Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-06-09
AN EXCITING lINE.
HEALTH OFFICER SPRAGs GUARANTEES tn
PACKETS SCOTIA AND LIBERTY
On Account Of a Report That the Former Acc'Pt'
Freight at Pomsroy, Which Was Trans
fsrred to the Latter.

There was an eACltiuS
wharf about noon yesterday, wnen u
city officials, under instructions Iro'
City Health officer Spragg, refused
allow the Steamers Scotia and Lioert
to land at the wharf. Both were guar
antIned on account OF the alleged fat
that they carried freight from the small
pox district down the river.
Yesterday morning Health once
Spragg got telephone message froI
Bellaire, notifying him that the Scoti
had landed at Pomeroy, o., and take
on freight at that point. twas elaine
by the steamboat officials that the II
formation was furnished by an Ohl
River railroad conductor, who saw u
boat wing at the landing at Pomero.
The Health officer notified Chief OF r.
lice McNichol, who with several OF
IDENTITIES went down to the wharf. II
news that a quarantine had been d.
clared against the Scotia spread rapl'
ly, and along about noon large GRO"
gathered at the wharf.
The Scotia landed at the Bellaire coz
works and shortly before noon was see
steaming up the river. Chief McNichC
and the officers stationed themselves
the wharfboat, and when the packe
approached the Chief told the Csptal
that he could not land. Some litt
time was spent in argument, and th
Captain got very wrothy, whereupo
the Chief informed him that If he lane
ed he would place every member OF III
crew under arrest.
Without making any further effort
land the packet continued up streal
and landed at Martins Ferry. Tb
Captain then called up WharfmaStt
Crockard by telephone and asked for
explanation. Mr.. Crockard told hin
the circumstances and the Captain dc
MED that he had taken on freight fro
any Of the guaranteed towns. He ms
consulted the authorities at Cinclnha
before leaving and had been told that
could put off freight at any of the smaI
Dox towns but could not accept an
freight or passengers. He claimed thu
he adhered strictly to his instruction
In the meantime, another exciting II
cident was taking place at the whar
A passenger on the Ohio River roa
told somebody that he saw the Scot
and Liberty dashed together at son
point down the river, aud the forme
was transferring her freight for Vince
ing and Belaire to the Liberty. TIL
story reached the authorities, and whe,l
the Liberty came up from Claringtoh,
half an hour behind the Scotia, the ot1i-
GERS we're at the wharf ready TO prevent
her landing. Capt. Booth inquired the
reason, and was informed by Chief Nc
Nichol that the packet had been quar-
antined, and further, that il landing
was made everybody on the boat would
be placed under arrest. Capt. Booth
was apparently undetermined, at first, as
TO what course 10 pursue. Then deck
hand named William Grist got off the
boat with q rope to fasten her TO the
shore. He was Immediately placed
under arrest, aud taken to the lookup.
The boat then pulled out and went
over TO West Wheeling, when Captain
Booth and the clerk came over to police
Headquarters TO ascertain the cause OF
the trouble. A consultation was held
by Health Officer Spragg, Prosecuting
Attorney Howard, Chief McNicholl and
the officials of the packet, at the build
log. Captain Booth denied that he had
received freight from the Scotia, a state
ment which was borne out later, when
a very light amount of freight was dis
charged at the wharf. He said that
his boat had not been closer than fifty
yards to the Scotia, and that the latter
boat had passed up the river.
While the consultation was being held
at the City Building the pilot of the
Liberty brought the boat over 10 the
wharf, where deputy appointed by
the Health Officer warned him not to
land. Capt. Booth, when he heard OF
it, issued orders that no person should
be allowed to leave the boat, or no
freight discharged until further orders
from him. He succeeded in convincing
the officials that he had no freight from
the quarantined district, and was allow
ed to transact his business without
further molestation. The Liberty left
as usual at 3 o'clock for Darlington.
A REGISTER reporter talked with
Wharfmaster Crockard yesterday after
noon and asked him what effect the
quarantine against the Scotia would
have upon the other steamers in the
Pittsburg and Cincinnati packet line.
He said that while he did not believe
that the Scotia took any freight at
Pomercy, the Captains of the respective
packets will probably be instructed to
make no more landings at any OF the
ouarantined cities. This would not be
an admission that there was any danger
in merely discharging freight at any of
the afflicted towns, but he thought the
officials would realize that it would in.
jure business.