Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-02-08
came to be by-word among the boys
around for years after.
THOMPSON 6 YOUNG.

bhuHiPson " lOunp were IN business
as partners in 1929 when | knew them
first. The yard was at the foot of Wal
nut street now occupied by the p, w.
" d. railroad.
They were both good clover worlzmen
and thoroughly understood their busi.
ness Of ship carpenters. They did a
heap OF government work such rs con
structing lifeboats, buoys, &c, IN addi-
ton to building vessels. William
Thompson died in 1889. My old boss
and his apprentices went to his funeral
also. Thompson was Presbyterian
and was buried down at Walnut street,
corner Of Fifth, in the Presbyterian
burial ground.
A little time after that the burial
ground was found TO be too wet for in
terring people. They ceased using it
for graveyard. All the collins were
taken up and distributed among the
various city cemeteries.
Thomas Young, the other partner,
was left alone. He soon went in part
nership with Enoch and Charles Moore,
who had started shipyard at the foot
of Poplar street at point now occu.
pied by the Pusey a. Jones Company.
They built y lightship and several
schooners, coal carriers, and did great
deal of work repairing and overhauling
whaleships.
Where the ships were originally
hauled up for repair was soft mud. The
new firm laid logs upon it lehgthwise of
the Christiana and then again crosswise.
Then the logs were all planked over
stoutly There the vessels were hauled
up at high tide safe and dry and were
readily listed to either side as needed.
Young u Moore did large business
here from Jersey and down country.
Vessels not over 200 tons down, say to
5o, were brought to the yards.
THE FIRST IRON STEAMERS.
The firm Of Young & Moore has the
great distinction of being the first firm
in this city having charge of the building
of iron propellers They built the
propeller steamers Ocean and Ashland.
These vessels were contracted for by
Belts, Pusey g. Harlan for the Philadel-
phia merchant George W. Aspinwall
think as it was new thing to build
iron vessels at that time, say about 1884,
they employed ship carpenters TO
put the vessels up. They were queer
looking structures as compared with
what the Harlan & Hollingsworth Com.
pany builds to-day. | would liko to see
one of them now. Their construction
was watched day by day with great in
terest and curiosity as they approached
towards completion. This started the
Belts, Pusey & Harlan Company in
shipbuilding. Numbers of ships were
subsequently built by the big firm that
has succeeded them for Mr.. Aspinwall
who traded from the Isthnus to Cali
fornia, and also to the West Indies and
Europe.
ENocH AND CHARLES MOORE.
A short time after 1884 Enoch and
Charles Moore got out of the firm and
located at the foot of Fourth street,
Here they continued work. They built
"otf-shore" vessels in addition that went
to foreign ports. Subsequently Charles
Moore left the firm. In q little while
Enoch, the elder brother, took sick and
died. Finally the yard fell into the
hands of the present Enoch Moore,
whose yard is now removed to the right
bank OF the Christiana.
THOMAS YOUNG.
Thomas Young was diligent, un-
daunted man. He stayed by the old
yards, and was at one time agent for the
Wilmington Whaling Company. He
built several good vessels and made
money at his business. Finally he met
with misfortune. lie fell down the
hatchway Of one Of his new ships. 1t was
quite some time before the doctor found
out the extent of his injuries. His ill
ness caused him to retire from the ship
building business. He became justice of
the peace and was twice mayor OF Will
mington. This was in 1858 and 1859.