Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1903-06-26
New Jersey Town Where Many Old.
Eastern Vessels Lie.
ai-kno River Craft That Havs
Become Worn O.t Find y Rsst.
aaE Place ON the Rarata.ss
banks.

residents Of the little town OF Perth
Amboy to prove that the /, .nGoo belief.
IN the transmigration of souls is a re-
atty, at least, as far as beats are con-
cerned. says the St. Loue Republic.
Steam craft which in years gone by
made great records in tie 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 vesAels has had
a day of resurrection.
h valiant spirit of zach has left
cold boiler and paralyzed engine to
take up its abode in dwellings. d~ecora-
lions and the hundred and one things
into which its dismembered but resur-
rected body has been transformed.
During the last few years many WELL
known boats have been brought to-
gether on the shelving banks of the
Raritan river, where the junkmaa de-
cides their destiny.
The giantess Of them all 10 the
famous old Albany boat Drew.
Close beside her are the tire-ravassds
hulls of the ferryboats Elizabeth and
Plainfeld.
The worn-out ferryboat Central and
the Inflated Mortified are rubbing
their noses in q friendly way with the
rise and fall Of the tide against the
Drew'S port quarter.
The half-burned Thomas McManus
keeps well under water on the river
side Of the feet.
The xi0e-"neel steamer Colonia, or
Philadelphia, which was condemned a.
unseaworthy after the last internation-.
al yacht races. and the famous old.
ferryboat Chancellor, the only craft to.
cross the bay during the blizzard of
1873, have both settled high up in the
sands.
These boats represent more than
$i.O0O,0 900 in original cost and are in
all stages Of diEmantlement.
Probably one Of the greatest Blooms
that ever came to Perth Amboy waA
the steamer Drew.
She was towed to her present berth
a little more han a year ago.
From the outside she appeared 10
be a great unwieldy hulk Of little
value, but within she has proved to be
q veritable treasure ship.
Houses have been built from tho
well-seasoned ~planking OF her super
structure.
The panel work and rich carvings Of
her 400 and more Etaterooms have been
used for interior decorations, and the
staterooma themselves for store
houses.
There 10 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 xtill linger with it.
From one end of the craft to the 9TH
er it il the only spot which will not feel
the sharp edge OF the wreckers' tools.
With the exception of that part Of
the Drew which has been used b. the
junkman himself in the construction
Of living quarters for his men and q
combination Office and storehouse, in
LuC uCuIi VI ~ u u Ab0 - -
has been sold at . 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 . portion Of the resur-
rected craft.
So extravagant were the builders Of
the boa in the selection of materials
used for her construction that carpen-
tiers and decorators of the town have
purchased almost the entire super
structure. although it IS as yet not
more than half dismantled.
Ia the building trade there is q de-
mand for Drew timber" and among
decorators a coll for Drew trim
mings."
The foregoing is the spirit Of the
Drew made manifest in Perth Amboy.
1t is not confined there alone, how
ever. for all over the country there -
q demand for some part Of her con-
struction.
The giant parts Of her engines have
already gone 20 the steel works OF
Pennsylvania and Connecticut to be
fashinoed into car wheels, axles and
building material.