Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-27
ANOTHER ACCIDENT
To the Coal Fleet at MerrimanS
Wednesday Morning.
The Ironsides Dropped Two Fuel
Boats and a Barge Of Railroad
Iron-A Series Of Big Los es OF
Coal-River News and Notes.

COal-RlVer News and Notes.
Reports indicate that the unexpected
rain Of yesterday extended to the head
waters of both the Allegheny and Mon
ongahela rivers. and as the earth is
moist from recent rains and thaws, an
other good stage is likely to result.
The river fell at Wheneling all day yes
terday. but the streams were swollen
at points above, and as they emptied
their contents the fall was checked. AT
seven o'clock the river was stationary
on the marks, which showed stage of
9 feet II inches. At midnight there
were about 10 feet in the channel.
There is still vast quantity Of coal
in the pools at P!ttsburg, aggregating
about 100000 bushels, and to-day the
boats will be busy in assembling their
fleets for shipment. The rise will also
enable boats to return N time to take
out tows. On Christmas number Of
boats were sent out from Pittsburg, but
their fleets were ligAtened as a precau-
ton against accidents.
The Ironsides met with a serious loss
at Merrimans bar, about twelve miles
below Pittsburg. II Will be remem-
bered that there were a number of bad
wrecks at this point on the late rise,
and the channel was promptly cleared
with the use of dynamite. The Iron
sides struck some obstacle in the chan
mel. presumably a Sunken barge, and
dropped two fuel flats and barge OF
railroad iron. A roustabout on the
boat was caught and crushed causing
serious injury When the boat passed
Wheeling about noon, ne was sent TO
the shore in a skif, and taken to the
Marine Hospital in North Wheeling
In an interview, Capt. w. w. O'Neil
the veteran steambOatman and President
Of the P.ttsburg Coal Exchange, states
that the past year was the most disas-
trous which the river coal men have
ever experienced. The losses this
year" he SAID the low water, the cost
Of keeping the largest stock of coal ever
aflOat during almost eight months, and
many smaller considerations, all go to
make 1895 a year that will be remem-
bered by the coal shippers as a sort Of
nightmare only it has the unpleasant
after considerations of a financial nature
which are not dispelled by the dawning
of the morn Of better times"
During the seven months ending in
April 1895, "a coal boats and 81 barges
were sunk. entailing loss of 2,253.00O
bushels Of coal. representing money
value of S112.650. Add to this the
losses from partial wrecks, the expense
of looking after the boats. during the
drOuth. the ravages Of the shrimp"
and the severe storm which swept the
harbor, and the total amount will reach
about half a million dollars. During
the month of December thus far, about
$4,000 bushels Of coal have been sunk
1t is said that only about Is per cent.
Of the loss IS covered by insurance.
The Alice Brown and Coal City passed
up yesterday with empties. The Tor
nadO and Ironsides went down with coal.
The Hudson was delayed by fogs
Wednesday night. and did not arrive
until about four o'clock, clearing for
Pittsburg two hours later, after deposit
ing a large amount Of freight at the
wharfboat.
The Bedford departed for Pittsburg at
s a. m. with a good trip.
Yesterdays packets for down river
points were the Liberty for Parkers-
burg at II a. m, the Lexington for New
Matamoras and the Jewel for Claring-
ton.
The Ben Hur VII depart for Parkers-
burg this morning.
Special to the Register.
Parkersburg, w Va, December Go
River 10 feet 9 inches and falling.
Pittsburg, Pa, December 26.-River
2-1O feet and falling at the dam;
weather raining.
Warren. Pa, December 26.-River 8
feet inches and rising; raining
Oil City, December 26.-River feet
l inch and rising mild and heavy rain
falling. It has been raining steadily
since II a. m.
Greensboro. Pa, December 26.-River
Z feet inches and stationary; raining.
Rainfall .15 inches.
Steubenville. o., December 26.-River
feet 10 inches and rising; showing and
cold. DOwn-RObert Jenkins. jim
Wood. Tornado. J. c. Risher B. D.
Wood. Onward. Fallie. Tom Lyle. Up
H. X. Bedford and Alice Brown.