Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-05
STIRRING UP CORPSES.
The Allegheny Health Boat Starts and Its
Crew DIsIodge HIany Dead Animals
Horses, Dogs, Rats, ETC.,

Horses, Dogs, kats, ETC,
Sent Down Stream.
The Allegheny "Health Boat" left yesterday
morning OF its important mission. with good
crew of energetic citizens, city officials and
city employees The object of the trip, as stated
yesterday, was to clear the river Of all dead
animals and debris that is polluting the water
used by the city.
The steamer ]. o. Phillips left the wharf at
the foot of Federal street at O'Clock yesterday
morning in charge of President James Hunter.
of Allegheny Common Councils.
Hunter is the skipper.
In addition TO the crew there were
on board II men from the street
departments in charge Of Street Com.
missioners William F. Meese and Peter Moul-
Among the citizens who volunteered their serv-
ices and went along were superintendent OF
the Water Works Armstrong, City Engineer
Charles Ehlers, Councilman Charles A. Muenl-
bronner, Charles Geyer, Charles ANDERSON,
Councilman Arthur Hunter, Victor Zeringer,
Alfred Cutler, Select Councilman Hartman
and others. Most of the above volunteered
their services and Messrs. ANDERSON, CutteraI
and Hartman did very effective work. The lat
ter is an old riverman, and gave some very I'M
portant instructions to the crew, which were
followed with good results.
River Still High.
The river is still very high and the boat had
great difficulty in getting under the many
bridges. When the Forty-third street bridge
was reached it was found that the boat could
not pass under without smashing the smoke
stacks. 1t was decided to cut them down and
about two feet of the stacks were cut off and at
2oclock the boat passed under and continued
on its way up the river.
Every island, creek and distraction in the
river were examined for dead bodies or ami
mails and large number were found. Cnalr-
man Hunter and several of the men on the
boat left it at Harmorsville and came to the
city on a train. They found that graphing
hooks are necessary and will go up this morn
ing with the ropes and hooks needed
The boat only went up II miles and anchored
for the night This morning it will continue
up the river as far as possible. A dozen dead
horses were found in the drift wood that was
wedged against the islands and piers and sew
eral hundred chickens, dogs, rats, etc. All OF
these were taken out and put in the middle OF
the river and allowed to float down. Some OF
them may be stuck before they pass the CITY,
but the people on the boat will keep lookout
on the way down.
The Plan of Action.
Mr. Hunter said: 1--WE merely want to have
these dead bodies pass down the river below
the water pipes in order to furnish Allegheny
City with pure water. If the Cincinnati people
OF those below our city want pure water they
must remove these dead bodies or send them
down the river. WehaVe no time to bury the
dead"
The men who volunteered their services had
several thrilling experiences, and one of the
members of the party almost lost his lie.
George Catteral, an employe of the Street de-
partment was out on pile of drlftwood look
ing for dead bodies when he sank into the
river. Several skiffs were put out at once to
save him, if possible. He was not seen for
fully five minutes when he arose on one side
of tie boat. A deckhand threw him rope and
Catteral grasped it.
He Was Very Wenk
when he was drawn aboard, but inside of two
hours he was doing more effective work than
any person on the boat and had evidently for
gotten the occurrence that had almost ended
his life
One of the members of the party became
sick from the foul odor of dead animals that
were among the debris at point near Har-
marville. The bodies were promptly pulled
out and started down the middle of the
stream. The boat put up at point near Tar
entum last night and will start this morning up
the river.