Joe Metcalf (Scow), 26 Apr 1862

Buffalo vs. Erie - In the small village of Bisonville located somewhere near the foot of Lake Erie, they do things by halves. As an illustration of this fact we may refer to the jug handle factory which they undetook to
establish there a year or 2 since, besides sundry other mammoth enterprises which have from time to time agitated that community. Among the late exciting wonders of the place is the launch of Charley Ensign's new
propeller, which took place a few days since. The Commercial in noticing the event says:
      "It was a side launch, and she slid down the ways as steadily as a pledge off a temperance lecturer's tongue, although a terrible noise like the giving way of all her timbers sounded from beneath. The going down was full of glorious excitement, heightened by the fog-dimmed spectacle of crowded tugs and popuios docks and decks around; but the plunge that ensued was more sensative . Leaning over her side as she took the water and careened, one could see a huge wave, cast from her beam, leap 30 ft. into the air, and rolling swiftly to the opposite side of the creek, dash its spray in the faces of the people who thronged the docks. As she righted and heaved to and fro, the tug whistles sounded, and the crowd around and the few on board cheered in congratulations."
      We had a launch from the ship yard on the canal basin a few days ago, and in point of grandeur and excitement we think it exceeds the propeller launch in Buffalo. It was the shoving off of Hearn & Scott's new scow, the JOE METCALF. She slid off the ways as nicely as a drink goes down a toper's throat, and floated on the water as soon as she struck. Her smooth passage down may be attributed to a barrel of Seneca oil which stood upon the dock. The going down was attended by the usual excitement among not less than a half dozen people, who stood by with their clothes on , watching the scene; and when the plunge was made, a wave at least 10 inches high, was thrown across the basin , and returning rolled up against the gate of the outlet lock causing such a vibration of a balance beam as to carry a man who was leaning against it into a beer saloon near by. As she righted on the water the entire crowd adjourned to the saloon. It may be well to add that, the
plank and timbers of which the scow is built, are held together by means of spikes and bolts, and that her spars were grown in the forest not far from here and brought to town by horse power.
      The Erie City Dispatch
      April 26, 1862