Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-03-23

PITTSEURG AND LOUloVlLi-E
TRADE-A TRIP TO NEW OR
LEANs-NEWS OF THE AR
RIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF
PACKETS.
After repeated disappointments, the
neople living along the Ohio river be-
tween Wheeling and Marietta were
yesterday afforded the eagerly antici-
pated opportunity to see the steamer
City of Pittsburg, which has been her.
aided as veritable floating palace.
She left Marietta in good shape, but
was compelled to go to the bank twice
on the up trip to adjust the machinery.
On her trial trip under steam press
ure Of 125 pounds, she made Ia miles
an hour, but the speed was much
slower on her maiden trip. The boat
took on coal at the Heatherington
works, below Bellaire. from which point
a telephone message to the wharfboat
gave notification of her approach.
The City of Pittsburg steamed slow
ly up the stream, and when her bow
showed around the bend at the Bel
mont mill, there was a footing OF the
whistles OF all the boats mOored at the
public landing, in which passing tow
boat also Joined. 1t was friendly re-
ception to the new river queen, and she
bore her honors very modeStly. ne
general din which was created by the
screeching of the whistles brought fully
1900 people to the wharf, and when the
boat landed the Wheeling people falrly
swarmed through the cabin and on the
decks, and inspected the palatial craft
in every point. Captain Dana Scott
showed every possible courtesy to the
visitors. and members of the boats
crew took pleasure in dilating upon the
good points in its construction anu
equipment. The boat remained at the
wharf until all had inspected her, ana
then pulled out for Pittsburg and way
landings. Meanwhile WhaftmaSter
John Crockard answered telephone III
quiries from Steubenville, East Liver
pool and other cities relative 10 lne
time of arrival of the steamer.
The crew of the City of Pittsburg is
as follows: Capt. John M. Phillips, mas
ter; Capt Dana Scott, purser; A. L.
Voeghtly and o. D. Phillips, clerks; S.
Conrad and E. Berry, engineers; M
McCright and w. Hynes, strikers; w.
Stepleton and M. Huffman, mates; ).
Crawford, Waterman; }. SANFORD ana
w. Brookhardt, pilots; B. Baker ana
F. Wilkins, carpenters; w. Bohlmyer
and w. Garrison, stewards; M. Nor
row. chief fireman; Hartley, sailor man.
These are all we'll known rlVermen'
and those who are familiar with steam
boat traffic on the Ohio river Will rec
ognize the fact that the crew is one OF
the most capable that could be selected.
Capt Phillips has been master OF enc
or two of the steamers OF the Clncln-
natl and Pittsburg packet line, and Is
at present in Pittsburg arranging for
the conveyance of a pleasure party
numbering about one hundred, from
that city to New Orleans. After this
trip, the City of Pittsburg will be
placed in the Pittsburg and Louisville
trade, making weekly trips between
these two points
A party of ladies and gentlemen OF
Marietta were passengers on the steam
er ON her maiden trip. They included
Miss Carrie J. Phillips, who raised the
colors bought for the boat by the cltl-
zens of Marietta; Miss Florence Dye,
Miss Helen Chamberlain, Mrs. Rodgers,
Messrs. Geo. D. Schad and F. S. Hogan,
Mrs. Patton and daughter, and Mr..
Frank Mccain.
It is claimed for the City of Pitts
burg that she will be the speediest
packet on the Ohio or Mississippi Tiv-
ers, that object figuring largely in ner
design and construction. She is also
the first packet to have hot and cold
water in the state rooms. She is the
largest boat above the falls at Louis
Vile, and the finest and best equipped
packet on the Ohio river. Her boilers
are of the same pattern as those of the
battleship Maine, and her width the
same as the battleship Texas.
The dimensions Of the big steamer
the third in size and tonnage on the
inland rivers of America, are familiar
to the readers of the Register. The
roomy elegance, convenience and COM
pleteness of the draft, however, can
only be appreciated by being seen. No
expense has been spared in making her
a palatial floating hotel, and all the
comforts of steam heat, electric light,
hot and cold water, sanitary plumbing,
sumptuous furnishings and beauty Of
line and color have been carefully at
tended to for the purpose of affording
pleasure to her passengers.
The boat is Marietta product in her
entirety, with the exception of her pow
erful engines, which were taken from
the old steamer New Orleans, now ly-
ing short distance below her on the
bank of the river, dismantled hulk.
Her keel was laid ten months ago at
the yards of M. G. Knox & Son, since
which time the work of construction
has been under the personal supervis-
ion of Capt. Dana Scott. The boat was
delayed two months in completion by
annoying failures Of various contrac-
tors and the perils through which she
passed during the recent closing and
breakup of the river. She was hard
aground for several days on the ice, but
was not injured in any respect, not
withstanding number of sensational
stories sent out to the effect that she
had been broken in two. She is I'M
doubtedly one Of the finest examples of
the boat builders art ever seen on the
upper Ohio, and with her immense pad
die wheers, 80 feet in diameter, is ex-
pected to prove one of the fastest. She