The scene presented when the boat was ascending the Niagara from Black Rock was picturesque.  The primitive steamboat struggled with the rapid current, aided by several yoke of oxen on the beach, tugging at the end of a long towline.  This was the historical "horn breeze" prevalent on Niagara river, when the current was stronger than the applied steam power.

According to Captain Barton Atkins, of Buffalo, the origin of the name was as follows: "When Fulton first steamed his boat, the Clermont, up the Hudson, in 1807, an Indian standing on the river bank, gazing long and silently at the boat moving up stream without sails, finally exclaimed: ‘Walks in the water.'

The man in the forest saw the boat stemming the current unaided by any power known to him.  He observed the paddle wheels slowly revolving, and intuitively comprehended that when a paddle struck the water there was a step forward."

It may be here stated briefly that the name, "Walk-in-the-Water," being so long, was not generally used, either in conversation or in print.  As she was the only one of her class on Lake Erie she was usually designated as "The Steamboat."

The arrival of the steamboat at Cleveland is thus chronicled by a local historian:

"On the first day of September, 1818, an entire novelty – the like of which not one in 500 of the inhabitants had ever before seen – presented itself before the people of Cuyahoga county.

On the day named, the residents along the lake shore of Euclid, saw upon the lake a curious kind of a vessel, making what was then considered very rapid progress westward, without the aid of sails; while from a pipe near its middle rolled forth a dark cloud of smoke, which trailed its gloomy length far into the rear of the swift-gliding mysterious traveler over the deep.

They watched its westward course until it turned its prow toward the harbor of Cleveland, and then returned to their labors.  Many of them doubtless knew what it was, but some shook their heads in sad surmise as to whether some evil powers were not at work in producing such a strange phenomenon as that, on the bosom of their beloved Lake Erie.

Meanwhile the citizens of Cleveland perceived the approaching monster, and hastened to the lake shore to examine it.  ‘What is it?'  ‘What is it?'  ‘Where did it come from?'  ‘What makes it go?' queried one and another of the excited throng.

‘It's the steamboat, that's what it is,' cried others in reply." ‘Yes, yes, it's the steamboat; it's the steamboat,' was the general shout, and with ringing cheers the people welcomed the first vessel propelled by steam which had ever traversed the waters of Lake Erie.

The keel had been laid at Black Rock, near Buffalo, in November, 1817, and the vessel had been built during the spring and summer of 1818.

It had received the name of ‘Walk-in-the-Water,' from a Wyandot chieftain, who was formerly known by that appellation; which was also extremely appropriate as applied to a vessel which did indeed walk in the water like a thing of life.

The harbinger of the numerous steam-leviathans of the upper lakes, and of the immense commerce carried on by them, was of 300 tons burden, and could carry one-hundred cabin passengers, and a still larger number in the steerage.

Its best speed was from eight to ten miles an hour, and even this was considered something wonderful.  All Cleveland swarmed on board to examine the new craft, and many of the leading citizens took passage in it to Detroit, for which place it soon set forth."

In the Detroit Gazette is found an account of her first passage to that city:

"The Walk-in-the-Water left Buffalo at one and a half P.M., and arrived at Dunkirk 35 minutes past six on the same day.  On the following morning she arrived at Erie, with Captain Fish having reduced her steam in order not to pass that place, where he took in a supply of wood."

The boat was visited by all the inhabitants during the day, and had the misfortune to get aground for a short time in the bay, a little west of French street.

At half-past seven P.M. she left Erie, and arrived at Cleveland at eleven o'clock, Tuesday; at twenty minutes past six P.M. sailed, and reached Sandusky Bay at one o'clock on  Wednesday; lay at anchor during the night, and then proceeded to Venice for wood; left Venice at three P.M. and arrived at the mouth of Detroit river, where she anchored during the night.

The whole time of this first voyage from Buffalo to Detroit occupied 44 hours and 10 minutes, with the wind ahead during the whole passage.  Not the slightest accident happened during the voyage, and her machinery worked admirably.

Nothing could exceed the surprise of the ‘sons of the forest' on seeing the Walk-in-the-Water move majestically and rapidly against wind and current, without sails or oars.  Above Malden they lined the shores and expressed their astonishment by repeated shouts of ‘Taiyoh nichee'! [An exclamation of surprise.]

A report that had circulated among them that a ‘big canoe' would soon come from the ‘noisy waters,' which, by order of the ‘great father of the Chemo Komods' [Long Knives or Yankees] would be drawn through the lakes and rivers by a sturgeon. Of the truth of the report they were perfectly satisfied."

Her second arrival at Detroit was on September 7, of the same year;

The cabins of the "Walk-in-the-Water" were fitted up in a neat, convenient, and elegant style, and a trip to Buffalo was considered not only tolerable, but truly pleasant.  She made an excursion from Detroit to Lake St. Clair, with a party of 31 passengers, including the Earl of Selkirk who was traveling to the far Northwest.  The vessel returned to Buffalo in enough time to make another trip back to Detroit the following week

Tradition has it that Captain Fish was not particularly pleased with the lake, and returned in a short time to his former command on the Hudson, aboard the "Firefly", running between Poughkeepsie and New York.

Captain John Davis being a thorough and accomplished seaman (which Captain Fish did not profess to be) amused himself by exciting his fears and magnifying the dangers of lake navigation.  Captain Davis had been master of the schooner, "Michigan"; before taking command of the "Walk-in-the-Water" after Captain Fish resigned.

Another reference, relating the history of the steamboat, "Walk-In-The-Water":

The vessel "Walk-In-The-Water" was the first to traverse the waters of Lake Erie, by using steam.  She could travel an amazing three miles per hour, within in sight of the shoreline, her smoke stack chugging out smoke from the wood used to heat the boiler.  About 200 cords of wood was need for one round-trip across the lake.  It took 8-15 hands (shipmates) to man her.

The price per person for passage to Detroit, from Black Rock, New York, was $8.00 for cabin fare, and $3.00 for steerage. Cabin passage included meals and all privileges of the boat.  Steerage & Deck passage required that passengers to bring their own provisions, or pay for their meals, at a second table in the Dining Hall.

The cheaper fares allowed passengers to sleep on deck, or occupy a small forward cabin filled with berths from top to bottom.  Many poor, but respectable, families migrating to the west opted for Deck Passage over the extravagant cost of Cabin Passage.

 The ship, Walk-In-The-Water continued to make regular trips to Detroit and back to New York until she was blown on the rocks and broke apart by a westerly gale on October 31, 1821, at Pointe Abino, Ontario.

Her steam engine was salvaged from her beached hull and used in a new ship called the "Superior", which had been build the same year. The engine powered it's new ship until 1834 when the ship was laid aside. It was then put into another vessel, putting in an impressive 17 years of continued service to the navigation on Lake Erie.