Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-06
ON THE RIVER FRONT
NAVIGATION ON POTOMAC MUCH
IMPEDED By ICE.
Sunken Schooner to Be Raised-Prepar.
ing Steamers for Summer Work
Marine Matters.

Except for the big ships of the Norfolk
and Washington line and the little mail
steamer Estelie Randall, on the route be-
tween this city and Glymont. Nd, naviga-
ton on the Potomac is at standstill, and
it looks as though it will remain so for
some time. The river line steamers have
Cancelled all their sailings for this week
and are accepting freight subject to delay
of unknown duration. 1t Is expected. the
Weems line will make an effort to get one
of Its propeller boats here to leave early
next week, but this is uncertain. The tug
boat masters, with few exceptions, have
laid their boats up until the ice becomes
softer.
The harbor police boat Vigilant made a
trip around the harbor yesterday after
noon, and nowhere was the ice found less
than four inches in thickness, and as hard
as flint On the river below this city 1t
varies from six to eight inches thick. and
about Fort Washington ana other whafves
on the eastern side of the river 1t is packed
four or five feet Deep This morning there
were no indications of an early breakup OF
the ice.
The fish, oyster and wild game markets
at the 18th street wharf were duh places
this morning the demand being very light
and receipts of stock small. At the fish
wharf the dealers We're seated around the
stoves in their offices, and nothing doing
was the response to the reporters query.
On the oyster wharf there were some few
visitors but sales were small. The stock
bushels, but with little prospect of any
additions to the stock on hand in the
near future. Prices are advancing, and
this morning 30 cents per bushel was asked
for the small oysters, and from that up to
81 25 for the larger stock.
The wholesale wood wharf, at the foot Of
10th street is to be rebuilt and put in good
order before the busy season opens in the
spring. The work will be started as soon
as the weather moderates. A cargo of lum-
Der to be used in the work Is reported
frozen up In one of the creeks down river.
Two large barges loaded with lumber are
reported lying in Piscataway creek await
ing an opportunity to come to this city
with their cargoes. The lumber, 1t Is
stated, is designed for use in some of the
public improvements now going on in this
city. AS soon as the ice softens tug will
be sent to Piscataway to break them out
and bring them here.
The old schooner Stephenson, which sank
in the shoal water Of the harbor near the
Long bridge several months ago, is still
lying where she sank, with spars and rig
eing standing. 1t is stated that the old YES
sci will be raised in the early spring and
will be repaired and put in service running
wood and lumber cargoes on the river.
The Baltimore tug Hercules, which has
been employed In towing about New York.
has returned to work on the Chesapeake
The Hercules ran into and sank the tug
Idlewild in New York harbor December 2.
and on being libeled for damages was sold
by the United States marshal and was
bought in by her owners.
The United States revenue cutter Win
dom is on one of her regular cruises about
Chesapeake bay and its tributaries, on the
lookout for vessels that may be in distress
in the ice or by the winter gales.
Mr.. Thomas Murdoch, mate Of the steam
er Wakefield has gone to his home in lower
Maryland to spend several days.
The steam yacht Giavota, Capt w. c.
Robertson, is laid up at the wharf Of Fors-
berg & Murray until after the freeze ends.
Carpenters are aboard the steamer Samuel
J. Pentz overlIauling her woodwork and
putting her in readiness for service. She
will be taken to Newport News in the early
spring to have a new main shaft placed IN
her.