Evening star., 1902-02-05
ALONG THE RIVER FRONT
wAKEFIELD, RIRTHPLAcE OF
WASHINGTON, eBJEeT OF INTEREST.
It's Inaccessibility to Tourists The
Moving Craft-General News
of the Port.

Although the steamers that ply the wa
tiers of the Potomac do not make landings
at the wharf built by the government at
Wakefield, Westmoreland county, Va,
good view OF the white shaft that marks
the birthplace OF Washington can be had
from the decks Of the steamers as they go
from Colonial Beach to the landings in
Nomini creek. Wakefield is seldom visited
by tourists. It's out-of-the-way situation.
many miles from the nearest railway and
several miles from the nearest steamboat
landing. makes IT not easily accessible, and
50 prevents many from visiting the historic
spot who would like to do so, Many make
the trip on one OF the river steamers to
Wirts wharf in Maddox creek. and from
there drive over to Wakefield, distance
of about four or Eve miles. In summer.
when the days are long. the trip can be
easily made, but at any time two days
would be required to make 1t, as the steam
ers to Wfrt's wharf make the trip down
one day and return the next. Wakefield
can also be reached from the landings In
Nomini creek. but Wirt's wharf is the
nearer point.
The supply of fish at the 18th street
wharf was very light this morning. The
demand was fair and prices were as fol-
lows. Dfum, 4 10 per poullu, PAhc' "
1Oc, per pound: trout, to 1oc- per pound;
black bass, 10 to 14c. per pound: white
perch, to 12c. per pound; sheepshead 0
to &c. per pound; carp, 2 to 4c. per pound; !;
catfish, 2 to 4c. per pound; black catfish,
10 to 20c. per bunch; yellow perch. 10 10
25c. per bunch; river muilets. 10 to 2oc per
bunch; winter shad, 81. so to 81 per nun
dred; Florida herring, $3.50 per hundred
Shad from Florida waters are In demand:
and bucks are selling at 35c. each; roes, $l
each.
There were about 1,5oO bushels Of oysters
on hand at the wharf this morning, and
with every prospect Of hard freeze many
Of the river men are holding their oysters
for an advance in prices rms morning
prices ranged from 70c. to $1.2o per busheL
The moving ice In the river during the
latter part Of last week displaced a number
of the spar buoys marking the river chan
nels about this city. A new buoy has made
its appearance in mid-channel between
Mann's fertilizer factory and the Bellevue
naval powder magazine. The buoy is sup
posed to have been brought by the drifting
ice from the Georgetown channel ana de-
posted in it's present position.
The hunting sloop Daisy, while on her
way down the river Sunday afternoon. was
| caught in the heavy blow and carried
ashore on Sandy bar, between Fort Foote
and River View. So far as can be ascer-
tanned the boat is not injured by going
ashore.
The houseboat Arcadia. which was par
TALLY destroyed by fire at the boat house
foot of 18th street southwest, is to be re-
built and ready for use before the warm
weather comes. The Arcadia is the prop
erty of Mr.. ]. T. Rawlings of this city and
is practically new craft having been re-
built from her hull UP at Townsends boat
fully fitted up and much of the loss sus-
tained by the fire was caused by the burn
ing of her handsome furnishings.
General Port News.
The steamer Lily and Howard, with two
| light barges in tow, has gone to Aqua
creek, where the barges will load railroad
| ties for Philadelphia.
| The United States naval tugs Tecumseh
] and Triton, having in tow a railway barge
| on which were two box cars, went down
to the Indian Head proving grounds yes
| terday. The ice was found very heavy and
it was with difficulty that the tugs and
| barge made headway through 1t.
| The barge General Wistar has COM
pleted the unloading of her cargo Of hard
| coal at StephensonS Bros wharf and now
| awaits a tug to take her away.
| The barges James Pugh and Ann Thomp-
| son have been taken to Aqua creek and
| will load poplar wood for northern mar
| ket
| The schooner James D. Bell Is laid UP
| at the wharf of Thomas r. Riley waiting
| for navigation to be resumed.
| The schooner Irene loaded with cord
wood for Carter Clark. is lying in Nom
| ini creek awaiting an opportunity to come
| to this city.
| The glass works on the river shore just
above Alexandria, which were destroyed
by fire a day or two ago, are to be rebuilt,
! at once. and it is expected the making OF
bottles will be resumed there before the
end of the present month.
Mr.. w. P. Taylor of Westmoreland coun.
| ty has leased Stiffs wharf from the heirs
of the late James G. Stiff and will take
personal charge of the business done there
Captain Russell Dean of the harbor .ai<
boat Vigilant, who has been confinsa \,
| returned to duty. sfip ha
| - Mr. F. W. Payne cf Somerset Beach
tho rrnnina Mill :. Clark, who was injured b,
| his s,ei.a away of a horse attached t,
rasnIa res I.eS is confined to his home as tn
of the bruises he received.
tdr Robert Dugan, son of Chief Engin
! eer Dugan. has gone to Newport News +
take a position in the construction depart
ment Of the big shipyard there.