The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-07-10
rnE FASTEST BoAr on THE RlvER
MaAes its Trinl rrip-Gsneral Leyse
GoAalp.

THE FASTEST BOAT ON THE RIVER
Makes its TriAi rrIp-Goneral Leyee
0oasip. SIS
Yesterday morning at 8 o'clock the new
Chesapeake backed out from the leyee and
startedu It's trial trip not returning uutil
noon. Soon after she had been made fast At
her new mooring, under the bridge, being
taken there 10 make room at the lower land.
ing for the bulls OF two new boats that are TO
arrive this week, an INTKILIGENcER man
boarded the Chesapeake and meeting Mr..
John sween'y, who has superintended the
building, asked him how he was pleased
with his work. "Im perfectly satisfied, /"
said he, "thSt the Chesapeake Is the fastest
boat on the Ohio river. She can beat
the Minnie Bay, and she, you know, has
been posing al nost everything. You can
safely say she 10 the fastest steamer ahoat on
The building Of the Chesapeake was con-
traoted for by a. J. swesnty q Son, Of this
city, who have been busily engaged during
the past two years building steamers. They
have acquired splendid reputation all along
the river and down on the Mississippi even;
the boats turned oIt by them have all been
good oues, but the Chesapeake leads them
all, both as to speed and style and finish
She Is being bu 1t for the Chesapeake Packet
Lou Maddy are large stockholders, and they
will have charge Of the new boat. Her hui
was built at Harmar by Knox, and Is little
out Of the usual shape. To all Appearances,
Us she lies In the water, she has hollow water
line, aud many untayo'able comments have
been made about this by old river men, who
predicted that she would makes too big
break In the water to make any speed. But
this Is not the case; she Is punched In very
sharp at the stem and gradually swells out
and down. The result Is, she make no per.
ceptible break until the wheels are reached.
Instead, she cutI the water and climbs or
rides on top as smoothly as though she were
creased.
The dimensions Of the boat are, 1ss feet
long over all; beam, % feet; hold, s feet;
engines, IS Ches diameter cylinders with D
foot str Ike; three boilers with two tiles each,
"a feet long and 10 inches In diameter,
constructed OF 10000 tsnsile strength steel:
she IL sidewheeler, the wheels being. 20
feet In diameter, with Is arms a1d 10 foot
buckets. The cabin is full length,w tn tairty-
SIX siaterooms and handsome Office and q
spacious ladies cabin, all finished IT hard
woods, The retiring rooms, pantry, etc . are
on the guards. From the LADIES' cabin
good yisw can be obtained the full length OF
the cabin and ont the stern windows, which
cannot be done on other boats: this allows oil
better ventilation. The Texas has sixteen
berths and two small sitting rooms. The
pilot house Is roomy one. from the hui-
ricane deck 10 the hull deck there are four
stAircases. making escape easy In case OF
panic. The carpets, furniture, ETC., will DO
put on at Gallipolis. Everything else will DO
done here.
The tiller ropes run down under the hull.
deck, and this allows swinging stage at
stem and stern, thus avoiding turning when
making landing when going down stream.
sne is lighted ty 40 electric lights. There Is
no coal-box, but instead ten large coal-cars,
that are slowed In the hold except whtn
wanted. 10 addition 10 the battery OF boilers
there Is a small upright boiler that can be
ustd to run the donkey, doctor or electric
light. In going down yesterday the boat
iutt doomed along. 10 returning, big IL
milesan hour was made against heavy head
way 1.-THE river was ring fast on 100 pounds
Of steau1; l75 is allowed. Steam was made
very fat, and the boat steered beautifully.
The growlers predicted that the shape OF the
hull would make 1t difficult to handle the
boat, but she went down over Captna bar
under fall head aud minded the slightest
turn OF the wheel. George knox, who Is 70 be
bead engineer, was immensely pleased and
could not say things nice enough.
Another thing about this boat" baid Mr..
Sweeney, "it don't shake any more than the
Bay, although Il hasn'tthe staggered wheel.
In plsce OF that style Of wheel, we have the
old fashioned one, thus gaining power, but
to steady things there are heavy braces from
the outer end OF the water wheel beam to the
head Of ae thwartship chain brace. That's
another int ovation in side wheelers"
Captains Ed and Lou Maddy were on
board during the trip and were charmed
with everything Tcey spoke very highly OF
the work Of the Sweeneys. 1t will take about
tgo weeks longer 10 complete the boat.
Before she leaves for her trade there will be
an electric Light trial trip.
The Dlurnal resumed her place in the Par.
kersburg trade yesterday.
The Bsllaire and Benwood ferry boat,
Hiram B was placed on the docks. yesterday
for repairs.
Capt. Van Pelt, OF Martins Ferry, is in
command on the Little Anna during Capt.
Seamon's absence.
The Regular has been repaired, and will
leave for Sistersvllle at 5 r. N. to-dsy. JET
Martin 10 the clever clerk.
The Nellie Walton, Pacific and Dauntless
passed up with empties and the Clipper,
the saw mill boat, passed down.
The river rose fast all day yesterday, as a
result OF recent heavy rains. AT 8 ?. N. there
was depth OF 8 feet inches in the channel,
according to the gauge marks.
Capt. Henry Seamon, oil the Little Anna,
went down on the Diurnal yesterday 70 at
tend the United States Court, at Parkersburg,
as witness In the case Of the United States
ys. David Kellar, pilot OF the Sciota. Sur.
yeyor Beach and Mr.. John Sweeney will
probably 10 down on the Andes this evening
The case begins to-day.
TheAndes did not arrive until lats hour
last evening. SIC had big trip. As usual
this splendid stern wheeler will leave this
afternoon at O'Clock for Cincinnati on her
return trip. The Andes Is one OF the best
passenger packets on the river; she Is large,
stsady running and admirably differed.
Capt. Charlie Muhleman is master and Mar:
Noll head clerk.
GRE&sBoRo, Pa, July e.-Riyer 8 feet 4
inches and stationary; clear.
Lock No. 4, Pa, July 9.-Riyer feet 0
inches and falling; weather clear; thermome-
ter 6l'.
MoasAsrowS, W. Va, July o.-Rivsrl foot
6 inches and falling; weather cloudy;
Thermometer 67o. -r.
BROWNSVILLE, Pa, July s-Rlyer 8 feet
inches and stationary; weather clear;
thermometer So.
LOUISVILLE, July s.-Ryer falling slowly
with 6 feet In in the canal and feet on
the falls; weather partly cloudy and pleasant.
ABAD BATCH