NICHOLAS ROOSEVELT'S 1811 STEAMBOAT NEW ORLEANS
Extracts from more 1811-12 Newspapers

Western Sun, Vincennes, Indiana
30 Nov 1811
[copied from Cincinnati paper]
The Steam Boat

Lately built at Pittsburgh, passed this place on Wednesday the 23rd ult. Her appearance was very elegant and her sailing beyond anything we have ever witnessed. We understand that by observation of Judge Fearing, she was but fifteen minutes in passing from the foot of the island just above the town, to the head of the island, where she disappeared below, a distance of 3 or 3 1/2 miles -- so that she must have gone at the rate of 112 or 14 miles an hour!

"With pleasure we announce that the Steam Boat lately built at this place by Mr. Rosevelt, (from an experiment made on Tuesday last) fully answers the most sanguine expectations that were formed of her sailing.

She is 150 feet keel, 450 tons burthen, and built with the best materials and in the most substantial manner. Her cabin is elegant, and the accommodations for passengers not surpassed.

We are told that she is intended as a regular packet between Natchez and New-Orleans.
Cincin. pap.

*****

Western Sun, Vincennes, Indiana
21 Dec 1814

Earthquake -- Several shocks of an earthquake have been felt here this week -- Monday morning last (about 3 o'clock) there were three within a few minutes of each other -- another was felt about sun rise and several more that day -- more or less have been felt every day since. Much alarm has been excited[?], but no damage that we have heard of, except two or three chimneys that were cracked, and the roofs of several houses thrown off.

*****

Western Sun, Vincennes, Indiana
25 January 1812
From the New York Evening Post

All the world is busily talking about the Comet; all the newspapers are engaged with it, and all the astronomers are employed in gazing at it and committing their wonderful speculations to print, just to shew that they know very little about it. Some authors inform us it betokens great heat, others great cold, but almost all of them agree that it forebodes evil; excepting indeed one gentleman (an author whose talents are high extolled in one of our quarterly Reviews) who intimates that after the appearance of a certain Comet, it was observed that "ladies loved their lords" in a greater degree than usual; or to use the author's own words, mankind were more prolific.

[followed by a long historical account by Noah Webster ending with events in 1712 -- not copied here.]

*****

National Intelligencer, Washington, DC
2 November 1811

Beaver-Town Pa, Oct 21

The Steam Boat, lately built at Pittsburgh, passed this place about ten o'clock in the morning on its way down the river. The progression thro' the water was very rapid.

*****

National Intelligencer, Washington, DC
31 December 1811

More of the Earthquake
Columbia SC Dec 17

The inhabitants of the town were much alarmed, yesterday morning, by repeated shocks of earthquakes. The first took place about half after two; which shook the houses as if rocked by the waves of the sea; it was followed after the cessation of a minute by three slighter ones; and at 8 o'clock two others took place, and at 10 some slight ones. The South Carolina College appeared to rock from its foundation, and a part of the plaistering fell; which so alarmed the students that they left the college without their clothes. It appeared as if all the buildings would be levelled. The dogs barked, fowls made a racket, and numbers of inhabitants were running about with lights, not knowing where to go, so great was their alarm. During the shock, the air felt as if it were impregnated with steam, which lasted for some time after the first shock.
[remainder not copied here.]

*****

New York Gazette and General Advertiser
25 Sept 1811

Mr. Roosevelt, it is stated, is building a Steam Boat, to run on the Ohio and Mississippi, of upwards of 400 tons burthen; which it is supposed will traverse that stream against the current, at a rate of 35 miles a day, which will require six weeks to Navigate from New Orleans to Pittsburgh.

*****

New York Gazette and General Advertiser
8 Oct 1811

Letters from New Orleans of the 13th ult. mention, that the fever prevails at that place, and scarcely a stranger escapes the contagion.

*****

New York Gazette and General Advertiser
11 Oct 1811

The Comet
The theory of Comets has in modern times undergone an entire change. They are no longer considered as necessary means of supplying the sun with fuel to support the imaginary flames of his oil, or as the abodes in which the wicked are to receive the punishment due to their crimes.

. . . .

There have been several comets of superior brilliancy, but few of greater magnitude. if therefore its visit should be attended with none of the ill consequences which some may have apprehended, though without any reason, we may look upon ourselves as peculiarly favored with the sight of so magnificent an object.

-- A[?]m D. Adv.


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