Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-05-07
Kslley'S Men Are Making Flat Boats
and Expect to Float
DOWN THE DEO MONIES RIVER,
The River Has Not Been Used for
Transportation for Nearly Fifty
Years, But They Think They
Gan Make it in Flat Bottomed
Boats-Galvin Left Homestead
and Will 60 to Cumberland on
Foot.

DEs MoIEs, Iowa, May 6.-Kelley's
army will disappear down Des Moines
river positively not later than Tuesday
morning. Kelley's men all voted to ac-
cspt a proposition to take barges. Des
Moines people were so much relieved
over this solution that they have sub
scribed money literally to build $50
boats, six by sixteen, to carry ten men
each. Kelley was compelled TO
take out OF his army purse money
to buy 1,5OO pounds of meat as the me q
were grumbling about living on bread
aud crackers. This morning saw mills
were set TO work TO cut lumber for the
boats and Monday morning all the men
in the camp VINO can handle hammers,
aided by members of the Des Moines
carpenters union will be set to work
framing the barges.
1t will be a unique undertaking as the
river has not been used for transporta-
ton since 1916 and is full Of sand bars
and snags and unusually low. Many
predict the venture will end in disaster.
Kelly thinks be can reach Ottumwa
the evening OF the second day.
Early<his morning lumber began TO
be delivered at a point below the con
fluence of the Des Moines and Raccoon
rivers. At ten o'clock g detail OF 800
men, mostly mechanics OF more or less ex-
sperience, picked out of the army, left
the camp under the leadership OF GEN
eral Kelly, marched three abreast to
the place where the lumber had been
delivered and began the work Of build
ing fat boats. They set TO work with
great eagerness, and before noon at
least % boats were in process OF build
ing about fifty were nearly completed
to-day.
At FIVE o'clock this afternoon the
first boat was completed, pitched and
launched. Three cheers were given
for the FIRST evidence Of the Kelly navy,
After plying around for q short time,
Kelly and two women who joined the
army at Omaha, got into the boat with
four OF his men as polemen and
amid great cheering began the
Journey down the river to test the
ability to float the navy. The trial trip
was pronounced in theory every way
successful. At six o'clock the men
dropped their tools and marched back
to camp. Tomorrow most OF the boats
will be finished, but 1t is very doubtful
whether the army will set sail before
Wednesday morning. Meanwhile, a
committee is going ahead, call
Ing on the farmers and the peo-
pie OF towns near the river 10
meet them as they float down and sup
ply them with food. Kelly expects to
reach Ottumwa, about ninety miles
down, on the evening of the second day,
but he will hardly do so by the end Of
the fourth day, according TO good
judges. There are many here who look
upon the river Journey as piece of
nonsense, and regard failure the only
possible outcome.
Late tonight meeting of labor lead
ers were held. Grand Master Work
man Sovereign was present among
Others. After full discussion IL was
decided 10 issue an appeal to the
Knights of Labor Of America and Can
ada asking that each individual mem
Der contribute one dollar TO Kelly.