National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-04-03
FROM WILMINGTON TO WASHINGTON.
The Passengers and Omcers-A Jolly
Good TriP-One Day in the "City
BY the specialization to the
ViEItOrs-The Stop ut Fort
ress MOnrOe-Safe at
Home.


The history of the line is not unfamiliar to thu
business men Of this city and Norfolk, yet a brIe
outline Of its origin will show with what success:
it has met with since its formation and therefore
the following is given: On July 1852 the steamer
W. W. Colt, chartered by Mr.. Joseph L. Savage
started on q trip from Washington to Norfolk
and, meeting with success, ran through the sum
mer months until October, when, the charter hav
ing expired the vessel was turned over to the
owner. Captain Colt, at New London, Conn. In
May, 1870, Messrs. George II. Plant, Joseph L
Savage and S. p. Brown formed a company, ne.
gOtiated for and purchased the stamer Lady oil
the Lake from Messrs. Harlan HollinsEOrth, oil
Wilmington, Delaware. and started her on the
route.
her two trips weekly she was always heavily
laden. The demands on the company increased
every day until they determined to put on the
route another boat. On January ~, 1875, the
news was received that the Lady OF the Lake had
been nearly destroyed by IRE while lying at her
wharf at Norfolk. Too true was the case, as all
but her hull had been burned. Her place had to
be supplied, and the steamer Jane MOseley was
purchased, and taken of the line between Green
point, L. l., and Newport, r. L, in connection
with the Long Island railroad.
HISTORY OF THE MosELEV.
The hull was built about two years ago BY
Messrs. Lawrence tOulkes, Of GreenpOinI,
Long Island, and the engine was constructed at
the Quintard Iron Works. New York, Murphy Il
Co. Although she has been built about two years
she has seen only seven months service. At
the time Of her purchase she made q trial trip
from pier No. s, North river, New York, to the
railroad depot al Sandy Hook, a distance
twenty miles, in hlty-hve minutes with the tidef
and the return trip was made in hlty-eight min,
utes against the tide.
The purchase was made at New York, and she
LETT for Wilmington, Del, on the 18th day of
March, where sne wal placed ~ the dock Of
Messrs. Harlan 4 HOllingswOrth for a general
reconstruction. A large force Of wOrkmen wa
set TO work upon her, and, under the supervision
Of Captain T. Z. Baldwin, the commander Of the
Moseley, in the short period of thirteen days she
had placed in her new state-rOOns, her boilers
and engine oVerhauled, beside other work upon
her.
BER DIMENSIONS,
The Moseley's length of keel Is 200 feet, u feet
depth Of hold, 81 feet breadth Of beam; length
over all, 2l5 feet; breadth Of beam over all, IS
feet; draught, feet 10 inches; capacity 500 tons
Her frame is Of oak and chestnut diagonaIly
6raced with iron, inches wide by q inch thick
She has three double sets Of nelson's boIted
through every frame. The bilge streaks are Of
live oak, feet in width and inches th"k M;
clamp slreaks are q inches wide by 6 inches
thick, bOlted with three screw bolts with nuts
and washers on every frame. The planking is 1
inches thick with a yellow pine ceiling 4 inches
thick, with two trsenails and two bolts to each
frame.
The hall is eoppercd and copper-fastened. She
has beam-engtne II feet stroke Of piston, with
sS-inch diameter with surface condenser and all
the other latest improvements. Her boiler is 81
feet in length and II feet in diImeter o. she'll At
which, in case of am arrangement Of the ma
ChineTy, immed ate y stops II. She is fitted with
four pumps, to be used in case Of FIRE. She also
has pumps hose, buckets, and every other fIcllity
for protection against IRE. In addition. there are
two lfe-rafts and three boats capable of carrying
and sustaining in the wa.er some two hundrc
and tf,y passengers. There are also 500 cork life
preservers in convenient places, SO there Will be
no delay in case Of accident.
HER ACCOMMODATIONS.
The ladies' private cabin is furnished in the
most elabOr-te style, with large sofas, easy
chairs tables lace curtains, and velvet carpeting
on the floor. In the rear is a ladies' retiring
room, with all the cOnVeniences. The dining
room is suitably furnished, and is under the
charge Of Henry Bolden, (cOlOred, who was con-
nected with the L5dy of the Lake in her culinary
department. The main saloon is furnished with
all the modern 'Onveuiences, the floor being COW
cred with iOstly Brussels carpet. o. ening from
the main saloon are about forty state-rOoms, pro-
vided with hair mattresses, resting on springs
These rooms will accommodate one hundred and
nifty passengers.
The boat is painted white and gilded, and is
heated by steam, making It one Of the most com
Portable boats that leave Washington or Norfolk,
and in point OF elegance is unsurpassed. Her OFF,
GERS are: Captain, Theodore E. Baldwin: first
officer, WIN. Novels: second officer, L. NJ. Bald.
win; purser, Isaac Fairbruther; chief engineer
John White: assistant engineer, James ODOn-
nell. The officers and men are dressed in blue
uniform. similar to that worn in the United States
navy. The officers wear on their caps their rank
in gold letters. The men are thoroughly discip-
lined and are prompt in Obeying orders When
the completion Of the boat was made known 10
the owners, Messrs. George H. Plant & Co., they
determined to begin work at once. So, in order
10 ascertain the worth OF the beat, they decided
TO make
TRIAL TRIP
On Tuesday last a number Of gentlemen and
ladies irUm Washington, Norfolk, Portsmouth
and Wilmington were invi;sd to accompany the
boat the trip and so Tusday, at 100 o'clock p.
m, the guests Deing on deck and the boat gayly
atIired and floating innumerable flags left her
lin \ Hnll linz
Etesm;d out Of Christiana creek to the Delaware
river. The workshops along the creek were de-
serted, and the men fockei to the wharVes, while
the vessels were crowded. AS the MOseley passed
she was greeted with rounds of applause, and
bells were Tung, whistles blown, and for a while
the widest enthusiasm was INDUCED In. When
re- ching the river she "et out, and rolled over
the waves without the least difficulty, and made
a steady course toward Norfolk, contending with
a strong easterly wind which began when reach
ing rough water, but Withal she moved on regard
less, the only thing occurring was 10 the cabins
and stRterOOms, where many ladies and gentle
men were suffering from sea sickness much to
and enjoyed tie fun hugely. The little cram
sped on, and in twenty hours from the time OF
starting reached the
CITY OF NORFOLK
without mishap. She tied up to the wharf, and
no sooner was the gang plank out than hundreds
Of citizens Of Norfolk and Portsmouth came on
board and inspected the vessel. These were fol-
lowed by others, consisting Of Commodore Stevens
yard; several chiefs Of bureaus aud departments
beth Government and civic; Captain Nichols city
postmaster; Colonies Lyons and Brady, Mr.. Ma
loDey and other we'll known residents OF the two
cities The vessel was thoroughly examined and
pronounced 70 be in No. condition and a credit
70 her owners. The wharf where the Moseley
landed was the same one at which the Lady or
the Lake burned, and many were the expressions
Of regrets made concerning the FIRE. Yet they
felt that in the MOseley they had as good q
vessel Various incidents were related ab6nt the
FIRE and the manner in which efforts were made to
extinguish the flames, and the reflections on the
ire department OF Norfolk were not Of the most
pleasing character. Not that they did not make
efforts 70 save the vessel, but the sOWness IN get
ting to the scene. During the afternoon the
ned until noon Thursday, and al p. m. with the
addition Of siXtce eighteen passengers started
for Fortress Monroe amid the waving Of hand
kerchiefs By the ladies on the wharf and cheers
from the sterneT sex.
FORTRESS MONROE.
The Moseley started we'll from the wharf and
was soon out in the Elizabeth river and on her
way to the Fortress, which point she reached
against strong tide in forty minutes, running a
distance Of over fifteen miles. In passing into
the wharf the United States steamers lying in
Hampton Roads ssluted the MOsely by dipping
their colors and the sailors cheering. Fhe
steamer made fast to the wharf and was Cordially
received. The officers and their wives AZ the
Fortress and large number oil residents OF the
vicinity were on the wharf in waiting. Among
those who visited the vessel at the Fortress vas
Mr.. George Wright, master machinist al ForE
Tesk InOuIOt dIHeuhls ana better known in this
city as Truthful George" phe boat was boaried
and thorough examination made Of her. the re-
suit being praises from ALL especially the ladies
who exp essed their satisfaction with the accom-
mOdatiOns in very strong terms, and two of them
being so much pleased came up to Washin1to1
with her. Some freight was also taken on and
after those on the boats babe their friends gooJ
bye, the Moseley started off for this cty stopoin0
at Point Lookout, Piney Point and Eiaxahdria
and at O'Clock she reached Washington WheTe
a number Of merchants we're in waiting to recaive
her. The passengers after returning their hanks
te tie officers Of the boat for their Kindness and
attention departed.
GENERAL REMARKS.
George II. Plant & Co.. the owners of the Mose
ley purpose 10 run the vessel to the points along
the route in connection with the Merchants, and
Miners Transportation Company of Boston and
the Old Dominion Steamship C0mpapy al New
York, and arrangements are also being made
with the Pennsylvania Central railroad to make
connection at POpeis creek for Baltimore PbiIa.
delphia and New York by rail, thereby saving the
traveller to these points from two to three hours
over any other route. 1t is expected that the
steamer Lady Of the Lake, which he now under-
going repairs at Harlan HOllinKsWorth ship
yard at Wilmington, Delaware, win be com.
pleted by the Goth of May, when she will run In
connection with the Moseley, THUS giving q daily
line to and from Norfolk. It is also intended to
place on these boats pianos and every arrange
meDt for dancing. 1t Is further intended TO stoR
at all points along the route where freight Il
offered, and thereby make the boats an accom-
mediation TO all.
SCENES AED TNCrnrNTs