The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-14

Several old-timers were recalling old
steamboating days yesterday after
noon down at the whartboat. Many In
cidents Of river life were recalled, but
all united in saying that the famous
breakup OF the river at this port on
Saturday, February 9. 1861, was the
most notable Incident in local chronol-
ogy. Five steamboats, and the wharf
boat figured in this disaster. which re-
suited in heavy loss OF property, but,
happily, in no loss OF life. .
During January of 90 the river had
been frozen so!Idly from Cincinnati to
hheadwaters. The ice was the heaviest
ever known on the upper river and had
been used by vehicles and pedestrians
for two or three weeks previous 10 the
famous breakup, which, by the way,
came most unexpectedly, Right on
top OF the extremely cold weather came
two days heavy rain, which brought
up the river in q hurry. Saturday after
noon about o'clock the breakup oc-
CURED, the ice breaking into huge
cakes and moving out slowly. The
water coming down so fast made the
pressure fearfully heavy against all
craft at the bank, of which there were
many at and near Wheeling.
At the public landing there was the
wharfboat, then owned by Booth. Bat
telle 4 Company; the little Pittsburgh
boat, Concert. tied mp just above the
wharfboat; the big side-wheeler Eagle,
belonging to the Petersburg Packet
Company; the slde-wheeler Hillmnn,
owned by Captain Sam Mason. and the
New State, stern-wheel boat, owned
by Captain John Mcclure and others.
Down at the Belmont mill landing the
old r. II. Hudson was tied up.
Shortly before 5 o'clock In the after
noon, the wharfboat. which was stand
ing the bSunt Of the attack of passing
Ice, let 70. She had n chain cable that
had been used on gun boat during the
war, which was expected TO hold out
against most anything. In fact the
chain did not part. but the strain was so
heavy that the ring-bolt on the wharf
was pulled out The wharfboat swung
out IN the stream and was followed by
the Eagle. Hillman and New State In
turn. All were tied with numberless
cables, but the wharfboat letting so
made them Of no avail, the cables part
ing like so many threads and cleaning
away the forecaStles OF the boats like
cyclone.
The Hillman swung In at the mouth
of the creek and a cable was passed out,
the boats stern being up stream. Cap
tain Mason was not satisfied with the
berth and tried to swing her around 50
that her head would be up stream. AS
this was being done big held OF ice
came down unexpectedly and away
went the steamboat.
The Eagle swung In at the old WASH
ington mills, on the site Of the Bloch
tobacco works, where she grounded In
Ia Nf hFnEhn
next morning she was high and dry on
the ice. An effort was made 20 pull her
into the river, but II was unavailing,
and she was eventually wrecked at a
heavy loss.
den. his partner" were the only per-
sons on the wharfboat when she was
pulled from her moorings, They stayed
ON board until the boat swung In
against the Eagle. below town. where
they succeeded In jumping on.
With the exception Of the Eagle, the
boats passed on down the river in the
ice. on the Hillman were Hugh Crock
ard. now of the Riverside iron works,
who was one OF the clerks, and Elias
Frier. They passed an eventfui night
and on the next evening, Sunday. sue
ceeded In getting of near Ststersville.
Saturday night they thought they were
doomed. The boat would be forced in
al the bank and in brushes with trees
and other distractions. the pilot house,
chimneys and wheclboxes were torn
away. They considered themselves
lucky when they got away alive.
The wharfboat was finally caught at
Greenupsburg. KY, 24 miles down the
river. and towed back to Wheeling.
The New State went to the bank at
West Columbia, just below hiddlcport.
when her owners went to her they
found the river pirates" had stolen al
most every article OF value on board.
She had new cabin built at cost OF
$4,000 and saw considerable service
afterward.
The HilIman was practically wrecked
when she went aground near Pomeroy,
Ohio. Her haA was for many years
used as wharfboat at Bellaire.
That gun boat cable Of the wharf
boat hns a peculiar history. As stated
the ring-boit was pulled out. The
chain was dragged along the river bot
tom until near WIlliamsons island,
above SlstersvIlle, where 1t caught on q
snag, causing the capstan to be pulled
out. The chain remained in the river
until the following summer, when II
was recovered, and Is used on the
Wheeling wharfboat Of to-day.
Rlvernen hope never to witness such