“Alarm on the Ohio”
Date
12-20-1811
Newspaper
Farmer’s Repository
Page and Column
Page 3, Column 2
Newspaper Location
Charlestown, West Virginia
Serial Number
1224
Abstract
Account of the alarm that the steam boat New Orleans caused during her passage down the Ohio river.
Transcript
George-Town, (Ken.) Nov. 13. ALARM ON THE OHIO. A few nights ago, the inhabitants on the coast of the Ohio, both above and below the Falls were alarmed by a confused lumbering noise descending the river, resembling the roar of a rushing torrent. Those living on the bottom, supposed that the river had been raised by a sudden swell, abandoned their dwellings, and fled to the hills; expecting the morning sun, would rise up on the wreck of their earthly all. As the noise approached; it became more terrific, somewhat similar to the deep peals of distant thunder. But the sublimest part of the scene was yet to come. Of a sudden the river seemed to blaze. Some phenomenon, which vomited fire and smoke with tremendous noise, darted along the surface of the stream with the rapidity of a meteor. The apprehension of damage to their property was now lost in a more important concern. They imagined the end of the world was at hand; for they saw the triumph of that element which is to consume all things most powerfully displayed, when it was able to vanquish natural antipathies, and literally to "set a river on fire."-These good people were not a little relieved next morning, on hearing that the cause of all their consternation and dismay, was no other than a STEAM BOAT, on its way down the river. A mountain labored, and a mouse was born.
Recommended Citation
"“Alarm on the Ohio”" (1811). New Madrid Compendium Far-Field Database. 1177.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/cas-ceri-new-madrid-compendium/1177
