Evening star., 1901-02-04
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT
MAIL CONTRACT AWARDED RAN
DALI STEAMBOAT LINE.
But Small Demand for Fish and Oys-
ters-The Freight Handlers
General Matters.

| the 1st of July, 1901. This Is regarded as
| the most important mail route on the Po-
| tomac river, and there were several bidders
for the work. The Randall line has been the
contractor since 1897, and the steamer Es-
telle Randall was built for the route. The
| contract calls for the delivery of mail
pouches to and from the post Office at
New Glatz. Fort Washington Marshall
Hall, Gunston and Glymont and Indian
Head.
The supply of fish at the 18th street
wharf this morning was quite small the
Norfolk and Washington line steamer hav-
ing brought up but eight packages from the
shores about Norfolk and Old Point for the
local dealers since Saturday, and but four
packages having come up on the river
boats. The market continues quite duii'
and prices are about the same as last Week
black bass selling at 10 to 12c. per pouno'
white perch at to 1oc. per pound; green
nike. Sc per pound. carp to &c per
pound; trout. to Zoe. per pound; blue PIKE,
&c. per pound; haddock, 4c- per pouiaa' 10
smelt, to &c. per pound sneePsheau' ,a o o..
per pound; yellow perch, II to 4oc per
bunch; sand perch. % TO loc. per bunch'
river mullets 10 to 15c. per bunch, and cat
fish Is to 20c. per bunch.
The demand for oysters at the wharf con-
tinues light, and while but few vessels are
now coming into port the supply on mana
is ample to meet all demands Tor some
time to come There are at the "harl
this morning ABOUT twenty INV NN''>''''
having in all about 5000 bushels OF oysters
on board In consequence of the light de-
mand and the warmer weather prices nave
again fallen, and today the smaller grades
of oysters could be bought for from 40 TO
60 cents per bushel. and the larger ones
sold at 20 to so cents per bushel. The re-
cent arrivals at the wharf are tho :. Il.
Culver. from the eastern shore. and the
Ada Covington, Mary Virginia ana the lAz-
Zie Lane from the river beds.
AS the steamer Harry Randall. Captain
James Barker, was of the mouth OF Malta
woman creek on her way to this city Fri
day evening she sighted vessel flying the
national flag union down. signal OF dis
tress. Going up to the vessel 1T was ascer-
tained that it was the bugeye Ella Covins.
ton, bound to this city with cargo or
oysters. The boat had been cut through
by the ice and was rapidly filling with
water. She was in no immediate danger
OF sinking, her commander said, and he re-
quested CAPTAIN Barker to send a tug TO
him. The tug James Q. Carter was not-
fled and went at once after her to take her
into Occoquan bay. She was later brought
to this port.
The schooner Clara Leonard. in one Of the
heavy gales of last week, started from
Leonardtown for this port with a cargo OF
cordwood for Carter 4 Clark. on Leonard
town the seas We're 80 high that they wash
ed over the schooner and caused her to fill
until she became waterlogged and was only
prevented from sinking by her cargo of
wood In this condition the vessel was
taken into Nomini and beached not far
from McGuire's wharf, where she remains.
Her cargo of wood will be taken off by
the schooner A II. Qunby and will be
brought here. The Leonard will be pumped
out and the damage done her by being
buffeted by the heavy seas will be
paired.
Coming and Going.
The NJ. J. Stevenson, having completed
the discharging of her cargo of oysters.
will sail for the lower river to load for
this market.
The steamer Estelle Randall Saturday
morning had among her other freight over
1900 pounds of boiler material and parts.
to be used in the new buildings being erect
ed at Fort Washington. Nd.
The tug Emma, with the barges Thomas
Cleary, Rebecca McLane and the Ida L.
Maus in tow, has arrived They are all
laden with anthracite coal from Philadel-
phia. The tug, when she started from
Chesapeake City. had the barge Hannah
Lovett in tow also, but she was damaged
by the ice and had to be taken into Balti-
more for repairs.
The, steamer r. James Tull. after dis
charging a quantity of flour at Alexandria,
has come on to this port to discharge the
remainder of her cargo Of Cordwood.
The tug Stella arrived in port Saturday
evening with the American Refining Com
panys oil barge, No. IS, laden with oil, and
a coal-laden barge in tow for this port. On
her way up the river the Stella was forced
to drop coal barge in consequence of the
running ice, and yesterday she brought that
barge to Alexandria for VIM A. Smoot &
Co.
G. + The United States naval tug Tecumseh
Saturday evening took a small rapid-flre
gun to Indian Head to be tested
The steamer Dennis Simmons having
completed the repair work being done to her
at the Alexandria ship yard. has sailed for
Edenton, n. c., to load for this port
Personal and General Matters.
Mrs. Alice Kersey, wife of Chief Engineer
Charley Kersey Of the steamer Harry Ran
dali died at her home at Alexandria, Fri
day, after lingering illness. She was
buried yesterday.
The tug Spray. belonging to Mr. James
McEuen. is at the Alexandria marine rail-
way. where her boiler will be retubed and
other work done to fit her for work when
the spring opens.
Steam was made on the new dredge of the
Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific Dredging Com
pany, now lying at the foot of 14th street
Just west of the Long bridge, to test it's
boiler and machinery. The dredge will be
ready for service in a few days.
The large covered scow Of the Alexandria
Chemical Company is being sheathed with
plank, preparatory to sending her down
the river for a cargo of fertilizing ma
terial.
The ice which was formed on the
hats ana on the virginia Slue Oh the river
broke loose Saturday evening and f1oated
across the channel. The ferry steamer
soon broke it up.
The work Of overhauling the boilers OF
the River View excursion steamer Samuel
]. Pentz will be begun tomorrow by Bos-
well & Co.
Several focks Of mallard and other ducks
were seen on the river between this city
and Alexandria yesterday.
Capt James Kendrick of the tug Jos.
o. Carter is confined to his home by ILL
ness. Captain Kurtz is temporarily in COM
mand of the Garter.
Mr. Joseph Nash is temporarily acting as
second engineer of the steamer Harry Ran
dali.
Captain Tull has been transferred to the
command of the Norfolk and Washington
line steamer Norfolk
Captain Ross and Purser John Bailey Of
the steamer Charles Manchester are super
intending the overhauling Of their steamer
at the wharf here.
Mrs Maria Kehrie of this city was among
the passengers on the North German Lloyd
steamer Hanover, which sailed on Friday
last for Bremen.
Columbia Historical Society.
At the meeting Of the Columbia Historical
Society this evening In the banquet hall
~ he ohor will he