The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-07-06
Ola Time Steamboats, and Engines.

To the Editor of The News:
Seldom has 1t beci our good for tune 10
listen TO So interesting a discourse on histori-
cal matters relating 10 Providence as the
very able address of Hon. Charles Il. Carpon-
ter before the Veteran Citizens Historical
Association, at their last meeting at the audi
torium Of the Mathewson Street M. Il.
church. The occasion was quito pleasant
ovation 10 President Denison, who received n
most hearty welcome after his soyoro and
critical sickness. DIR. Guild, in surrendering
the chair, eulogized the life long, earnest
efforts OF President Denison as clergyman,
poet and army chaplain, and related an anec-
dote indicative Of his courage and pluck on the
battlefield, when Officer Denison. with few
sentinels, on "A reconnoitre, captured
whole company Of the enemy and brought
them into camp as prisoners, they believing
him the colonel, with the regiment close i'm
the rear. The president then introduced
Hon Charles Il. Carpenter, who spoke on
''My Recollections OF STEAMBOATS, in Provi-
dence Bay and Long Island Sound and the
Steam Engines and Locomotives of Providence
between 1851 and iS4S."
The subject was finely handled, the speaker
was in his happicst vein and in matter. man.
quently interesting, and affording the large
attentive audience an exhaustive history of
some thirty noted steamers, mingled with
many witty anecdotes and lifelike por
traitures of their distinguished owners and
commanders.
In his introduction he told Of his great pas
sion for mechanics, machinery and steamers
and steam engines; how no delighted to stand
ON the stems NJ hia fotharis houaa op Friend.
ship street, hardly house TO shut off the
river view, and watch the steamers and sail
ing craft up and down the river; how, as a
boy before and after work, he spent every
moment possible watching the steamers and
their construction. He said he should speak
of the steamer as she, using the feminine
gender from custom. Why 1t was so he
could not explain. except that many steamers
and clippers had been named by their owners
for their daughters or wives out Of compli-
ment.
The first steamer was the Wadsworth.
built by DIR. Wadsworth very straight,
handsome man. who kept drug store
opposite the First Baptist church. now kept
by william O. Banding.
He spoke of bay steamers and sound steam
ers and gave very extended description Of
both. The following are bay steamers: The
Wadsworth. Rushlight, Babcock, Hancock,
King Philip, Kingston, Ballou, Eolus Brad
ford Durfes, Roger Williams. Perry, John r.
Vinton, Argo. Canonicus and railroad ferry
boat Stonngton, plying across from India
point 10 the west side with New York passen-
gers.
The Long Island Sound boats were First
the John W. Richmond, and the Mohegan,
Cleopatra, Oregon, Cornelius Vanderbilt,
Chancellor Livingston. Boston. President.
Lexington, Benjamin Franklin. Narragan-
sett, Providence, Massachusetts, and Rhode
Island.
Among the bay boats he gave considerable
description of the King Philip, IA beautiful
steamer of its time CS34), and which was
quite a favorite up to 1885, when she was re-
tired for the larger and still better appointed
steamer Bradford Durfee. Thomas Borden
OF Fall River was master Of the King Philip
and for some time of the Durfee Hs was y
precise and punctual man, standing, as the
hour OF leaving approached, just aft the port
PADDLE wheel with watch i'm hand waiting
for the clock on DR.. Halls church to strike 3.
When it had struck the signal was given the
engineer 10 start the engine. 1t is said that
he once left his wife in Providence although
the carriage i'm which she was riding was in
sight and actually kept alongside his Loaf
down South Water street for some distance.
Mrs. Borden got square" with him, however,
by riding TO Fall River. arriving before he did
and leaving the bill for him 20 settle. He
spoke OF excursions made by the First Univer
salist Sunday school. of which hes was "A mem.
ber, in the steamers Balloon, Stonington, Per.
ry, Argo and Canonicus. and that he was
present on these occasions. The earlier Sound
boats had boilers cf copper because Of the use