Newspapers: Indiana Progress (April 15, 1875), Indiana Co., PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Betty Smith, mailto:csmith655@comcast.net . USGENWEB NOTICE: Printing of this file by non-commercial libraries and individuals is encouraged, as long as all notices and submitter information is included. Any other use, including copying files to other sites requires permission from the submitters PRIOR to uploading to any other sites. We encourage links to state and county tables of contents. Indiana Progress April 15, 1875 A Boat Excursion from Indiana to Pittsburgh A few months ago three or four of our young men conceived the idea of going to Pittsburgh from this place on water and forthwith a club was organized and a boat, six by twenty feet, built and the party prepared to start on their voyage on Monday morning, 5th Inst. One of the party furnishes the following account: "We left the depot in Indiana on Monday morning, 5th inst., at 6:40, and through the kind services of Mr. David Lucas and his crew, the boat was taken to Twolick station, the place of embarkment, without the least delay or the slightest accident. At Twolick station, Mr. Harry Kinport joined the party, and several gentlemen connected with the mills at that place, very kindly assisted in launching and loading the craft. At 7:20 a.m. the captain gave orders to pull in the gang plank, and we immediately glided out into the middle of the stream, with the following persons on board: Harry Kinport, "Dal" Patrick, James Trimble, Armor Mullen, Theo. Coleman, John W. Sutton, Ed. Row, Chas. M. St. Clair, Steele Hartman, Griff W. Ellis, Pearl Michael, Wm. Zeigler, and James R. Daugherty, Jr. The current being very swift in Twolick creek we had but little occasion to use our oars, and consequently had an opportunity to see all the sights along its shores. One traveling along the shore of a stream can form but a very minute idea of the grandeur of the scenery that surrounds him. We all all join in saying that the scenery along the Twolick and Blacklick creeks far surpasses that of any of the other streams through which we passed. We soon floated into Blacklick creek, and at 10 o'clock tied up at Blacklick station to send news of our safe arrival at this point to our anxious parents and friends in Indiana. News of our arrival soon spread through the village, and quite a number of persons came to the landing to see us leave that port. We dipped our oars at 10:00 a.m. and amid the cheers from the crowd on the shore, once more rowed for the middle of the stream. Arriving at Weir's dam, we tied up, and captain and pilot went ashore and examined the dam. When they returned, orders were given to carry the provisions and blankets below. This done, the captain, pilot, first mate and several others boarded the craft and floated over the dam safely. The boat was anchored about one hundred yards below the dam and the provisions and timid persons taken on board. We amused ourselves trying to shoot wild duck, with revolvers, and naming different points of interest from Weir's dam until we arrived at Campbell's dam, the highest and most dangerous on the route. Here it was thought advisable to take everything moveable off the boat, and but two persons go over the dam in it. Mr. "Dal" Patrick and Mr. James Trinble, two experienced river pilots were selected. The same scene that transpired at Weir's dam was repeated here. "At a point opposite Smith's station, Mr. Armor Mullen and Mr. "Dal" Patrick abandoned the craft, business demanding their presence at Twolick station during the afternoon. The parting scene was very imposing, several of the most tender-hearted giving vent to their feelings in tears. But such is life. No doubt the reader has been present at some such parting scene and knows all about it. "We floated along about two miles after the departure of our friends, when preparations were made for dinner, which was served up in elegant style, considering the circumstances, by the chief cook, Theo. Coleman, and his assistant, Chas. St. Clair, who understood the preparation of the necessaries of life about as well as some of those who practice this calling in life daily. The crew was so well pleased with the first meal on board that it was decided to take all our meals in this manner. The next place we landed was at a sugar camp, where we purchased a half gallon of maple syrup. Nothing worthy of note occurred until we reached Saltsburgh, at 5:30. The citizens here proposed to us that we carry the boat around the dam, but Mr. Kinport concluded, after examining the dam, the he could go over it without any trouble, which he did, much to the surprise of quite a number of villagers who had gathered on the bank to see the boat wrecked, and a half dozen men drowned. As the boat neared the breast of the dam, one man on shore offered to bet five dollars that it would be a wreck, and now three or four of the boys are mad because they did not take him up. "It was the intention of the captain to remain here during the night, but after consultation with three or four of the crew who wanted to get home Wednesday evening, if possible, he concluded to try to make Apollo - 13 miles - that night. Telegrams and letters were sent from here to Indiana; the crew were gathered together, and we left that port at 6:00 p.m. We ate our supper immediately after leaving Saltsburgh and had the dishes washed and put away before dark. We did not travel more than three miles before it began to get dark, and it grew darker and darker until we could scarcely see ten feet around us. We could see light from dwellings along the shore and would call the dweller to the door and ask if there was any danger ahead and were told that we would have to go through some rather fearful rapids. On hearing this some of the crew became rather nervous and were not so merry as they were before the reception of this news. For some time before we reached the rapids we could here the water roar as it rushed over the rocks, resembling the sound on approaching the falls of the great Niagara. When we entered the rapids the boat began to rock fearfully and the water to splash in over the sides and the crew concluded to call it Kiskiminetas Falls or Midnight Rapids. We all joined in singing several old familiar hymns, and passed over the rapids safely. Some of the boys attributed our safe passage over the falls to the knowledge of navigation possessed by our pilot, and others to Divine Providence. We arrived at Apollo at 9:30; put up here for the night, and sailed at 6:30 Tuesday morning. Nothing of importance occurred between this place and Pittsburgh. We stopped at Freeport and took on two passengers and left immediately. We arrived at Pittsburgh at 5:30. Left our boat there for sale. We traveled around through the city to see the sights by gaslight, three of our party losing their way and getting out as far as Soho. We left Pittsburgh at 4:10 and arrived in Indiana at 8:20, without the loss of a single passenger. "The trip was an enjoyable one and everything passed off pleasantly. We hope to soon repeat it." The members of the Indiana Boat Club desire to return thanks to Mr. David Lucas and his crew for their valuable assistance.