Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-10-20

Sne steamers were until about 1850, near the loot
OF 10Th, 11th, 18th and 18th streets, and 1t was
good place for hotel. Considerable business was
then done in the Eastern Branch. Capt James
| the Phenix after Capt Jones' The Joe johnson,
wnicn pore the name OF the captain and after
mate OF bs IN pnage q Capt JOB Carson was the
andna ferry from about 1887 till late in the sos
| Inc Johnson went to pieces In Alexandria, and
Agnew when dredging. The Phenix was sold away
| from mere, believe. The Salem was brought here
70 1888 or 1874 oy the Dodges OF West Washington
ioI towing purposes They were then engaged
extensively IN the West India sugar trade, and the
salem Was mostly used for towing vessels to and
from west Washington. She, however, did some
| service as passenger boat, and under the COM
/ mano OF Capt. Baker Was once In the Government
service, having early In the sos taken on force
| Oh men VINO captured the schooner Pearl, engaged
IN carrying runaway slaves from the District.
| TIE OLD COLUMBIA.
but must not forget to tell you about the boat
whose name in olden times was q household word
| In the District. You know the name, don't your
the old Columbia, built, believe, before 1880, but
The most commOdiOus boat on the river Capt
James Mitchell, who died In 1862 was her COM
between this city and Baltimore stopping at every
Capt; MitchelL and the latter died in isss. She
years ago. There was, too, the Osceola with the
nRure-head OF that famous Indian chief she run
from the 4Os down TO about the commencement
OF the war, and made a weekly round-trip each to
baltimore and Norfolk; but In those days the Nor
t hs Trip was not a paying one. Afterward we
nao the express, running TO Baltimore, and she
WAS lost In the Chesapeake few years ago.
ABOUT 1850
the Thomas Collyer came here and next the George
washington, both running as ferry boats to Alex.
andria Subsequently the Collyer made regular
trips TO Mt. Vernon. The Washington was the
river. About 1850 George Page built near the foot
OF 1th street. the first or the present style OF ferry
boats, the Union anu the George Page winch were
perhaps the following year, the VIM. Seden came
here but ran only a short time on excursions and
charge OF her afterward when She ran heiwae n
Baltimore and Fredericksburg. subsequently she
was SOLO 70 parties at Hampton, Va. She was
burned al Norlolk some years since. When came
here the great southern route was by water to
Acquia Creek, and the boats there cOnnecte1 with
Railroad. The line was composed of the Chssa.
peaKe, Augusta and sidney. the last named being
sh Ie,ay G0aL the P9wnatap came here as one Or
lor winter travel and had, believe,
TIE FIRST STEAM WHISTLE
USED on the river. remember that It was COM
mon occurrence, II she was to be laid up for DAY
| or two, 10 change the whistle to another boat OF
the line. In ls45 the Mt Vernon was added TO
In Philadelphia In 1S47. Alter the war she was
sold 10 Clyde OF Philadelphia, and was afterward
destroyed s oy nre The Philadelphia was the next
II was QUILT In Philadelphia, OF iron to run be-
tween Norfolk and Seaford, Del, In opposition TO
1880. 1t was impressed into the Government
service and was known as the Ironsides during
the war. This, with the Powhatan, which became
the King Philip, the Mt. Vernon, which became
the MI Washington, and the Baltimore were the
boats OF the Southern mail line, which were taken
10 the washington hayward and put into service.
THE FIRST GUN.
Probably the lrst gun ired on the Potomac dur
ing a 1podh nv ho N
party Of Confederates who had burned the light
boat at Lower Cedar Point April, 1851 Jimmy
smith, think, was the pilot on that OCCASION
daese was pee1y Of Ior pilots those
steamer Pensacola down and out In January, 1862
We ran the batteries at Shipping and Cock t,it
Cock PITT, and shells shrieked over the decks
but did not cut a rope. Capts Charley Mitchell,
siias Reynolds and Aleck McCsusland were con,
nected with the Southern line The steamer Alice
Price before the war ran the river landings as far
as Mach0doc, and believe In times back the
some others whose names l cannot now recall.
The fare In ante-bellum days usually was Al and
sl:oO 70 nver landings, a and $ to Norfolk. 81
cents paper or l2H cents "a levy TO Alexandra.
Below the city there were such picnic places as
there are at the present time.
PLEASURE REsoRrs
Occasionally party would sIop for a few hours
at Fort Washington, and about 1850 attempts
were made to establish resorts at the White House
(oeiow Mt. Vernon) and Pye's Landing a short dis
| lance below. The nrst did not last over a season
or Two. but butt the latter developed into Gymont
back In the 40's, and IL was for many wears the
only place Of the kind paronized to any extent on
the rver. NOW, for plc-nics, We nave City View
al Gies0oro Point, River View, near Fort Washing,
ton, ColllngwOOd, Va, Marshail Hail GlymonI
and Sllo1 Beach within Convenient reach for
Point, Colonial Beach, ColtOns, Blackstone leon
ardtown Pioey Point, and 81. Georges, at each Of
which are hotels and bathing factliLies
One would naturally suppose that the WASHING.
tonian OF old had poor chance for summer EN- ioy-
water, but we had plenty Of s pe1a,cs 0y
especially on Tuesdays during the summer me
faSSt s excursion SScS boat was , the Old COLUMBIAN
idie usually on Tuesday, and Gould be chartereS on
| TO september The Excursions took place and Vers
generally given BY the old Light Infantry the Ma
ssnzaon or rs Sona sSe other ,m,itsy Or
| sons or ODD Fellows These were always Weil
patIon1ed and brought together all CLASSES Of peo
pie, and a. rule they were always orderly sdsirs
| Tney danced the cotillon and wound up WIN ths
Virginia reel The waltz had not then become
| until they wound up the dance with the cry
Break ranks" on military excursion, or Fires
out" on nremens picnic. On the lower deck Nor.
beck or Charley Columbus would have the re-
| freshmen tables. The tickets were 81 for gen
tieman and ladies' and the trip usually WAS made
| O'Clock, then touching at the 1lth-street wharf
and williams wharf (navy-y aru) and Alexandria
Ia those days Fort Washington was q military
post, gArrsoned by one or two companies OF artii.
iery and later on by detachment OF the Ordnance
| corps IL was customary 70 stop an hour there
| In passing M vernon IL was the custom for tue
| steamers bell 10 be tolled while the COMPANY
| would stand with uncovered heads-a custom fol.
| lowed until the oeginning Of the war, and which
| there mas been some attempt TO revive
Indian Head (oeow GlymonO was about
| as lar as she would 60, ana the wharf was
1 usually reached about IL O'Clock at night Nyi
| what pleasure WAS In these excursions for The
young 1olkA There are hundreds now liy1n9 vho
4 remember with pleasurabie emotion how 70 the
music OF PM Fisher they trfpped on the deckr Of
that old craft On the return the starring an thc
Virginia reel would be the siS nal that thew were
/ homewaro bound and this dance would - Senr mn
/ until most OF Inc non-dancers had gone aabore
The old Columbia was tue fxvorite but later oShsr
| boats were required ana were chartered for runs
L to Indian Head. D
/ NAVIGATING
"Any difference In navigating the river4 Thar~
| Is some. owing TO the increased speed OF boass.
/ You can remember when II took the bear mart N
an hour 70 run from 1lth street wharf 70 Alexan.
| dr1a, and IL IL now covered In half the time
Formerly the usual speed did not exceed n knotS
/ and now from Is 70 IL u common. The c0urse al
i the channel has changed but little In my time n
IL has at all There are some changes In the land
MARKS BY reason Of the disappearance Of forest
/ growth. The river trade mas grown very much
Once three Jugooats-Salem, Wtde.Awake. aud
James Guy-were sufncient for the trade, but now
l there ten q dozen. Now we have thru