26 Expedition to the * 



river of similar character, by night, as we have had occasion 

 in many instances to experience. 



On the morning of the 19th we arrived at Louisville, 

 having passed, in the night, the boats containing the sixth 

 regiment of infantry, then on their way to the Missouri. At 

 Louisville we stopped to procure a pilot to conduct our boat 

 over the rapids. Two or three pilots appointed pursuant to 

 an act of the legislature of Kentucky reside at Louisville, 

 always holding themselves in readiness to go on board such 

 boats as are about to descend the rapids, and leaving them 

 again at Shippingsport, for which service they are entitled to 

 receive two dollars for each ark or raft. 



At these rapids, called usually the falls of the Ohio, the 

 river descends about twenty-two feet, in a distance of less than 

 two miles. At times of high water an acceleration of cur- 

 rent, not usual in other parts of the river, is all that is per- 

 ceived in passing down this descent: at other times the water 

 is dashed and broken upon the rocky and uneven bed of the 

 channel, called the Indian chute, through which a great part 

 of the water passes. The magnificence of a cataract is how- 

 ever at no time displayed here, and it is only in peculiar 

 conditions of the atmosphere, that the noise of the fall can 

 be heard at the distance of one fourth of a mile from the 

 bank of the river. 



Large boats ascend the rapids at the time of the Spring 

 floods, by the aid of a cable made fast to a tree, or some 

 other object above, and taken in by the capstan. In 1821, 

 the Maysville, a steam boat of about two hundred tons, was 

 taken up, and had nearly reached the head of the rapid, when 

 the cable broke, and the boat swinging round, was thrown 

 against the rocks, in the bed of the river, and placed in such 

 a situation as to render hopeless all attempts to get her off 

 before the next annual rise of the water. Arks and small 

 barges descend, by the aid of skilful pilots, for great part of 

 the year. It is expected that the navigation of this danger- 



