The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-12-02

Scenes unprecedented in river history
occurred within the limits Of the Pits
burgh harbor yesterday, says the Pitts
burgh Dispatch. Over half hundred
big steamers vieing with each other in
a mad rush to pass Davis Island dam
with their heavy tows, made sight the
equal Of which may never be witnessed
again. 1t was virtually wild stampede
of impatient monsters that threatened
each moment to grind each other to
pieces. All regard for danger was
thrown to the winds. So vital was the
crisis to be passed, they acted more
like maddened beasts than the agents
Of sensible men. In the great Jam sides
OF vessels were crushed in, barges were
splin!ered into kindlIng wood, flats
were sunk, but the exciting race con.
tinued regardless Of the destruction oil
property. ,u
greatest coal fleet known to history
started on its voyage down the Ohio to
the great coal consuming ports OF Gin
cinnati, Louisville and New Orleans.
Alter passing Davis Island dam the
fleet met with no serious damage until
Rochester was reached. II was learned
Yesterday afternoon that the Harry
Brown sunk five OF her loaded barges at
this point Thursday night and that
general blockade Of boats and fleet re-
suited, lasting for several hours. This
allowed the advance guard Of the fleet
TO gain on the rest considerably.
During the afternoon the appearance
OF the first boat wac awaited with in
terest by numbers of people on the
river front, and speculation was rife as
to what boat would lead. 1t was just
$40 o'clock when the smoke rising
from around the bond above town her
aided the coming OF the leader. AS she
swung into the long, straight stretch of
river pair OF field glasses were leveled
at her, and IL was ascertained that the
John Moren was leading. She passed
the public landing at 3:45. In the
meantime two more boats with tows
came around the bend, the Jim Wood
and John A. Wood, the former with
eighteen barges and the latter with six
teen. The Moren was flying somewhat
lighter than the two Wood boats, hay
ing but fourteen barges Altogether
these three boats were towing close on
to 100000 bushels OF the dusky dia-
monds.
At 4 o'clock the Frank Gilmore, with
fourteen barges, Charles Brown and
James Brown with twelve each, passed
the public landing with their tows in
good trim. The next boats to pass were
the Mariner, Percy Kelsey and Beaver
at 5 o'clock, and the Pacific No. 2 at 8
p IN.
Others of the following boats, COM
posing the feet which started from
Pittsburgh, passed nown during the
night: Henry DuBus, eight barges and
one fiat; John W. Allies, six barges, one
fiat; Little Dick, four burges, one fiat;
Enterprise, ten barges. three flats; Tide,
five barges; Pacific No. 2. seven barges,
three fats; Diamond and Rescue,
twelve barges, two flats; Clifton, four
coalboats, four barges, two flats; John
Moren, ten barges, three flats; Belle
MCGOWAN, three barges; Bennett, four
barges, two flats; Ed Davidson, four
barges; Dave Wood, seven barges, two
flats; John A. Wood, six barges, Two
flats; Jim Brown, eight barges; Voy-
oyer, eight barges; Charles Brown, ten
barges, one fat; Percy Kelsey, ten
barges, two flats; Mariner, ten barges,
two flats; Tom 1ysle, Eve barges, ono
fiat; Ark, ten barges, two fats; Samuel
Clark, seven barges, two flats; Raymond
Horner, six barRes, two flats; Stella
Moren, six barges, one HAT; Smoky Clty,
six coal boats, four flats; Dick Fulton,
tenIbarges, two fats; William G. Hor-
ner, six barges, one fiat; Bob Cornell,
five barges, one fiat; Monterey, four
barges; Time, six coal boats, one fiat;
Rescue, four coal boats; Josh Cook, six
coal boats, two flats; Harry Brown,
seven barges, three flats: Tom Reese,
ak coal boats, two flats; Mark Winnett,
four barges; Fred Wilson, eleven barges,
two fats; Seven Sons, three coal
boats; Crescent, five barges, two
flats; John w. Allen, seven barges;
Beaver. six coal boats, two fiat; John
X. Dawson, four barges; Charley Hook,
three barges; Onward, four barges, three
flats; Coal City, six barges, one coal
boat; John T. Walton, seven barRes,
two fats; NJ. Bunton, seven barges, two
fats; Bob Billiard, five flats; Acorn, five
barGes; Tom Dodsworth, one barge, four
flats; Charley Clark, six barges; J. W.
Backmore, three coalboats, three
barges; Bennett, one fiat; Hornet No. 2,
nine barges, one fat; Cruiser, six
barges, two flats; R NJ. Blackburn, four
barges; Twilight, three coalboats, one
barge, one fiat; Alice Brown, six barges,
two flats; Advance, six barges; Maggie,
seven barges; Volunteer, six barges;
Henry De Bus, nine barges, two flats;
Joseph Walton. ten hRrges. two flats.