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HISTORY OF ERIE COUNTY 155
of people from this and adjacent toAvns. A salute of thirteen guns was
fired from her after she had safely descended to her destined element.
During the year 1824 the channel across the flats into the bay was
staked, the Avater in the channel ranging in depth from seven to nine
feet. Since that time the channel has been changed aha improved,
making the depth in the loAvest place eleven feet. On Sunday night,
June 6th, during this year, Sanduskv Avas visited by one of the most
tremendous thunderstorms ever Avitnessed. The flashes of lightning
AA'ere so vivid as almost to deprive one of sight; so rapid in succession
as to keep the whole heavens in a seeming blaze, and attended with the
most terrific electric explosions, while the drenching rain descended
in absolute torrents'. In noticing the above we feel inclined to give place
to another, occurring soon after, though of less importance, yet its devastating
effects will probably illustrate the times of which we write as
much as anything we can adduce, and we know of only one circumstance
in the history of disasters to which it may be comparable, and that is a
collision and Avreck on the "raging canal." As the staunch upper deck
cabin horseboat Pegasus, Captain Tyler, commander, Avas on the way
to this city from LOAVCI- Sandusky (Fremont) a violent thunderstorm
arose, increasing in its fury, throAving down one of the horses and thereby
rendering the boat unmanageable, leaving the passengers and creAV
to the mercy of the wind and waves. The boat being.disabled in consequence
of losing her motive poAver, Avas driven ashore and dashed upon
the beach, but by this fearful catastrophe, we are happy to state, no lives
Avere lost.
During this year 1824 Sandusky Avas incorporated.
Former difficulties existing betAveen the inhabitants and original
proprietors being in a measure removed, the place commenced to thrive
and settle faster than at any former period. The stage making her
regular weekly trips 1o Cincinnati by way of Columbus, and the trilnontbly
visits of the steamboat Superior, together with the shipbuilding,
domestic trade and business of the place, produced a stir and activity
interesting in those; times.
Because Sandusky did not get the state canal, the project of a railroad
to connect with the canal from Dayton to Cincinnati Avas suggested.
As a matter of history which may be interesting to the present citizens
of Sandusky Ave have been favored Avith and here iasert the folloAving
authentic statement by a Avorthy citizen, of the names and first actiA'e
movers in this enterprise, which has for many years exerted a poAverful
and marked influence upon the prosperity of the city and but for which
she could never have made headway against the implacable and perpetual
hostility of her neighbors:
"AV. D. Root, Esq.—Dear Sir: According to request, I cheerfully
present my recollections of the first Rail Road movements in Northern
Ohio. Shortly after the final location of the Ohio Canals—by which the
Central Route Avas defrauded of its claim—as the cheapest, nearest and
most natural line: and certainly as early as 1826, the Hon. E. Cooke
devised and suggested the project, of a Rail Road from Sandusky to