The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-09-26
JOHN c. STEVENS PHOENIX. /"

Built in Hoboken I'm 1907 h First
Steamer on the Delaware.
Ex Senator William Kinsey OF Bristol.
vic takes q deep interest In all that re-
lates to the county ana its history, has
made an appreciable present to the
Bucks County Historical Society. This
consists of two handsome photographs
In one frame of the first two steamboats,
that piled on the Delaware between
Philadelphia and Trenton. They bors
the names OF Phoenix and Philade lphta.
The "Phhenix" was bnilt by John G.
Stevens. at Hoboken. in 1897. and made
her first trip 10 Bristol. on Sunday, July
30, 1909. Hundreds OF people went down
to see this great wonder upon its arrival
at Bristol, among whom was Mcklusey.
then an active boy. She was command
ed by Captain Davis, Oh Davidson, and
her engineer was Robert Stevens, sOn of
the builder. She was the first steamer
that navigated the ocean between New
York N Philadelphia. Her speed
was eight miles an hour with the tide,
and she WAS looked upon as n petfect
specimen of q steamboat. After running
q few years her machinery gave out ana
she was laid up and her machinery taken
out. The kensington fats were her grave.
and there she suffered to rot down and
pass away This pIoussr Sc eamboat gu
the Delaware has long since passed from
the memory OF all but the few like til Q
venerable life Is connected with he same
generation.
."rne Ph@oix'' was succeeded by the
"Philadelpnia." which WIS built at New
York by j. G. Stevens In 1918. aud COM
menced running between Philadelphia
and Trenton in 1915. Her captain was
Aoisha jenkins, a great fayorite with
the travelling pubic. She left Trenton
at 6 AM. and Philadelphia at Q P. M, on
her return trip, her speed being ten miles
an hour with the tide. Sac carried a
small brass cannon. mounted on her
forward deck, which was fred on her
arrival at Bristol and Burlington. 1t
burst on one occasion, killing one OF the
hands, aud was never replaced.
The Philadelphia was nicknamed 'Oli
Sal" Many thought there never would
be a boat on the river that would max
better time. Between Phlladelphia aud
Trenton there were but TWO stopping
places. Burlington and Bristol. Passen-
gers were received and landed In small
boats by signals from the shore.
Apropos of the early steamDoats on tn g
Delaware. In the diary Of Sarah Ridge,
written in 1909 ana published in Kate
Fields Washington the following is
found under date of July 80, while ut
Burlington: "a charming Sunday morn
Ing. After church We went honne with
Mrs. Deacon to see the Steamboat { (this
was the "PhG ak" which had just coma
round from New York by sea aud Dsla-
ware bay. and the first steam yes. ell
which made q sea VOYAGE come up the
river. but it was not in sight anl We soon
,siurnel. About six O'Clock Mr.. Frank
lin Eyre made his app .arance with
How do. ma'am." He came up In the
steamboat aud returned again in tue
evening. We all walked TO the river
shore. A numerous assembly of gentle
men and ladies'. men and women,
were collected on the bsuk to
see the steamboat. They hal re-
manned several hours before 1t appeared.
Il was coming owe from Bristol. sup
pose it had taken in some passengers
there. WI remained on the wharf till it
| came over. took u number of passengers
from here and got under way. It looked
very handsome. I5 Is a boa about 12G
feet long"
The photos. were presented to Mr.. Kin.
| sey by the Camden and Amboy R.ilroad
Company. He saw both boats and trav-
| eIled on them. These facts make an in
teresting chapter 10 the history Of the
early steam navigation of the Delaware.