Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-18
ON THE. RIVER FRONT
TUG GIBBoN DAMAGES PLoW
RUNNING THROUGH ICE.
Preparing Steamer Wakefield for Serv-
ice-Harbor Dredge Ready for
Work-General Matters.

When the tug Gibbon arrived here FRI
day afternoon from Fort Washington II was
found that her ice pillow had had large
portion of the galvanized iron sheathing
knocked off in running through the ice. and
repairs were made before she started on
her return trip to the fort. As a conse-
quence she was delayed for an hour or two
on her last trip. Capt. Todd, master Of the
Gibbon, reports the Ice quite thick and hard
about Fort Foote and near Fort Washing
ton. The surface of the ice softens some
what in the suns rays during the day, but
hardens again as soon as the sun leaves 1t,
and ice makes on open water at night.
Some minor repairs to the joiner work of
the steamer Wakefield are being made, but
she Is ready to take her place on the lower
river route at the first opportunity. Work
Is being pushed on the steamer Harry Ran
dali in order to have her ready for service
by the first Of next month. when she Is to
relieve the Wakefield if the river is open to
side-wheel steamers. During the month of
February the Wakefield will be given her
annual overhauling and painting to put her
In order for her summers work.
The managers of the various excursion
resorts down river are arranging to send
large forces of carpenters and painters to
the resorts, as soon as the spring opens, TO
put the buildings and amusements in thor
ough order fon use by the time the summer
season begins.
The stock of fresh fish on sale at the fish
wharf this morning was very light. and
consisted mainly of southern stock, though
the dealers had some frozen fish on hand
Prices continue quite high for all grades Of
fish.
The dealers at the wharf are depending
largely on the oysters coming from Norfolk
to meet the demands of the trade as II is
impossible for vessels to come up from the
lower river. This morning the Norfolk and
Washington line steamers brought up
about hundred bushels of oysters in the
shell besides a quantity of shucked stock
Prices are high, ranging about S125 per
bushel and from $40 up per gallon.
But little game is being received by the
dealers at the wharf. Good ducks are in
demand and are selling at high prices.
Vessels Undergoing Repairs.
While laid up in port here In consequence
of the Ice not allowing them to move the
schooners John McGnnis. A. H. Quinby
and Samuel Wood are being overhaued and
sails and rigging are being put in thorough
order These vessels are a portion of the
fleet of bay schooners owned by Mr.. Harry
Carter of this city.
The large Philadelphia coal-carrying
barges Kate A. Brady, c. B. Rossell, G. j.
Pugh. Perryvile and Thomas j. CleaVer
have been berthed at the wharf of Forsberg
& Murray, and will remain there until the
condition Of the river will allow them to be
unloaded cargoes of hard coal from Baiti-
more at the Georgetown wharveS
The big hydraulic dredge of the Atlantic,
Gulf and Pacific Dredging Company of New
York, which has the contract for the deep
ening of the river channel in this vicinity,
is ready to go to work soon as the ice in
the harbor VIII allow. The dredge arrived
here just as the freeze began, and has been
unable to do a stroke of work up to this
time.
The lighthouse tender Maple has sup
piled the lightship stationed on Cape
Charles with supply Of provisions to last
several months, and has returned to the
Portsmouth station for a supply for Dia-
mond shoal lightship.
While on her recent cruise the revenue
cutter Window found the oyster schooners
John Kelso, Flrt of the Wave, Marian
Chicora and Minnehaha being nipped by
the ice in the bay, and, going to their aid,
she took them to place of safety. She
also supplied five vessels with provisions.
Within the past three or four weeks sew
eral thousand pounds of potatoes forty
barrels of -four and other provisions have
been sent to Fort Washington for the use
of the soldiers stationed there.
The tugs Mohler. Minerva and Edith q.
Winship came around from Georgetown
yesterday and are preparing for service
with the ice-breaking feet when the serv-
ices of the tugs are necessary. The big
tug William H. Yerkes is also in port.
The Standard OIL Company tug Radiant
coaled up here Saturday preparatory to
barges, when she was stopped by orders
from her agents to walt the softening OF
the ice on the river.