FERRY SERVICE BETWEEN DETROIT AND WINDSOR.

BY FRIEND PALMER.*

Before the advent of Capt. John Burtis, with his horse boat, which he brought from Cleveland in 1825 or thereabouts, the traffic between the two points was carried on by small boats and scows, the former for the conveyance of passengers, the latter for teams and passengers as well.

William Baubie, of Windsor, recently deceased, was engaged in this business before Burtis came. He owned a scow and seven row-boats, and has often related to the writer his experience in the ferry marine.

Capt. Burtis' boat was called the Olive Branch, a scow-constructed craft propelled by horses. It resembled a "cheese-box on a raft," and Mr. Bolio, one of the old French residents, whose widow is still living in this city, was also engaged in the same business about that time, and with the same appliances. And now comes Capt. Ben Woodworth, of Woodworth's hotel, who has this advertisement in the Detroit Gazette of April 20, 1820:

The subscriber has obtained a license to keep a Ferry on the Detroit River, and calls on the public for patronage. He has provided an excellent Flat, and his Boats for passengers are superior to any that can be found on the River. Careful men have been engaged to attend the Ferry, and constant attention will be given, in order that passengers may suffer no delay. Persons wishing to contract for their ferriage by the year, will be accommodated at a low rate, and landed at any point within a reasonable distance of the landing-place on the opposite shore. Freight will be taken over at a low rate.

The Ferry is kept nearly in front of the Steam Boat Hotel.

B. WOODWORTH.

N. B.-Persons wishing to cross are desired to give notice at the Steam Boat Hotel.

Detroit, April 20, 1820.

Capt. Burtis' horse-boat was a side-wheeler. These wheels were made to revolve by two horses, which trod on a circular table, set flush with the deck in the center, and revolved upon rollers, which, being connected with the shaft, set the wheels in motion. The horses remained stationary on the deck, the table on which they trod revolving under them, and being furnished with ridges of wood, radiating like spokes from the center, and which the horses caught with their feet, thus setting the tables in motion.

*Friend Palmer was born in Canandaigua, New York, May 7, 1820, and came to Detroit May 7, 18 27 His father was of the firm of F. & T. Palmer, general merchants, Detroit. In the winter of 1842 he went to Buffalo to take service in the book store of W. B. & C. E. Peck of that city. They were also agents for the Pomeroy & Company's express (now American express), which was then just started, and in its swaddling clothes. For about two years he was the only clerk of the express, doing all the office business of the Eastern and Western express that has now grown to be such a Colossus. He resigned in 1845 or 1846, and returned to Detroit, and on the outbreak of the Mexican war entered the office of the United States Quartermaster. After the conclusion of the war he engaged in the stationery and blankbook business in Detroit, and continued this about 10 years. On the breaking out of the civil war he entered the service of the State as Assistant Quartermaster General. He was appointed Quartermaster General by Governor Crapo at the commencement of his second term, and continued in office until September, 1871, when he resigned. He settled the civil war claims of the state against the United States, and collected about $575,000. Since 1871 he has been in the real estate business with his cousin, Hon. T. W. Palmer, ex-United States Senator. November, 1851, he married a daughter of Judge B. F. H. Witherell, who died October 1, 1880.

The following advertisement in relation to the horse-boat ferry appeared in the Detroit Gazette in 1825:

"HORSE-BOAT FERRY."

The subscribers have recently built a large and comodious

HORSE-BOAT,

for the purpose of transporting across the Detroit river passengers, wagons, horses, cattle, etc., etc. The boat is so constructed that wagons and carriages can be driven on it with ease and safety. It will leave McKinstry's wharf (adjoining that of Dow & Jones) for the Canada shore, and will land passengers, etc., at the wharf lately built on that shore by McKinstry & Burtis. The ferry wharves are directly opposite. Mr. Burtis resides on the Canada shore and will pay every attention to those who may desire to cross the river.

D. C. M'KINSTRY-J. BURTIS.

The writer crossed the river on this boat many times in 1827 and afterward. The "horse-boat" continued on this route until 1833, when Capt. Burtis superseded her with the steamer Argo, which Capt. Jenkins, of Windsor, built for him in that year. This little steamer I have alluded to slightly in a former article. For the following, in regard to the ferry business, I am indebted to the late Capt. J. W. Hall, marine reporter at this port in 1878:

"In 1834 the Argo had a rival on the ferry route called the Lady of the Lakes. The status of the ferry business did not vary materially until 1836, when the United was brought forth. Mr. Jenkins got up this craft for Louis Davenport. The United was 71 tons burden, and continued on the ferry route until 1853. Subsequently she was converted into a lumber barge, and is still (1878) in commission. During her term of service as a ferry she had several masters. Those we at present call to mind were Capts. Davenport, W. Clinton, and J. B. Baker. In 1842 the Alliance began plying. After a few years her name was changed to the Undine, Capt. John Sloss. Tom Chilvers at different times commanded her. The Argo No. 2 came on the route in 1848. Not long afterward an explosion took place on board, killing Capt. Foster, her master, and others. After reconstruction she was for several years commanded by Capt. W. C. Clinton, father of the present Capt. W. R. Clinton, and afterwards by Capt. James Forbes until 1872, when she was taken from the route. In 1852 Dr. Russell built and placed on the route the Ottawa, commanded by Capt. W. R. Clinton, and subsequently by Capt. A. H. Mills. The steamer Gem, built for W. P. Campbell, came out in 1856, and was first commanded by Capt. J. B. Goodsell, and afterwards by Capt. Tom Chilvers, the latter having had for a short time on the route the Mohawk, formerly a British naval steamer. The Windsor was also built in 1856 by Dr. Russell. She was commanded by Capt. W. R. Clinton. After a short period of service she was chartered to the Detroit & Milwaukee railway, and was burned at their dock in March, 1866, with the loss of several lives. Subsequently she was rebuilt, converted into a barge and is now (1878) in commission on Lake Michigan. The Essex, built by Messrs. Jenkins, came out in 1859, and began ferrying. She was commanded by Capt. George Jenkins. After running for some years she was laid up for a time and again took the route, plying more or less of the past (1878) season. The steamer Olive Branch for a time also served as a ferry during the period of 1859. She was owned by W. P. Campbell. The Detroit, built at Algonac for Mr. Campbell by Zadock Pangburn, came on in 1864, and, with others above referred to, continued plying until 1875, when she was retired. The Hope was built in 1870 for George N. Brady and Capt. W. R. Clinton, the latter taking charge of her. The present (1878) fleet of ferry setamers consists of the Victoria, built in 1872, Capt. W. R. Clinton; the Fortune, built in 1875, Capt. Walter E. Campbell; and the

Excelsior, built in 1876, Capt. W. L. Horn. The last named steamers, in point of superiority in their get-up and accommodations, are unsurpassed anywhere in the world. And what adds to this is that their officers are obliging and gentlemanly in their deportment, and spare no pains in caring for all who travel over this important thoroughfare."

This statement was made 24 years ago, and the great advance the ferry company has made since that time all are quite familiar with.

Another pleasing feature about this ferry business is the liberality of the company in allowing the public to enjoy in season the luxury of riding on their boats from morning until evening for ten cents each person; children in baby carriages and arms free. Just think of it! Nowhere else in the world can this be duplicated, nor the routes either, for that matter. In the early days no such luxury was dreamed of. It was available to a limited extent, but no one ever thought of taking advantage of it.

Although I have copied freely from Mr. Hall's article, I was quite familiar with all the ferry boats, etc., that he mentions. The ferry dock during the time of the Davenports and a little earlier was at the foot of Griswold street. The steamboats Argo, 2nd, and United ran every fifteen minutes or so into a slip on which the Davenports, Lewis and his brother, built a commodious structure for a waiting room, saloon, and restaurant. The saloon and restaurant were run by John Edwards, whom many, no doubt, will remember as an exceedingly jolly and pleasant Englishman. This waiting room, saloon, and restaurant were built over the water on piles.

CAPT. BURTIS AND HIS STEAMBOAT ARGO.

I have barely mentioned this mite of a steamboat and her jovial captain in a former article, but think both boat and captain deserve a more extended notice, as it was this city's first attempt in steamboat building.

The Argo was built in this city at the foot of Wayne street. The captain was a pioneer in the ferry business between Detroit and Windsor, he having, as before mentioned, commanded the horse ferry-boat that plied between the two cities. His ambition in the navigation business was not satisfied, so he essayed the steamer Argo (this was in 1833). She was fashioned out of two immense trees, or logs, hollowed out like canoes, and the two were joined together, fore and aft, but were spread apart and decked over with side wheels. Shadrick Jenkins, father of the Jenkins brothers, Windsor ship builders, was the builder also of several vessels respectively at Detroit, May (this side of Walkerville), and Malden. It seems to me that I was on hand almost daily when the building of this boat was in progress, such an interest I took in it.

The boat was finally completed and launched, sideways, into the slip near by. She was a success in a small way, as far as steam propulsion was concerned; but was very "cranky." The Free Press published in 1879 (the exact date I do not remember) an article I wrote in relation to Capt. Burtis and his steamboat, which I think will bear reproduction here:

INTERESTING RETROSPECT.

"Rambling about the city a few days ago, I found myself in the City cemetery on Russell street, corner of Gratiot avenue, and it occurred to me that as the order had gone forth for the removal of the bodies still remaining buried there, I might idle away an hour or so scanning the few remaining tombstones, and that perhaps I might remember something in relation to them that would be of interest to the living.

"Many of our old residents will remember Capt. Burtis. His grave is so near Russell street that the passerby can or could read his name on the tombstone; doubt

less many have done so, when it stood erect, and perhaps have wondered who this person was that once owned the high-sounding title of "Captain." Quite recently some miserable vandal broke the stone in twain. The captain had the gift of forcible language to a remarkable degree, and I can imagine him standing beside his own grave, in the flesh, giving vent to his feelings against the perpetrators of the useless act, in some of his choicest English. He died in 1836, at the age of 45, so the stone records, and though comparatively young, he had lived long enough to accomplish some few things to help along the growth of this great city and state. He was the first to establish a decent ferry between this city and Windsor. Many will remember his boat that looked something like 'Erickson's cheese box on a raft,' propelled by horsepower. It was a wonder to all the natives as well as a great convenience to the inhabitants on both sides of the river. He continued this for a while until he superseded it by something new and better, viz.: the steamer Argo, the first steamboat built in Michigan. After serving as a ferry boat for a short time, it became the pioneer of steam river navigation between Detroit, Port Huron, Fort Gratiot, St. Clair, etc.

"I well remember the building of this diminutive steamer and the captain's overseeing the same. It was built almost in front of the hardware house of Buhl, Ducharme & Co., on Woodbridge street. The hull was composed of two immense logs, hollowed out and joined together, making a huge canoe, as it were, and when sufficiently completed to receive her miniature engine, she was helped into the river on rollers. Her trips to Port Huron and other places were trips to be remembered. I ventured on three of them to St. Clair and return and the incidents connected therewith are as fresh in my memory as though they had happened yesetrday. She was awfully 'cranky,' this little Argo, and it required considerable vigilance on the part of her captain to keep his passengers from 'shooting' around and tipping her over. One occasion I remember well. On one of the trips I mention, the late Thomas Palmer was with us, and he, being of goodly proportions, it behooved Burtis, who was at the helm, to keep his eye on him. Every once in awhile he would sing out, 'For God's sake, Uncle Tom, keep in the middle of the boat, or you will have us over,' or 'Trim ship, Uncle Tom,' or 'Look out, Uncle Tom,' until 'Trim ship, Uncle Tom,' came to be a by-word during the excursion. This little Argo soon passed away and was superseded by another and larger steamer of the same name, but not another 'Burtis.' The jovial and genial captain fell a victim to cholera, I think."

RELEASED BY MAN POWER.

Another funny incident occurred on one of these trips that I have hitherto failed to record. My uncle had imported from the then lumbering state of Maine, an experienced hand, or expert, in the lumber business, for service in his water saw mill, located some miles up Pine river, in St. Clair county. Well, this chap was with us on one of these excursions. Everything went along all right until, steaming quietly and serenely close to the shore, between Algonac and Newport (now Marine City), the Argo suddenly ran her nose into a dense bunch of alder bushes on the river bank, and stuck there hard aground. The utmost power of the diminutive engine was unable to extricate the boat. My uncle suggested to Capt. Burtis that perhaps his man from Maine might do the thing, as he was over six feet tall and quite lanky. Well, the chap was quite willing, and, cautiously letting himself into the water, at the bow of the steamer, where the water was about up to his waist, he, without much effort, released the Argo from her plight. Then the question arose, how was the man from Maine to get aboard again without tipping us over. He was bound to do it, if he tried it where he was at the bow, so the captain told him he must try getting aboard over the stern. The water there was up to his arm-pits,

but he managed to crawl aboard over the stern, with the help of those on board, and we proceeded on our way rejoicing.

UNCLE TOM'S MISHAP.

Here is another incident in connection with the Argo and Uncle Thomas Palmer. On one of these trips the latter found it necessary to go aft. To accomplish this it was necessary to climb over the paddle-box, and as he was executing this feat he broke through and caught his foot in a bucket of the paddle-wheel. It was a test of strength between himself and the engine. The engine gave up. Palmer extricated his foot and the Argo proceeded on her way.

It's a long way from the little Argo to the steamers Promise and Tashmoo, and from these to what- ?