Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-03
Mo0re e. K1ZZme)|
III 18th Street N. w.
ON THE RIVER FRONT
CITIZEN SAILORS TAKE A COLD
BATH IN THE HARBOR.
Naval Tug Choctaw in Service-Har-
bormaster Sutton Has Poisoned
Hand-General Matters.

Passengers aboard the steamers in the
harbor yesterday afternoon about o'clock
were somewhat surprised and had involun-
tary chills chase up and down their backs
to see three members of the Naval Battal-
ion, D. c. N G., plunge from the side of the
monitor Puritan and take swim about the
harbor in the water that is now only few
degrees above the freezing point. The men
swan about for a few minutes, then clam
bered back aboard the ship and disappeared
below to remove their wet bathing clothes
1t is stated the plunge into the river was
made on a wager, and the men say they
enjoyed the bath.
The supply of fish on sale at the whole
sale fish market on the 18th street wharf
was again this morning very light while
the demand was quite brisk Most of the
stock on hand this morning came from the
shores on the North Carolina sounds, but
the stock was excellent. Prices range about
the figures that have prevailed for the past
week. Salmon trout with a mixture OF
other varieties of salt water fish constituted
the bulk of the stock on sale this morning.
The arrival of several oyster-laden vessels
last night and early this morning gave life
to the oyster market the 18th street
wharf and there was brisk demand for
all grades of the shell fish. Prices show
but few changes, ranging at 80 to 60 cents
for the smaller grades and up to 80 cents
for the selected stock.
Some few ducks were on sale this morn
ing. The demand for good ducks is brisk
and they command high prices; the inferior
grades are but little wanted.
The United States naval tug Choctaw,
which was recently assigned to duty here
as a tender to the naval ordnance gun
foundry, began service on the Potomac yes
terday, when she took one of the gun
barges, on which was a 5-inch gun, to the
naval proving grounds at Indian Head, Nd.
to be tested. 1t is stated the Choctaw will
remain in service here until next spring.
The newly rebuilt tug Juno went into COM
mission on the river yesterday, under char
ter to the Columbia National Sand Dredging
Company Of this city. The Juno is towing
sand and gravel-laden barges, in cOnnec-
ton with the tugs Baby and ]. T. Select
man, from the digging machines working on
the river below Fort Hunt and on Green
way flats, to this city.
The new tug Marion Cameron. which was
built to tow for the Potomac Dredging
Company on the Potomac, and was ex-
pected here ten days or two weeks ago, has
not yet arrived but Is engaging in general
towing on the river.
General and Personal Items.
Capt. Russell Dean of the harbor police
boat Vigilant is on his annual leave of alb
sence. While Mr. Dean is away Mr.. John
Perry Of the harbor Office force is acting as
pilot of the Vigilant
Mr. Austin Kelley has been made deck
mate of the schooner Samuel J. Pentz on
the Glymont mail route.
Mr.. George o. Carpinter. general agent
of the Randall Line company, has gone
to Nomini on a short hunting trip.
Harbormaster John r. Sutton is disabled
by a poisoned hand. Several days ago
a sore appeared on the middle finger of
Mr.. Sutton's right hand but nothing was
thought Of it until Mr.. Sutton picked it and
it became very sore and inflamed Since
then the soreness and Inflammation has
bormaster is under surgeons care.
The turrets of the monitor Puritan, at
anchor in the harbor, have been so swung
that the big guns in the forward turret are
trained on the new buildings at the Wash
ington barracks, and the after guns
trained on the Potomac Park.
The United States lighthouse tender
Maple, with a party of lighthouse estab-
Hshment officials aboard, came into port
yesterday from cruise on the river
The three-masted schooner Norman, laden
with cargo of several thousand railway
ties from along the line of the Southern
day bound to Boston After unloading at
Boston the Norman will go to st. Johns,
N. B.. and will there load a cargo of laths
for this city.
to Alexandria yesterday and was hauled
out on the big marine railway for new
wheel and to have her hull remetaled.
The schooners s. L. Bowen and Silver
Star, with cord wood aboard from river
point, have arrived In port.
The schooner Bennett will today COM
plete the loading of cargo of railway iron
at Alexandria and will sail with it for a
port in North Carolina.
The tug Peerless of Philadelphia came
into port yesterday with the barges w. r.
Barker and McIlvane in tow from Phila-
delphia. The barges bring cargoes of hard
nfacJ m he lea Ter Al
tons.
The steamer Newport News of the Nor
folk and Washington line, which Tuesday
night carried detachment of artillery men
from Fort Washington to Fort Monroe to
engage in target practices returned to this
port yesterday evening. arriving shortly
after O'Clock.