Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-03
OFFENDING STEAMBOATS,.
Steamers that Run Recklessly During
the Late Flood.

10 ne E0bOf ~ re AtVtWtfs
New MARTINSvILLE, w. VA, March
Ism: | notice in your Issue of last
SATURDAY an article copied from Pitts
burg papers complaining by pilot OF
one of the Wood Il Co. 5 tow boats be-
ing fired at on their last trip up during
the late flood at different points alonC
the river. Special mention was made Of
this tow. 1t was well said by the REG
ISTER that there were two sides TO the
question. Some bOatnen do not seem
to care what amount of damage they do
TO the people along the river in running
their boats during flood. The people
here have not forgotten the damage
done by the steamers Katie Stockdale
and Courier in 1854. They will long be
remembered il there are no more. Dur
| ing the last flood the Congo, Keystone
State, Jim Wood and j. ID. Wood passed
| up at the highest stage under full head,
caring for no one or any ones property
they might destroy. | am somewhat
surprised at Captain Calhoun, of the
keystone State. always had the
/ highest regard for him. He should be
more cOnSiderate in passing flooded
D
Andes, Ben Hur and Jacob Heathering
ton passed down on the last flood at its
highest stage but did no damage They
seemed 10 realize the damage they could
do were they to run full head as others
did; but they barely had on steam enough
TO steer their boats They were not
fired on here by any one, and the citi-
zenS appreciated the precautiOn these
boats took To guard against doing us
any damage. Pilot Wood says they ran
their boats slow to keep from damaging
property. Does he think the people are
blind? Can any man run towboat with
a fleet Of barges against 45-foot stage
of water and not tear the river wide
open? 1t is ridiculous for any one To
tell such stuff BESIDES if they could
there are some that would not do IL.
Our town lies rather lO% and has suffer
ed greatly from floods do not APP
prove OF shooting at steamboats,, nor do
the citizens here, rs some innocent per-
son ON the boat might be the victim.
But on the other hama, do not believe
anyone who wishes 10 do unto Others as
he would have them do unto him, wonld
run Il steamboat when he we'll knows
he is endangerng property and probably
lives, especially Il tOwboat with neOt
of bargeS in times of flood. What
would YOU think of man that would
not protect his property? | would say
he was as mean rs the man that would
destroy it. 1t is hoped that Captain
Wood will come and undertake. to prose
cutc the offenders, a he said he would.
lie may as well. aS citizens here Will
learn something aud profit thereby.
have no doubt but he Will
get all the justice he deserves
from ParkcrSburg 10 Wheeling,
and don't think he will have any trou-
bic i'm finding the aggrieved parties !
am told that Darlington and Mounds
willie were also badly. shaken up by
these same boats. venture TO say that
more than half the property destroyed
here the last two floods was caused by
SwelS of steamboats,, and why should
they not be made responsible for such
losses caused by them running aud
shaking houses from their foundations,
and in many instances where goods
were piled up were upset in the houses
and glass broken. Legislation on this
matter cannot be had too soon and
steamboats, should be made responsible
for all damage done to property If they
will persist in running. Were that
done they would soon tie up after river
gets out of the banks. Would advise
boats to bee cautious hereafter for their
own good as well as the public'S.
JACOB kooNTZ.
/ New Martmsville, March /.