Evening star., 1901-08-10
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT
MEMENTos OF MINES THAT WERE
PUT In THE POTOMAC.
Vessel Well Known Here Sunk Near
New YOrk-Many CargOes OF
watermelons Arrive.


The steamer T. v. Arrowsmith made
special trip to Fort Washington yesterday
and brought up eight or ten large reels OF
heavy wire cable which were taken to the
fort during the Spanish-American war to
hold the mines planted in the river for the
protection of Washington. The cables are
consigned to Maj. T. E. True, United States
army, the depot Quartermaster here, and
will be shipped to an army post In the
north for storage. Several Of the reels
weigh two tons and over, and the wire
upon each was nearly q mile In length.
They were lying on the Randall line wharf,
foot of 8th street. this morning, but will
be turned over to the army officials to-
day.
The large iron barge Centipede Of Phila-
delphia was recently picked up abandoned
while being taken into port Is reported to
have sunk in Gedney's channel in about
twelve feet OF water. The barge Is well
known at this port. having been here sew
eral times this season. Her last visit here
was about three weeks ago. when she
brought cargo OF Ice for the American
Ice Company and unloaded at the 9th
street wharf. From here she was taken to
Baltimore and loaded a cargo Of coal for
New York. The Centipede was formerly
steamship Of the same name, and Is owned
Dy Philadelphia parties.
The supply OF fresh and saltwater nsn
received by the dealers at the nth street
wharf was larger this morning than 1t has
been for several days. and while the de-
mand was fair, the large supply and warm
weather caused a drop in prices. particu-
larry in those fish sold by the barrel This
morning prices were: For gray trout ana
butter fish, 81 to IS per barrel; blue hsh,
per pound; rock, boiling. to 10c. per
pound; sea bass. &c. per pound: white
perch, to 12c. per pound; spot, 30 TO 30
per barrel; sturgeon, to 1Oc per pound; !;
soc. per pound; porgies, 10 to 2oc each;
drum, 20 to Soc. each, and carp, 10 to 2oc
EACH The demand for hard crabs was good
this morning, and the supply was large
prices They sold this morning from 81
to S1.50 per barrel. according to size ana
grade.
Down-River WatermelOns.
Since yesterday morning seven vessels
laden with watermelons have arrived at
the oyster wharf for the dealers here,
bringing in all % 600 melons from the Rap
pahannock and York rivers, Virginia, and
from the Wicomico and Nanticoke rivers,
Maryland The arrival of these home
grown melons has forced the North caro-
lima and Georgia stock from the market
The total stock Of melons on vessels at the
wharf will amount to about 40,OOO. The
demand Is light, and prices show decline,
selects this morning selling at S13 to $1s.
primes $6 to $40, and culls IS to IS per hum
dred.
The ]. A. Holland arrived in port this
morning with load Of about 23,000 feet
Of pine lumber from the Coan river for
The schooner Massasoit. laden with ice
for this port. came In the capes at noon
yesterday.
The schooner John r. Reese, with a
cargo Of Virginia pine lumber for Grayson
& Cain, has arrived In this port and is
discharging at the wharf Of T. w. Riley.
The little schooner Rebecca Smith left
port yesterday evening for Alexandria with
a load of watermelons for the dealers
there.
The sloop Minerva, which brought
cargo Of waterme1ons here. has sailed for
Salisbury, Md, her home port.
The flattie Jones unloaded q cargo OF
scrap iron at Alexandria yesterday for J.
Drifuse & Co. She then loaded a cargo Of
lumber and building material and sailed
for Yeocomico river. Md.
The bugeye Mountaineer. having COM
pleted the unloading Of her cargo Of oak
wood, has sailed light.
The schooner Belmont has come into port
with a full cargo of cord wood for local
dealers.
The Mayfower has sailed light for Eden
ton, N c.. from which point she brought
q cargo of watermelons.
The large barge York has completed the
unloading of her cargo of fertilizer at Alex
andria and Is now awaiting tug to take
her away
Two large barges laden with hard coal
from Philadelphia have arrived at the
naval proving grounds at Indian Head,
Md. in tow Of the tug Peerless Of Balt-
more
The schooner Carrie C. Pinto, with cord
wood from a lower river point, has arrived
in port for Carter & Clark.
The schooner Thomas c. Eaton, having
completed the unloading of her cargo of
plaster, has sailed for Norfolk and Will re-
load.
The schooner Oakland has sailed from
Baltimore witt. cargo for this port
The schooners Estelle Phinney and Josie
r. Burt. from this city, have arrived at
Newport News.
The Lily May has sailed light for the
eastern shore and will load watermelons
for this port at Baltimore.
General Marine Notes.
The rebuilding Of the sloop Nymphaea at
the foot of 18th street has been completed
and she is expected to sail this evening
with a party aboard for cruise on the
lower river. The Nymphaea is owned by
Mr.. Robert Force. and is a roomy little
craft, IS feet long and 7 feet wide
The large barge used to carry supplies OF
soft coal from this city to the dredges at
work on the Mattawoman and Smith
Point shoals. which has been at the boat
yard OF Cumberland & Son. being rebuilt
was yesterday taken to Mattawoman with
a cargo of coal by the tug D. NJ Key.
The three-masted schooner j. Manchester
Haynes. which sailed from Georgetown for
Boston with cargo OF soft coal, was at
Vineyard Haven Thursday last
Repairs to the tug Maryland having been
completed she resumed her work yester-
day towing clay-laden scows from Broad
creek.
The new boiler for the steam launch ].
s. Douglas, belonging to Mr.. Tony Smoot.
Is expected to reach Alexandria within the
next ten days and will be Installed at once.
1t Is expected the launch will be ready for
service before the end of the summer
The Douglas Is new boat and is a fine
little craft
The tug Rosalie. belonging to Mr.. Louis
Smoot Is laid up at Alexandria for tempo
rary repairs.