Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1903-02-07
QUEER CRAFT
Was Captain Ben Wilson's
Old Horse Boat.
Which was Built Early in 1910 and Made
the Round Trip to New Orleans. 1t
was a Novel Affair Then

The days of early navigation en-
our western rivers witnessed the
launching and sometimes successful
operation of a number of queer craft
queer In build and manner OF loco
motion-but the good boat ',Adven
ture," built and launched at Coal
burg (uow St. Albans,) a short dis
lance from Charleston, W. Va, In
the early spring of 1910, would
doubtless bear eff the laurels: for
oddly against all other river craft,
If she could now be placed In com
petition against them.
The Adventure was designed and
built by Capt. Ben Wilson, an old
keel boatman. at his home In Coal
burg, with the express intention OF
making a trip to New Orleans,
loaded with salt. bringing up on her
return a cargo of sugar and molas-
sas, both very scarce and conse'
ouently high priced commodities In
the country surrounding the little
village on the banks of the Kama
wha river. She was IFS feet long,16
feet beam and measured 8 feet from
the bottom to the top of the cabin.
The boat had wheel on each side,
situated amidship, and was steefed
with a rudder and tiller, and the
latter extending 10 the root OF the
boat, where The pilot had station,
protected from the inclemencies OF
the weather by an awning OF boards,
The motive power of the craft
was furnished by four horses, which
were harnessed to long beam or
pole, with cog at the end which
engaged with another toothed wheel
on the main shaft, the turning OF
which gave the necessary power tor
the navigation of the craft. The
boat was intended for carrying
freight during the low water season,
when 1t was impossible for the
larger steam craft to operate.
Size was manned by crew OF
four besides Capt. Wilson, and lett
Coalburg on her trial trip to New
Odeans early In the month OF
April, waen the river was bank
iull, owing to the heavy spring
ralus, ballasted with large guam
tity of salt, which article was very
welcome to the citiz=ns OF the
southland and brought good prices.
Only two horses wlre used at a
time on the down trip, as the boat
hoated rapidly on the high tide,and
only required enough Roadway to
give steeIageway.
Without mishap the Adventure
reached her southern port and her
cargo exchanged for the sacchailne
substance which were destined for
the little village far up north on
the Great Kanawha.
The slow but sure journey was
begun, the odd craft attracting
much attention as 1t toiled up the
Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The
four horses tramping their continu-
Gus round. the side wheels padding
the water and the pilot
seated under his shelter In
the stearn of the boat
calmly smoking. or 1t times rising
and vehemently telling the driver
Ito make them critters gilt up
there" as a particularly stiff bit OF
current was encountered, made a
scene that was we'll conducted to
make an obser yer carefully note the
strange craft. Various mishaps and
delays occurred on the homeward
journey-harness and gear broke,
one animal fell overheard and was
rescued with difficulty, and at Gin
cinnatl two of the crew took French
leave and enlisted In the large
army to march against Mexico.
The captain was unable to replace
them, and the three men left on the
boat were compelled to do double
duty for the remainder of the trip.
On October FL, 1870. without
blowing a whistle or ringing bell,
but with a loud and triumphant
whoa, There' the Adventure
was made fast to the landing at
Coaiburg and the boatmen received
hearty welcome. The molasses
and sugar found a ready market,
the former at $I.25 a gallon and
the latter at IS cents per pound.
The horses were placed In pas
ture to rest after their ardous
Journey, and a fact worthy to note
kis.o oEke~ x-los,