TOWN OF BATH. 



163 



own pack-horse, and set out on foot for the far West, leaving 

 the heaviest part of my goods and chattels to be forwarded 

 at the first opportunity. I made good headway the first 

 day, but I had put on too much steam and became foot- 

 sore. I stopped for the night at the house of a wealthy 

 German farmer, who had a large family of children, males 

 and females, most of them grown up. Mine host and his 

 good-looking ym?/ could not speak a word of English. He 

 was very inquisitive, but he might as well have talked Hin- 

 doo to me as German, as I could answer them only in their 

 own way by a kind of grunt and shake of the head, which 

 meant ' I can't understand.' So' he called his son Jacob 

 (who had been at an English school) to act as interpreter. 

 He told his son to ask me whence I came, and whether or 

 not I was '^i forjioughtei' Irishman (that is, in plain English, 



a d d Irishman). Thinks I, this is a poser, and I 



answered judiciously, and I think correctly, under all the 

 circumstances. I told him I was a Scotchman, as in Ire- 

 land all Protestants go by the name of Scotch or English, 

 as the case may be. My Dutch landsman appeared to be 

 satisfied, and we had a very social chat that evening to a 

 late hour. The fimiily were all collected, young and old, 

 to hear of the manners and customs of the Scotch. They 

 seemed to take a great liking to me, and it was well for me 

 that I had become quite a favorite, for my I'eet were so 

 blistered with traveling that I could not move. I remained 

 several days till I got over my lameness. When I called 

 for my bill I was told that all was free, and was invited to 

 remain a few days longer. I set out on my journey re- 

 freshed and encouraged by the hospitality and kindness of 

 that amiable Dutch family. 



" In three days thereafter I reached Chambersburg, 

 which is one hundred miles west of Baltimore. I re- 

 mained there until the spring following, when I discovered 

 in the newspapers an advertisement, signed by Charles Wil- 

 liamson, offering steady employment and high wages to 

 mechanics and laborers who would agree to go with him 

 to the Genesee country. Thinks I, ' This is a good chance, 

 and I will embrace it.' I set out immediately for North- 

 umberland, the headquarters of Mr. Williamson On my 

 arrival there I was told that Capt. W. had started, with 

 a numerous company of pioneers, to open a road through 

 the wilderness to his place of destination, — one hundred 

 and forty miles.* 



" I had some relations and other particular friends and 

 acquaintances in that country. An uncle of mine, by the 

 name of Moore, who came with his family from Ireland in 

 the year 1790, had settled near the village of Northumber- 

 land. I made Uncle Moore's my home until I heard of 

 Capt. Williamson's arrival at Bath, when I again made my 

 preparations to set out for the land of promise, accompa- 

 nied by my Uncle Moore, — a man who had never traveled 

 more than twenty miles from his old homestead in all his 

 life, excepting on his voyage to America. I told him that 

 if his object in coming to this country was to purchase 

 land for himself and his sons, he ought, without delay, to 

 go to the Genesee country, where he could purchase first- 

 rate land for one dollar per acre. This was all true, though 



* See account of this road in another chapter. 



I was somewhat selfish in making the proposition, as I did 

 not like to travel alone through the wilderness, liable to be 

 devoured by panthers, bears, and wolves ; so I eventually 

 persuaded the old gentleman to accompany me. The old 

 lady. Aunt Moore, packed up provisions enough for at least 

 a four weeks' journey. 



" We mounted a pair of good horses and set out. We 

 had only traveled twenty miles when we came to a large 

 rapid stream or creek, which, from late heavy rains, was 

 bank full. Uncle Moore concluded to retrace his steps 

 homeward. I told him I could not agree to that. ' Why, 

 we will be laughed at.' 



" ' Well,' said he, ' they may laugh if they please.' And 

 would go no fartlier. 



" ' Very well,' said I, ' if that is your determination, I 

 will remain here until the water falls ; but I see a house 

 close by and a large canoe (the first I had ever seen). Let 

 us go and inquire whether it would be safe to swim our 

 horses alonii-side of it.' 



a 



" We were told there was no danger, and two men ven- 

 tured to set us over. Uncle Moore proposed that I should 

 go over first with my horse, and if I made a safe voyage to 

 send back for him. We landed in safety, I got the old 

 gentleman just where I wanted him. He must now go 

 ahead, as his retreat was now cut off". In the mean time I 

 had learned that there w^ere two other large streams ahead 

 of us, the first called the Loyal Sock, within twelve miles, 

 and the Lycoming, eight miles beyond. There was no in- 

 habitant near. What was to be done ? I told Uncle 

 Moore we must do one of two things, either swim our 

 horses across or camp on the bank till the river falls ; but 

 I thought there was no danger in swimming, as it was a 

 deep stream and not rapid. I proposed to go over first, and 

 if I arrived safely he must follow, if he thought proper. 

 I gave him directions to hold his horse quartering up the 

 stream, and seize with his right hand the horse's mane ; not 

 look down in the water, but straight across to some object 

 on the other side. I passed over without difficulty. The 

 old gentleman hesitated for some time. At length he 

 plunged in, and crossed with ease. We soon after arrived 

 at the bank of the Lycoming Creek. That stream was 

 high and outrageously rapid. We concluded to wait till 

 it became fordable. We stopped at the house of one 

 Thompson, remained there several days, overhauled our 

 clothing and provisions, and made another fresh start, and 

 entered the wilderness on Capt. Williamson's new road. 

 There were no houses between Lycoming and Painted Post, 

 a distance of ninety-five miles, except one in the wilderness, 

 kept by a semi-barbarian, or, in other words, a half-civilized 

 Frenchman, named Anthony Sun. He did not bear a very 

 good character, but we were obliged to put up with him for 

 the night or encamp in the woods. The next night we 

 slept soundly on a bed of hemlock on the bank of the Tioga 

 River. Next day, about twelve o'clock, we arrived at Ful- 

 ler's tavern. Painted Post. We ordered dinner of the very 

 best they could aff'ord, which consisted of fried venison and 

 hominy. After dinner we concluded to spend the afternoon 

 in visiting the few inhabitants of the neighborhood. First 

 we called upon Judge Knox, who entertained us with a de- 

 scription of the country and his owp adventures. We next 



