Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-07-20
Early Sfeamhoating on The


The following, although little personal
will be found interesting to many OF our
readers:
.sTn the year 1881 number Of citizens
IF Putnam and Westchester counties, bav-
ing for years been forced to pay an e *
+a1t rate of fare between Peeksklll, Sing
Sing and intermediate places, by the gen
tlen3an who monopolized that route (who
is known by COMMODORE, formed them
selves into stock company and built the
steamboat Waterwitch james Smith and
Raw Hide (tfis is the name by which
Daniel Drew was known among boatlnen)
and one more individual We're appointed
directors to manage the company. The
boat started IN the fall Of 1881, and run
one of the most spirited oppositions that
was ever on the river; they were forced
by the monopoly line to run for ~ cents
fare. but the people supported her to
man, and she often carried from three
hundred to five hundred passengers,
while the old line would seldom
have twenty. This state of affairs
coptinued until the close of the season,
thereby giving full confidence t. the
stockholders Of the new line OF their ultl-
mate guceea fhe bort started in the
| Spring, carrying nearly all the passengers
as before, and continued until the first OF
May, when, without any previous notice,
and without the knowledge OF the stock
holders, the boat WAS Withdrawn. Inc
Commodore having arranged with Smith
and Drew, paying them, as VIII be shown,
well for their treason. Power having been
| Invested in the handqof directors The stock
holders had no redress bat by protracted
lawsuits: and. IS few owned over 500 of
/ r,-h
nrices as the Oonmodores friends might
| ofer-Drey of course being the manager
The Waterwitch was placed On the route
between New York and Hartford, wherewe
leave Mr.. d. for the present, and proceed
to give an account of the movement OF
the Commodore, who now appears to have
taken oar hero under his special protec-
ton. This gentleman having some diff
fcuIty with one of the directors of the
Hudson River Steamboat Association, and
in order to punish him, placed two steam
boats on the day route between New Yof (
and Albany, as opposition. After running
nearly two seasons, he forced the old COM
pany to terms, they paying him $50, 600 for
the Peekskill route and q bonus Gtwas said)
for ten years, during which time he was to
run no boats Or have any interest in any
steamboat that should run On the Hudson
River. This having been accomplished, a
fine opportunity was presented to reward
our hero for his treason.
'IBoats at that time were difficult to be
ob5ained, but the Emerald was brought
from Philadelphia, and the Westcheste1
WAS purchased from the Commodore; with
these two boats Drew commenced his ca.
reeg Oh tho Hudson River. Tho fare was
So, and an excellent opportunity was pre-
sented for q man possessed Of the natural
gifts of SIR. d. TO operate. After running
one season, which WIS 1884, the association
made bargain with him and gave his boats
, bheir proportion Of the earnings of the line
Now comes q brilliant passage in his his
tory of Drew; his koatg were coming money
very fast, but it could not keep pace witt
The growth of his acquisitive organ; there
must be some new financial operation-ht
must have an outside opposition. Tools
were procured TO carry out his plans. The
Koscinsko was brought on the river, pur
porting to be owned by Jake, a brother o.
the Commodore, and commenced running
as an opposition boat. The association
being seriously affected, at a meeting O
the directors (our hero being onel they
proposed to buy her off; they fixed the price
they were willing to give, and desired Mr.
/ D. to see Jake, and ascertain il he wouC
accept of their proposition; he promised
to call on him and return with his answer
After leaving the Office be walked around
the block and returned, stating that he had
seen Jake but he woald not accept, but i
they would add IS, 900 he would. After
discussing the question they concluded,
by the advice of Mr.. D., to give SIS, 900,
and he started to see his man; after going
around the block as before, he returned,
informing them that he had seen Jake and
he had accepted. .