A Rescue From Babb's Island

1805 Version
By Lucille T. Cox

BABB'S Island, in the Ohio river opposite Rock Springs park, always has held historic and legendary interest for district residents. First mention of it is made in Washington's diary of 1770.  Washington wrote that his party buried a barrel of biscuits on an island three miles below Little Beaver creek. 

During the Revolutionary war, the Sandusky Indians are claimed to have used the ford at the foot of the island on their way to attack Fort Dillow in Washington County.  History says that Col. John Morgan was heading for the ford to make his crossing into Virginia. There are many interesting stories told about the island.  One concerns the McKinnon Family that migrated from Wellsburg in 1790 to the Northwest Territory. Joseph McKinnon, a Revolutionary war soldier, settled in East Liverpool and lived for a time on the Ohio river shore.  His house stood at the present site of the cement block works on the River Road.

In December of 1805 the river had been frozen from shore to shore for nearly a week. One afternoon Joseph McKinnon, Jr., about 16, his 10 year old brother George, and 11 year old Peter Babb crossed to the Virginia side of the river to retrieve a boat jammed in the ice.  The weather had moderated and little pools of water were forming on top of the ice.  The boy's intent upon securing the boat, failed to heed the sign of an approaching breakup.

They found the boat firmly wedged and it required the entire afternoon to break it away. They were so busy they failed to notice the group of people gathered on the Ohio shore until Joseph McKinnon, the father, fired his gun. The boys looked across the river in surprise.  Mr. McKinnon cupped his hands over his lips and shouted a warning the boys were not able to understand. Peter Babb waved his hand in answer to show they were starting home. The boat was free and on the surface of the ice.They started back across the river carrying the boats, portage fashion. An ominous sound struck their ears. A snapping, cracking noise. They boys were midway between the island and the Virginia shore.They dropped their prize and started to run. Too well they knew the meaning of the noise. The ice was breaking up!  Above them, moving at a frightful speed, was a mass of ice-filled water.  The ice beneath their feet cracked and swayed.  Young George screamed as he sank into the water.  Joe grabbed his brother's arm and with Peter's help pulled him out.  They were near the island and the water was not more than three feet deep. Floundering and falling they dragged themselves ashore. George was thoroughly soaked and the other boys were wet to their waists. The breakup was rushing past.  There was no way for them to reach home as the river would be running full for many hours.  The wind was rising and the air seemed bitter cold to the youths.  It seemed inevitable that they would freeze before help could arrive. 

In the meantime on the shore Joseph McKinnon had, what seemed to his neighbors, an impossible idea.  On the end of the island was a large pile of drift wood.  But the boys had no way of building a fire.  The father turned to his wife, Margaret (Dillow) McKinnon. Margaret, get me a quill from your spinning wheel, fill it with powder and bring it here to me." The anxious mother ran into the house and followed her husband's instructions.  The former soldier took careful aim as he shot the quill from his gun.  It fell short of its mark.  Several times they tried the experiment but in the darkness of the early winter night the quill was lost.  Then one of the men made a rod to correspond with the bore of the gun.  In addition to it and the quill of powder, they tied a flaming strip of muslin. The quill, its passage lighted by the burning cloth, flew across the river and the boys were able to trace its flight. They obtained the powder and with the use of a jack knife and a bit of flint stone were able to start a fire in the debris.  The next morning the river was clear and John Babb crossed to the island andbrought the boys home safely, none the worse for their adventure.

There have been many owners of Babb's Island.  Prior to 1803, the state of Virginia claimed it and gave it the name of Custard's Island.  In 1803, Gov. John Page granted a patent to John Edie.  John Babb purchased it from Edie in April 1804, paying $192 for the land.  He retained it until October, 1820, when he sold it to Roger Hill.  The only name that really has clung to it throughout the years has been that of Babb's Island.  The island is, at the present time, the property of the Keystone division of the Dravo Corporation of Pittsburgh.

December 1, 1938  East Liverpool Review