New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-08-09
A LOCOMOTIVE STEAMBOAT.
Unique Craft that Once Navigated the Ohio
River.

Many curious looking craft have hoated sailed or
steamed down the Ohio River since the eyes Of the
commercial world were first directed to this his
toric waterway. Perhaps those to come will be as
radically different from the present types are
the latter from the Cermont, once popularity
known as "Fulton's Folly" says The Pittsburg
Post" Especially will this be if it should come
TO pass that the great tail stacks of the river
steamers should be abandoned because much
shorter ones will have been found to the
purpose equally well, which is about the sum and
total of one Of the points made against present
types of river steamboats, by a prominent railroad
president.
unique craft steamed out of the Pittsburg
Harbor about thirty-f1ve years ago, bound for the
Blue Grass State of Kentucky. And what is more,
this locomotive steamboat if you win allow the
phrase safely and creditaby reached its destina-
ton
Along in the COS a Locomotive building din firm
Ths title Of the firm 2' was Smith Porter since
evolved into the H. K. Porter Company which
eca as ON the South SIDE betwaen CSrsons and
the Monongahela River, j short distance above
]. Y. Smith was superintendent of the plant dur
ing the period covered by this story, the summer
OF 1865 At that time a railroad twelve miles long
was in operation, running south out of Greenups-
burg Ky. Incidentally the name has since been
down stream from Pittsburg. The firm of Smith
& Porter had contracted with the owners Of the
engine In due time was built at the South Side
chine South. the towboats were all tied up the
river was low long dry spell on, and
something of d question just how the of the
contract could be carried out and the locomotive
delivered 10 the Kentucky line.
The firm was young IN those days transporta-
ton facilities not of the best. and, besides it
was not good business policy to fail to deliver the
goods. Superintendent Smith realized all this and
capacity, and, with Engineer James NJ Schooley,
along with the aid Of several machinsts
verted the locomotive into q steamboat for the time
being After the engine was properly lined up
the hull the front ends of the side rods dscon
nected, the rods thrown over backward, coupled up
with temporary crank shaft, placed the
boat and to the rear Of the locomotive. and having
each end paddle wheel The end Of the
engine was lacked up TO permit the main
pair OF drivers TO hang clear. The arrangement Of
main and side rods and wheels at this junCture-
the front pair OF drivers excepted and which. of
course, were not in use-was not unlike that of
American eight wheel" passenger locomo-
tive.
A supply of coal was placed on the front end.
the engine fired up, the SteeTsman or pilot sum
gauge indicating 120 pounds pressure TO the
square inch Engineer Schooley opened the throttle.
Steam rushed to the cylinders. the paddle wheels
began 10 revolve, and under the skilful guidance
of the at the wheel the locomotive headed for
midstream. This is probably the only time on rec
ord that q locomotive successfully navlgated the
Monongahela or Ohio River. Every once in a while
some engine the front end of fast mall-eX-
press train headed for Pittsburg and coming in
of the low grade river roads VIII grow
ambitious and make Decline for the ONO al most
unexpected moments, but the attempt al naVlga-
ton Is always attended with disastrous failure