of every description, can be well accommodated. The proprietors believing that the interest of the farmer has been injured by three steam bosfls sailing on the same day, in consequence of which large quantities of Fresh Butter, Stock, etc. arrive in New-York at the same time, which frequently injures the market; and conceiving that the same objections do not exist against sailing on SATURDAY, with.a steamboat, making her passage in six hours, that have formerly existed against sloops, have concluded to take the above days, and hope from the well known character of the boat and their utmost endeavors to accommodate, to merit a share of the public patronage. The wharf will be improved by an additional store house early in the spring. BENJAMIN CARPENTER & CO. OFFER for sale at their store a general assortment of Dry Goods, Groceries, Hard and Hollow-Ware. Also, Salt, Plaster, Fish, Pork, Flour, Iron, Steel, Coal, Tar, Pitch, Rosin. Saw-mill and cross cut Saws, Machine Cards, Indigo, Dye Stuffs, Clover and Timothy Seed, Lamp Oil, etc. They will pay the highest price for Grain and Lumber. F 1,000 Cast Iron Ploughs and Castings for sale wholesale and retail. STEAM-BOAT NOTICE. THE "Farmers' Association" are now ready to contract for the Towing of Vessels on the Hudson River, and Intend to start their Steam Boat, the CHANCELLOR LIVINGSTON, for Freight and Passengers to and from Newburgh to the City of New-York, on or about the 20th of this month instant. NOTICE—The subscribers to the capital stock of the Farmers' Association are hereby required to pay Ten Dollars on each share so subscribed by them, to ,John Leveridge, Esq. no. 145 Cherry-street, New-York, or to Walter Case, Esq. in the Village of Newburgh, on or before the 10th inst.— By order of the board. J. HASBROUCK, Secretary. NOTICE.—That an Election for five Directors to manage the concerns of the Farmers Association for the ensuing year, will be held at the Tavern of Isaac Shultz, in the village of Newburgh, on Saturday the tenth of this month instant, between the hours of 12 and 3 o'clock of that day. J. HASBROUCK, Secretary. April 12, 1832. Newburgh Telegraph. Our citizens will be gratified to learn that the Newburgh Whaling Company have purchased the fine ship, Portland, of about three hundred tons burthen, a fast sailer and little more than one year old, for fifteen thousand two hundred dollars. She will be fitted out with all possible despatch by the company for her first voyage. Previous to her departure it is said we shall have the pleasure of seeing this beautiful vessel at Newburgh, at which place her crew will be selected. Many enterprising and worthy young men of our village and its vicinity have already made application to the company for employment, and it is understood places on board the Portland, as well as all other ships fitted out by the Newburgh Whaling Company, will be assigned to young men of Orange County and the neighborhood of Newburgh, so far as they may be found competent to fill them, in preference to any others. April 19, 1832. Newburgh Telegraph
NEW FREIGHTING ESTABLISHMENT: TUESDAY STAGE, SLOOP ECLIPSE. E. CASE, MASTER, Will leave Newburgh every Tuesday and New-.. York every Saturday evenings, during the Season. THE subscriber tenders his thanks for past favours in the above business, and flatters himself that his extensive acquaintance in the country, and in the city, together with the strictest attention to the interest and accommodation of those who may entrust their business to his care, will ensure to his present undertaking, a liberal portion of patronage. The above sloop has a large and commodious cabin, having twenty-five Berths, which are fitted up with Beds and Bedding in the best order, for those who may wish to take passage in the good old way of plain sailing. Satisfied that the interest of the Farmer is materially injured by the shortness of time allowed in market by the Steam-boats, making two trips per week, the subscriber does not commence business without [illeg.] that there are many Freighters in the country whom experience has taught to think with him, that the old mode of conveyance, which allows sufficient time in Market to dispose of the cargo to the best advantage, and is subject to no blow-ups nor break-downs, is the best mode, and who will be pleased with the present opportunity of returning to it again. He would also solicit a portion of the Freight and Trade of those merchants, of the Village who justly complain that their interests are injured by a monopoly of business on the part of the Steam Boat owners. They have now an opportunity of taking one step on a return to old usages. Having made arrangements with Captain SETH BELKNAP, the STORE HOUSE will be under his superintendance, where Freighters can call, or send written orders, and receive returns at all times, in the absence of the Captain; New-burgh April 1832. ELISHA CASE. N. B. The Store-House is in good order for the reception of Grain, which will be taken in free of storage when il is intended as freight for the Eclipse. Merchants wishing to keep Salt, Fish, Pork, Flour, or any other heavy articles, can have the privilege of storing the same there and having it delivered out in any quantity which they may direct, without charge for storage.
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February 28, 1833. Newburgh Telegraph New Freighting Establishment. From De Wint's Dock Lately occupied by A. M. Smith, esq. directly opposite the Bank of Newburgh. TUESDAY STAGE FOR 1833. The New Sloop "Eclipse", E. Case, Master. Vincent Clark, Joseph Case Wm. Case, Owners. WILL leave Newburgh every TUESDAY evening, and New-York every SATURDAY evening, throughout the season. The subscriber tenders his thanks for past favours in the above business, and flatters himself that with strict and careful attention to the interests of all who entrust their business in his hands, he will merit and receive a share of the public patronage. He has taken a Policy of Insurance on the above sloop and Cargo for the ensuing season, for $5,000, for the better security of those who may entrust him with their freight. ELISHA CASE. Newburgh, Feb. 1833. The Store House and Dock will be under the superintendence of Capt. SETH BELKNAP, where freighters can call or send written orders, and receive their returns in the absence of the sloop. N. B. The Store and Dock are in first rate order for the reception of all kinds of Produce, which will be taken in free of storage. Merchants wishing to keep salt, fish, pork, plaster, or any other article of freight, can have the privilege of the same, and have it delivered out in any quantity they may order. VINCENT CLARK, JOSEPH CASE, WILLIAM CASE. STEAM AND TOW-BOAT LINE. The subscribers, grateful for the patronage bestowed upon them the past season, would respectfully inform their friends and the public generally, that they will comence (sic) towing as soon as the navigation opens, and will run to and from New-York in the following order: THE STEAM-BOAT "HUDSON" WILL TAKE THE SARATOGA IN TOW, from Poughkeepsie, every TUESDAY, at 5 o'clock, P.M. - from New-York, every SATURDAY, at 5 o'clock, P.M. Passage on board steamboat $1, on board tow-boat 75 cents. Meals extra. The "Hudson" will also leave our dock with freight and passengers FOR KINGSTON and the intermediate places, every Thursday and Sunday mornings, immediately on her arrival from New-York, and from Kingston, every Tuesday and Friday, at 2 o'clock, P.M. Sloop for Albany. A Sloop will leave our dock for Albany every THURSDAY, at 2 o'clock, P.M. The "Hudson" and "Saratoga" have undergone thorough repairs, and for comfort and convenience, for freight or passengers, are not surpassed by any boats on the river. Passengers going on board either of the above boats can secure to themselves good berths, a comfortable night's rest, and arrive in New-York early next morning. Carriages will always be in readiness to convey passengers to and from the boat. U. Gregory & Co. Poughkeepsie (NY), March 15, 1833 August 15, 1833. Newburgh Telegraph
On Saturday last, about nine o'clock in the evening. Captain Simeon Deyo of the sloop Phoenix, and son of Joseph Deyo, Esq. of New Paltz, late Sheriff of this county, accidentally fell or stept overboard from his sloop while passing from the quarter to the main deck on her passage up the river, about four miles from New York and was drowned. March 20, 1835. North River Times (Haverstraw, NY) FOR SALE, THE SLOOP JOHN FELTER THE subscriber will dispose of his Sloop the JOHN FELTER, on reasonable terms. She is known as a fast sailing vessel,—is of about 90 tons burden, 57 feet keel, 25 feet 6 inches beam, 6 feet hold, and when loaded deep, draws 6 feet water. Her sails and running rigging are new, she is otherwise well found and in first rate order for business. For farther particulars inquire of JOHN FELTER. April 17, 1835. North River Times Nyack, April 15, 1835. Mr. Wells, —I have only time to say, that the Sloop Samsondale, building by Mr. Felter of this place, for Messrs. Felter & Peck of your village, was launched to- day, at high tide. She is a splendid Sloop, of about 100 tons burthen, and glided in her descent from the ways many hundred yards from the shore. You may expect her up in a few days. Yours in haste. August 25, 1835. American Traveller (Boston, Massachusetts)
A man named Scott, on Thursday last dove from the mast head of a sloop, 70 or 80 feet high, into the Hudson river, opposite the city of Troy, in the presence of a great concourse of spectators. He received no injury. July 8, 1836. North River Times (Haverstraw, NY) Launch. — The Sloop “ Adelaide” was launched from De Noyelles’ dock on Saturday last, agreeably to notice. She is a beautiful little boat, and will be sailed by Capt. Richard Blanch, one of the owners, in the Haverstraw and New-York trade. July 8, 1836. North River Times (Haverstraw, NY)
Another [Launch]. — Yesterday the “Leah Miller,” a large and splendid Sloop built by Mr. Garret Allison, for Capt. Miller of Peekskill, was launched from the ship yard of the former, at this place. She is to run in the Peekskill trade. January 22, 1838. Spectator. Vicissitudes of Winter Weather. According to a meteorological memorandum, kept at the New York University, the Hudson river was not closed by ice, in the following years, until February 3d, 1790 and 1802; January 12th, 1795; January 23rd, 1796; January 6th, 1800; January 3d, 1801; January 12th, 1804; January 9th, 1806; January 4th, 1808; January 19th, 1810; January 5th, 1825; January 11th, 1830; December 21st, 1832. The earliest time of closing, since the first mentioned period, was November 30th, 1820. The earliest opening of the river, when it was free of ice was February 8th, 1828: the latest was April 4th, 1836. April 12, 1838. Newburgh Telegraph. NEW ESTABLISHMENT. FARMERS & MERCHANTS Tow Boat Line for 1838, from De Wint's Dock, between Oakley & Davis& and Crawford Docks, NEWBURGH. THE subscribers have entered into copartnership under the firm of BELKNAP, SIMONSON & JOHNSTON, and have taken the above dock for the purpose of carrying on the Freighting business. The new sloop DAVID BELKNAP, Capt. Chas, Johnston, (late of the steamboat "Washington") will be towed from the above dock every TUESDAY at 6 o'clock P. M. and will leave the foot of Warren street, New York, every SATURDAY, at 5 o'clock in the afternoon. She will be towed from Newburgh by the steam boat NORFOLK, and arrive in New York before day light, in time for the morning market. She will leave the city on Saturday afternoon, and will deliver freights at Newburgh as early Monday morning as can be effected by steamboats. By this method of transportation the public will be well accommodated, as all kinds of freights can be conveyed at Reduced Rates. As the sloop will make but one trip a week, and remain in New York FOUR DAYS, the subscribers will have a decided advantage in making sale of stock and produce on trusted to their care. The David Belknap was built last season, in the most substantial manner, and is well calculated for carrying grain, stock and freight of every description. All unsettled accounts will be left at the store house on the dock. The subscribers solicit the patronage of the public, DAVID BELKNAP, JR. WALTER SIMONSON, CHARLES JOHNSTON, BELKNAP, SIMONTON &; JOHNSTON, will keep for sale canal flour, coarse and fine salt, fish, pork, plaster, clover and timothy seed, & Grain will be taken and stored on the owners* account, and shipped when ordered. May 31, 1838. Emancipator.
A Citizen of the State of New York for sale! Respected Friend, Joshua Leavitt, - It appears to me that the following facts should be made public. A letter recently received from the jailer of Surry Co., Virginia, by a citizen of Athens, N.Y., states that a black man, who calls himself Prince Matice, and who says he is a free man, has been committee to that jail, and will be sold as a slave for his jail fees, &c. unless evidence of his freedom be sent on, and the expenses of committal, jail fees, &c, &c paid. On investigation, it appears that the individual is an undoubted FREE CITIZEN of this state, that he lived many years in his minority with Elizabeth Copely of Harpersfield, Delaware County. When of age, he sailed as cook or steward on the Hudson River, one season in the sloop Wm. Henry, belonging to Alexander Shaw, of Athens, and two seasons in one of the Hudson Barges. Depositions to this effect have been taken. It appears that he afterwards sailed for the West Indies, from thence to Europe, and back to one of the West India Islands where he was taken sick, and left in the hospital. On his recovery, he took shipping for a southern port, left his vessel and was committed to jail as a runaway slave, where he now lies. A good deal of sympathy has been felt for him and efforts are making to obtain his release. QUERY: Might not our governor demand his release as one of our citizens detained in prison, not charged with any crime? QUERY, 2d. Is there no way of testing the constitutionality of state laws, that directly abrogate that part of the constitution of the U.S. which guarantees to the citizens of any one state the rights and privileges of citizens in each of the states? I am respectfully thy friend, C. Marriott. August 8, 1845. Albany Journal (Albany, New York). Albany Thirty-six Years Ago. We are indebted to Mr. BOGART, of Aurora, for a copy of the Albany Gazette of June 1, 1809. In looking through its columns we are enabled to judge of the inroads which time has made upon us. *** *** The following Advertisement enables us to form an estimate of the Trade and Commerce of Albany, upon the Hudson River, in 1809: -- Albany Sloops. THE undersigned Masters of vessels in the Albany trade, respectfully inform the citizens of New-York, and the public in general that in future the general place of rendezvous in the city of new-York for the vessels belonging at the city of Albany, in said trade, will be at LENT's New Bason, in the East River (next west of Coenties Slip) where they solicit their usual share of public Patronage in the line of their business. John Bogart, David Olmsted, Peter Donnelly, Jahazael Sherman, Peter Donnelly, Jun. Randall Bentley Hamilton Boyd, James Keeler, Henry Green, R. S. Van Rensselaer, James LaGrange, Isaac Keeler, Arie LaGrange, Jasper S. Keeler, Peter P. Dox, Horace Lockwood, Jacob S. Pruyn, Selleck Whitney, Jacob Barney, Richard Winslow, John Y. Staats, Anthony Van Santford, Isaac Hempsted, Isaac Hand. Albany, Feb. 27, 1809 There was then, comparatively speaking no Western New York, and with the exception of a Landing at Erie, Pa. and a small town at Detroit, no "Far West". Of these Sloop Captains, or "Skippers"; as they were called, JOHN BOGART, JAMES KEELER, JASPER S. KEELER, SELLICK WHITNEY and RICHARD WINSLOW, are the only survivors. They, with the exception of JAMES KEELER, who has removed to Wisconsin, still reside in this city. JASPER S. KEELER is engaged in a Transportation Company upon the River that alone does four times as much business as all the Commerce of the Hudson amounted to Thirty-six Years ago. Capt. JOHN BOGART, who commanded a Sloop on the Hudson 70 years ago, is still in good health among us. In 1777 he went with his Sloop, by order of Gen. SCHUYLER, to convey the Wife of a British Officer, who came from Canada, to Head-Quarters at Peekskill. Gen. MCDOUGLE [?], then in command at Peekskill, furnished Capt. B. with a flag-of-truce and he proceeded with his Lady passenger to Fort Washington, where he delivered his charge to Gen. KNIPHAUSEN, a Hessian Officer, of the British Army. Capt BOGART is now 84 [?] years old. He rendered services, during the Revolution, for which we believe he enjoys, as hedeserves, a Pension from Congress. August 22, 1845. Albany Evening Journal (Albany, New York)
Accident on the River. The Steamer "Express", on her last down trip, was run into by a Troy sloop near Coeymans landing. A deck passenger was instantly killed, and one or two others injured. A Card from the passengers of the "Express" will be found in another column. - We forbear to speak of the culpability of the Capt. of the sloop, in causing this collision, as we understand the subject is undergoing judicial investigation. April 11, 1847. Daily Picayune (New Orleans, Louisiana) A North River sloop, commanded by Capt. Weaver, from Haverstraw, Rockland county, to New York, loaded with brick, when opposite Nyack, on the night of the 26th ult., was struck by a heavy flaw of wind and immediately went down. Capt. Weaver, two of his sons and two of the crew were drowned. Three of the bodies have been recovered. August, 7, 1847. Morning News (New London, Connecticut)
The New York papers announce the death in that city of Capt. Elihu S. Bunker, so well known to the travelling public as one of the early and most popular of our steam boat commanders. He was we believe the first man who commanded a boat through the sound from New York to Providence. The old Fulton will long be remembered, and the memory of Capt. Bunker be long cherished by the many thousands who have doubled Point Judith under his gentlemanly charge. Capt. B. was we believe a native of Nantucket -- perhaps of New Bedford -- and was during the earlier part of his life engaged in the whaling business; being for many years captain of a ship in that employment in the Pacific, during which he experienced all sorts of hardships and encountered all sorts of perils. He was in the 75th year of his age at the time of his death. March 17, 1849. Hudson River Panorama. The Literary World. What is Talked About. The new Hudson River Panorama of Messrs. Townsend and Orr was opened on Monday. It is quite worthy of the public expectation, presenting, in a complete series, the prominent views from the ocean at the Narrows to West Point, including both sides of the river and many interiors, so to speak, on the shore. Thus we have a complete presentation of the vineyards, at Croton Point, of Dr. Underhill, and make the entire circuit of the grounds at West Point, surveying all the buildings, witnessing the military exercises, &c. The scenes in the bay and harbor are striking, as the Cunard steamer, the little emigrant steamer Dash, overloaded with passengers. On the Hudson, the river craft, the hay boats, timber sloops, the quarter-of-a-mile steamers, &c., are introduced in a striking manner; while the shore scenery, the Palisades, Rockland Lake, Stony Point, &c. are given with very happy effect. It is altogether quite a superior work, and will, doubtless, crown the patient labor and liberal expenditure of capital, on the part of the proprietors, with a handsome return. It is stated to have been two years in preparation, and to have cost $25,000. Mr. Hillyard, of the late Park theatre, is the leading artist, assisted by Benough, Evers, Kyle, and others. The exhibition is well worthy of taking its place as a leading metropolitan attraction of the coming season. March 27, 1849. Commercial Advertiser (New York, New York).
An Enterprising Skipper. -- Capt. John Johnson, (a colored man,) f the sloop Miriam of Albany, left this city with a cargo of lumber, which he delivered in Newark, N. J., on Christmas; then took a cargo of coat from New York to Piermont, on New Year's day; returned and wintered in New York. He left New York on the 20th inst., and arrived at our docks on the 21st, sailing the distance in seventeen hours, through floating ice from Poughkeepsie to Albany. -- Albany Journal. April 16, 1850. North American and United States Gazette (Philadelphia, PA) Reminiscences of the North River. Major Noah’s reminiscences of olden times, are no less famous for their abundance than for their interest. In a recent number of his Sunday “Times” he gives some interesting information, showing the progress which has been made in the navigation of the Hudson within the past half century. He says: In the year 1800, merchants residing a hundred miles or more from New York, and distant from the North River ten or fifteen miles, sent their bed and bedding to the landing from which they were to sail for the city, by a team, and themselves followed on horseback. At the landing, their bed, &c. , was placed on board the sloop that conveyed their produce to market, and by it they took passage for the city. The horse was put to pasture or in the stable until their return when the owner rode him home; and by the team that went for merchandize the bed and bedding were returned. :Such was the convenience of riding at that day. Six years afterwards, according to the Major, a company composed of five individuals associated themselves together and built the packet sloop “Experiment,” for the purpose of “rendering the passage between N.Y. and Albany in water more expeditious convenient, and pleasant to ladies and gentlemen travelling north and south through teh State of New York, as well as to promote the interest of those concerned, (as expressed in the words of the agreement.) by building a packet of one hundred and ten tons burthen, for the purpose of carrying passengers only. The next year, 1807, the company was increased and another sloop was built, which performed the trip between Albany and New York in 27 hours - a remarkable trip in those days. This was the same year that Fulton made his successful trip by steam in 36 hours, and from thence steady progress was on its feet. The old North River Boat, (says the Times,) in her original construction, had a strange appearance. Her water-wheels were without any houses as at the present day; and had crossheads connected with the piston, instead of the walking beam now in general use. The countryman, when he first saw her from Hudson, told his wife he had seen the devil going to Albany in a saw mill. The experiment was at one time made to run houseboats on the River, but signally failed. Steamboats on the North River first performed their trips with wood. Lackawanna coal was afterwards introduced, by which the expense of fuel was reduced from $150 a trip to $30. This was the commencement of a new era in steamboating, hardly less in importance than the original application of steam to boats. - Ex. Paper. June 28, 1850. Albany Evening Journal.
March 27, 1852. Rockland County Journal. The Full Corn in the Ear. It is always a mournful task to record the departure of a friend, but the dispensation falls more heavily still, when the departed is one who has been identified through a long series of years, with the progressive prosperity and improvement of the community with which he stood connected. Then, the stroke hallows the memory of the object upon which it falls, and we treasure up the remembrances of good, and the mementoes of worth, with an affection and reverence which invests them with a degree of sacred solemnity. The subject of these remarks, Capt. John White, was born in this village, Nov. 26th, 1794, and was, at the time of his death, in his 58th year. He remembered the time when Rockland County was little else than a wilderness, and lived to see the wild lands transformed into fruitful fields, and thriving villages — his own enterprise contributing largely toward bringing about the prosperous state of things. He was, for thirty years, master of a vessel, from this place, three years of which was in the coasting trade, and was, consequently, the oldest captain in the place. He commanded successively the Rover, Confidence, Parthinia, Contractor, and Vallient. He received the contract for supplying the stone with which the Capitol at Albany is constructed, and delivered it all himself. In 1800 [sic], the steamboat Orange was built, at Gesner's dock in this village. This was the first steamboat that run between here and New York.— Capt. White commanded her for two years, when the boat changed hands.— Shortly afterwards, the steamboat Byron was built, at the instigation of the neighboring farmers, and placed under his charge. Subsequently, he became captain of the Orange again, which situation he held for some time. During the late war with Great Britain, the draught upon Rockland County embraced almost every able bodied man, and, among others, Capt. White was called into service. In consideration, however, of his being in the stone trade, which, on account of the construction of forts and fortifications, it was considered unwise to interfere with, he was not continued in active service, though required to hold himself in readiness. About ten years since he gave up the water and commenced business in the village. Being the oldest captain in the place, the colors of the different vessels lying here, and also those of the steamboat Armenia, were half-masted on the day of his death, as a token of respect. Few men were more widely known through our county than Capt. White, and few men have secured to themselves a larger measure of esteem. Kindly in his feelings, just in his dealings, and; warm in his sympathies, he won the friendship of all. The citizens of our village, particularly, will not forget his name, identified as it is with many of the improvements which served as the basis of our present prosperity. "After life's fitful fever he sleeps well." The wearied body has gone to its allotted rest, and the spirit to Him who was its light in darkness, and its Life in death. December 25, 1852. Gleason's Pictorial.
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AuthorThis collection was researched and catalogued by Hudson River Maritime Museum contributing scholars George A. Thompson and Carl Mayer. Archives
April 2024
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