Winter in the West

Hoffman, Charles F.

ISBN 10: 040300215X ISBN 13: 9780403002153

Publisher: Scholarly Pr, 1970

Synopsis

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1835. Excerpt: ... 100 SCENE OF CONFUSION. LETTER X. Detroit, Michigan, November 25. /? 33 I Had just left the reading-room of the Franklin Hotel, in Cleaveland, and was making myself at home for the rest of the evening in my own neat chamber, when the sound of a steam-boat bell, about nine o'clock, gave note that one of these vessels, which at this stormy season cannot navigate the lake with any regularity, had touched at Cleaveland on her way to this place. No time was to be lost; and huddling my clothes, &c. into my trunk as quickly as possible, I jumped into a vehicle waiting at the tavern-door, and in a few minutes was upon the quay. Here I witnessed a scene of indescribable confusion. The night was dark and somewhat gusty; and the boat and the wharf were both crowded with boxes, bales, and the effects of emigrants, who were screaming to each other in half as many languages as were spoken at Babel. Lanterns were flashing to and fro along the docks, and hoarse orders and countermands mingled with the harsh hissing of the NEW-YORK STEAM-BOAT. 101 steam on every side. At length we pushed from the shore, and escaping in a moment from the head of the mole, stood fairly out into the lake; while the bright beacon of the Cleaveland lighthouse soon waned in the distance, and was at last lost entirely. I found myself, upon looking around, on board of the fine steam-boat "New-York," Captain Fisher, to whose politeness I was much indebted for showing me about the boat before turning in for the night. Taking a lantern in his hand, and tucking my arm under his, he groped about among his motley ship's company like Diogenes looking for an honest man. Our course first led us through a group of emigrants collected around a stove midships, where an English mother nursing her infant, a ch...

Edition details

• Publisher: Scholarly Pr
• Publication date: 1970
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 040300215X
• ISBN 13: 9780403002153
• Binding: Library Binding