Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1903-11-25
STEAMER GRAVEYARD
Hsw jersey Town Where Many Old
EsstsEn vessels lie.
WsiI-Khswn Rfvsr craa TAat Have
BOSsne Wora Out Rina = Rest-
las Place en- tie n~aritan's
nankn.

-
II appears 70 have been LETT for Ii,
residents Of the little iowa Of PERTH
Amboy TO prove that the Hindoo BELIEF
IN the TRANSPORTATION Of souls Il q re,
Atty. at least, as far as boata are con.
eerned, says the 81. Lous Repubhc.
Steam craft which in years gone By
made great records in the local waters
and later were dragged out Of the
busy swirl tired Of the struggle, are
to-day so much a part Of the Raritan
river town that their names are house
hold words there.
The graveyard Of old vessels has had
. day Of resurrection.
The valiant spirit Of each has left
cold boiler and paralyzed engine "a
take up its abode in dwellings, decora-
tions and the hundred and one things
into which its dismembered but resur-
rected body has been transformed.
During the last few years many we'll
known boats have been brought To-
gsther on the shelving banks Of the
RaTitan river, where the iunkman de-
ddes their destiny.
The Riantess Of them al e. thS
famous old Albany boat Drew.
Close beside her are the fre-raVaged
hulls Of the ferrybOats Elizabeth and
Plainheld.
The worn-out ferryboat Central and
the Inflated Northheld are rubbing
their noses in a friendly way with the
rise and fall Of the tide against the
Drew's port quarter.
The half-burned Thomas MeManus
keeps we'll under water on the river
side Of the feet
The side-wheel steamer Colonia, Of
Philadelphia, which va condemned IS
unseaworthy after the last information
al yacht races, and the famous old
ferryboat Chancellor, the only craft TO
cross the bay during the blizzard Of
1ss, have both settled high up in the
sands.
These boats represent more than
100000 in original cost, and r in
ell stages Of dismantlement.
Probably one Of the greatest Blooms
that EVER came to Perth AmbOy was
the steamer Drew.
She was towed to her present berth
q little more than q year ago wv
From the outside she appeared to
be a great unwieldy hulk Of little
value, but within she has proved 70 be
a veritable treasure ship.
Houses have been built from the
well-seasoned planking Of her super
structure.
The panel work and rich carvings Of
her 400 and more staterooms have been
used for interior decorations, and the
staterooms themselves for store
houses.
There is one stateroom which has
been left Just where it was when the
old river boat made her last trip.
Money cannot buy it from the junk
man.
The pleasant memories Of his hOn-
eymoon still linger with it.
From one end Of the craftto the 9TH
er It is the only spotwhich will not feel
the sharp edge Of the wreckers' tools.
With the exception Of that part Of
the Drew which has been used by the
junkman himself in the construction
Of living quarters for his men and q
combination office and storehouse, in
the heart Of the town, all the material
has been sold at a good price.
An elderly widow is the proud owner
Of a comfortable home made entirely
from the Drew.
Her dog and chickens are also snugly
housed within a portion Of the resur-
rected craft
So extravagant were the builders Of
the boat in the selection Of materials
used for her construction that carpen-
tiers and decorators Of the town have
almost the entire super
structure, although 1t is as Jet not
more than half dismantled.
In the building trade there q = de-
mand for "Drew timber" and among
decorators a call for "DreW trim
The foregoing is the spirit Of the
Drew made manifestin Perth Amboy.
It Is not confined there alone, how
ever, for all over the country there is
demand for some part Of her CON
.struction.
The giant parts Of her engines have
already gone to the steel works Of
Pennsylvania and Connecticut 70 be